Manéo, one of France's leading optical franchisors with over 50 stores nationwide, has partnered with Australe Concrete and Paebbl to deliver the first industrial microcement incorporating carbon-storing materials. Applied across 410 m² of flooring at Manéo's new headquarters on La Réunion Island, this project proves that even renovation and interior fit-outs can permanently sequester CO₂ - turning every square metre of floor into a carbon sink.

"We wanted our headquarters to reflect the standards we set for our stores - quality, attention to detail, and forward thinking. The microcement delivers the industrial aesthetic we were after, and knowing that our floors permanently store CO₂ makes it an even stronger choice."

Guillaume Peyrot

CEO, Manéo

Context

This project marks a new frontier for Paebbl's materials, moving beyond structural concrete into architectural applications for commercial interiors. Australe Concrete developed and produced the microcement formulation, integrating Paebbl Rebond 200 as a partial binder replacement alongside slag in an already optimised low-carbon mix. The result: an industrial-look microcement floor that stores CO₂ permanently - proving that carbon-storing materials are ready for the surfaces people see and walk on every day, not just the structures hidden beneath them.

Approach

This project used an industrial microcement applied with power trowels, delivering the raw aesthetic of hard trowel concrete at scale. The technique is designed for renovation projects where a durable, design-forward top layer is needed over existing flooring.

This is Paebbl's first industrial microcement project, following earlier work with hand-applied decorative microcement (béton ciré), and demonstrates the versatility of carbon-storing materials across application methods and finish types.

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