Where logistics is thriving in France

How can you recognize a region that embraces logistics? “The first thing to look at is a region’s logistics employment rate,” replies Yannick Buisson, vice president of Union TLF. By this measure, the Hauts-de-France region leads the pack, with, according to Insee, more than 100,000 employees working in logistics, or nearly 8% of regional employment. It is followed by Normandy, at 7.5%, and Centre-Val de Loire, at 7.2%. “This figure points to another reality: one logistics job generates 1.5 indirect jobs,” Yannick Buisson adds. Another indicator to consider, according to Union TLF’s vice president, is “logistics momentum, measured by the number of new projects, redevelopments, new business parks, and also by the level of take-up in logistics real estate.”

The Directorate-General for Enterprise (DGE), which designs and implements public policies that contribute to business development, has identified a dozen inspiring regional practices in logistics. “Broadly speaking, there are often four main ingredients: governance, through public-private partnerships; land management; decarbonization; and innovation,” lists Guillaume Decorzent, deputy director for market services at the DGE. “But each region has its own recipe, depending on its strengths and the challenges it faces: in Martinique, an essential project is the digitalization of logistics chains, in connection with other stakeholders in the Caribbean region; in areas such as Hauts-de-France, the Seine-Normandy corridor, or Greater Paris, land management is a priority; around the port of Marseille or in Toulouse, several initiatives supporting innovation are in place, driven by the ‘locomotives’ that some large groups can be.” Some 40 examples from mainland France and its overseas territories are listed in the document.

While some regions may be naturally predisposed to host logistics activities because of their geographic location or topography, it is reasonable to think that every region can accommodate warehouse development. “In a study conducted with support from the IGN (National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information), we sought to quantify land reserves suitable for logistics real estate development in two test departments: Somme and Yonne,” says Guillaume Decorzent. “We used four demanding but realistic criteria to identify this potential. We looked for areas that were already developed, within 10 or 15 minutes of a major road, and sufficiently far from residential areas and sensitive natural spaces, such as Natura 2000 sites.” This work identified 40 to 70 hectares, depending on how stringent the criteria were, meeting all four requirements in the Somme and Yonne departments; this represents several decades of “average land consumption” by logistics activities in these departments.

But logistics real estate stakeholders know it: finding available land, while essential, is not enough. Genuine political will to make room for industrial and logistics activities is essential. “Beyond logistics, regions must think in terms of ecosystems,” Yannick Buisson reminds us. “Industry cannot exist without logistics, and vice versa. Political leaders must therefore adopt sector-based approaches that take account of all needs, including logistics, which requires land and skills.”

Although logistics is regarded as a major political issue, it is nevertheless rarely included as such in election campaign platforms. Still, through the lens of urban logistics, some cities demonstrate more than others that they have considered these issues. Often cited as an example, Nantes has had a “pact for sustainable and resilient urban logistics” in place since 2022. “It is one of the most advanced cities in terms of cargo-bike logistics, for example,” notes Yolaine Urvoy, director of the nonprofit association Les Boîtes à Vélo, which brings together professionals in several French cities who have chosen bicycles to transport goods. “It is also the only local authority that belongs to our association.” Like others, it has adopted the Interlud program, an Energy Savings Certificate (CEE) program aimed at developing sustainable urban logistics by supporting regions in collaborative initiatives with economic stakeholders, to incorporate logistics into planning documents and the design of development projects.

Examples of collaborative policies that enable freight transport activities to be accommodated under the best possible conditions therefore exist… and could inspire many regions.