EPV label: ambassadors of traditional know-how
Do you know the EPV label, or “Living Heritage Company”? This award highlights French companies that have rare, renowned or ancestral know-how. Although it is representative of the excellence of “made in France”, it is not always understood and deserves to be highlighted. At Maison Broussaud, we are proud to be among the ambassadors of traditional know-how.
What is the EPV Label?
The Living Heritage Company (EPV) label was created on August 2, 2005 by article 23 of the law in favor of SMEs. Prestigious, it aims to distinguish French companies with remarkable, rare and recognized artisanal or industrial know-how.
The areas covered by the EPV label are vast:
- Art and culture : It highlights advanced working methods, the rarity of equipment and even significant cultural significance.
- Gastronomy : It recognizes terroirs and their unique culinary specialties, or prestigious restaurants.
- Industry : It encompasses cutting-edge technologies, very high value-added intellectual properties and traditional manufacturing.
The EPV label is subject to rigorous selection. It is awarded for a renewable period of 5 years . Attached to the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, it is awarded by the prefects of the region.
Good to know : The state entrusted the management of the EPV label to the National Institute of Crafts (INMA) in 2009.
What are the benefits for labeled companies?
The EPV Label is much more than simple recognition, it promotes the development of professions of excellence and ensures the promotion of French artisans .
The benefits for a labeled company are numerous:
- Dedicated tools;
- Strengthened communication;
- Knowledge transmission;
- Promotion of artisans in France;
- Collective of trusted companies;
- Participation in dedicated events;
- Visibility on a national and international scale;
- Guarantee of quality for consumers and customers;
- Lever for the economic development of the company;
- Promotion of French arts, industry and gastronomy;
- Tax advantages to ensure the economic development of the company.
Please note : Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant is the only state label awarded to a company for its entire activity and guaranteeing the excellence of its know-how.
This recognition is a source of pride for the entire Maison Broussaud team, which cultivates French know-how on a daily basis and has passed it on for 3 generations.
How to recognize an EPV labeled company?
To be eligible for the EPV label , a company must meet 3 criteria rigorously evaluated by experts:
- A specific economic heritage : The company must justify a unique economic heritage, whether it concerns rare production technologies, industrial property rights or an innovative approach.
- Rare and exceptional know-how : At the heart of the EPV label, we find specific and extremely rare know-how. This may involve mastery of traditional techniques or skills that are not accessible through traditional training routes.
- A strong local anchor : The certified company demonstrates a solid local anchor, which demonstrates its attachment to a territory. It can manifest itself through a particular geographic location, activities established within a historic site, an approach to social responsibility or even products that define the cultural identity of a region.
These highly demanding criteria are the guarantee of a company of trust and quality . When you identify a company that bears the EPV label, you can be sure that it represents values of excellence and tradition. This is the case of Maison Broussaud, which has embodied them since 1938. Our commitment to French know-how is reflected in our socks , but above all in our overall approach to the company. We train our employees internally in specific trades, thus perpetuating a family heritage and an artisanal tradition that continues over generations.
Encourage responsible consumption and support French excellence
The evolution of consumer interest in quality products , whose environmental impact is lower than that of certain imported products, has reinforced the appeal of “ Made in France ” products. Living Heritage Companies play an important role in this dynamic, by offering high quality products manufactured on French soil.
By favoring local and sustainable production methods, EPV-certified companies contribute to preserving the environment while guaranteeing products of exceptional quality. Their presence on international markets also helps promote the reputation of French excellence throughout the world .
Obtaining the EPV label demonstrates a commitment to maintaining local know-how , since being established for a long time in the same territory is one of the many award criteria. For our sock factory, this translates into 85 years of history during which the Maison Broussaud workshops have never been relocated. Our attachment to Limousin is deeply rooted in our identity and constitutes one of the many reasons which led to the award of our Living Heritage Company label.
