Argile du Velay: everything you need to know about Emmanuel’s quarry

After a few hours’ drive, we’ve finally arrived in Saint Paulin, in the Haute-Loire. We made our way along the path leading to the clay quarry. Françoise had arranged to meet us a few metres from the quarry, where the path is still accessible in street shoes. From this vantage point, we could see the vastness of the valley from which the famous clay is extracted. The hills look like green sand dunes!

Françoise tells us the story of this magical place, discovered in 1990 by the family’s forebears, Mr Bernard and Perrier. “Originally, we imported clay to make cat litter. That’s how it all began. Then, in 1990, we discovered this clay-rich quarry and decided to exploit it. And that’s how Argile du Velay was born!” Convinced of the many benefits of this miraculous clay, the two founders decided to build a processing plant and a laboratory near the quarry. Since then, thanks to regular investment, the site has matured and the company now produces for various markets: cosmetics, textiles, veterinary care, agriculture…

To date, Argile du Velay is the only clay producer based in Auvergne and one of the most renowned in France. To what does it owe its reputation? Undoubtedly to its high standards and its philosophy, which it has managed to preserve over the years! Deeply committed to preserving ancestral know-how and dedicated to minimising its environmental footprint, it still extracts the clay using traditional methods. “Over the years, we have maintained the common thread that binds us to this bountiful land. Today, we’d like to help you discover all the benefits of this precious material and restore it to the place it deserves in everyday life,” says Françoise. Whilst the company has undergone some major changes in recent years, it has remained true to the values instilled by its founding fathers and preserved the quality of Argile en Velay.

Even today, the Perrier family oversees the entire production chain: from the green clay deposits to the delivery of the finished product, every stage is carried out on site by the teams of experts at Argile du Velay. “From extracting the ore, processing it, sorting it by particle size, quality control in our laboratory, right through to packaging before storage and delivery – we do it all!” says Françoise, with a smile. She then adds: “Our teams comprise around twenty different trades; each person specialises in a specific field, which enables us to have a community of experts capable of guaranteeing the quality of the clay we sell.”

Another remarkable commitment made by the company is its dedication to environmental conservation. Fully aware of the degradation and depletion of natural resources, it has made it its mission to minimise its environmental footprint as much as possible by adopting sustainable production methods. Since 2016, the Velay deposits have been situated within a ZNIEFF area (a natural area of ecological, faunistic and floristic interest), a designation that attests to the site’s remarkable character and biological significance. To preserve this wonderful nature reserve, the company has taken several initiatives. For example, it has opted for a gentle extraction method – cascade extraction – which minimises damage to the area being quarried. It has also committed to regularly replanting trees in the quarry to allow the soil to regenerate. To reduce its carbon footprint, L’Argile du Velay invests in energy-efficient equipment and machinery and optimises its deliveries as much as possible. Recently, it has also installed solar panels on the factory roof. To date, 1,000 m² of surface area is covered with panels, and further projects are still underway, “with the aim of becoming an even more exemplary model!” L’Argile du Velay is deeply committed to protecting wildlife and the soil. Its philosophy is to give back to the environment what it has given us. “It’s simple: clay is a natural product. And we believe we must give back to the earth what we have borrowed from it!” says Françoise. Moved by these final words, we thank Françoise for the time she has given us. This is a passionate family-run business, with strong ambitions and an unrivalled dedication to protecting the environment!

The use of clay dates back to the dawn of civilisation. A clay rich in sedimentary minerals, it is recognised worldwide for its exceptional cosmetic and therapeutic properties. Its composition, rich in silicon, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese and selenium, has the ability to carry active ingredients and deliver them to the skin, remineralising and detoxifying it. Its absorbent, anti-inflammatory and protective properties make it particularly valuable for cosmetic use. It works wonders for purifying the skin or restoring shine to dull hair. Clay can also be used as a poultice to relieve pain or clean a minor wound, or taken orally to relieve stomach ache, for example. To find out all about the different ways to use clay and its contraindications, please see our feature: Green clay and its incredible benefits

Green clay is the most popular and absorbent of all clays. Part of the illite family, this clay is known as much for its benefits for the skin and hair as for its health and household uses. It cleanses and purifies combination, oily and blemish-prone skin, purifies the scalp and combats excess sebum in oily hair.

Discover Fine-Grained Green Clay