Across France, people are picking up flour, jars and sewing kits again. The return to homemade in 2025 began as a lockdown coping strategy. It now looks like a long‑term recalibration of how families buy, cook and care for their homes.
Why 2025 feels different
Rising prices forced difficult choices over the past three years. Supply shocks tested patience. Many households learned skills in 2020 and kept practising. In 2025, people want more control over ingredients, budgets and waste. That desire meets a mature ecosystem of tutorials, local suppliers and peer groups.
Homemade gives families grip over quality, cost and waste at the same time. That combination changes habits.
From hobby to habit
What began as a pastime has settled into routine. A Sunday bake now covers midweek breakfasts. A fortnightly batch of yoghurt replaces multiple plastic pots. Vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and essential oils mix into cleaners in minutes. The effort sits on the calendar like any other task, then pays back for weeks.
The people behind the trend
Julien, 34, in Lyon, moved from technology consulting to a hybrid schedule. During lockdown he tried bread. The results improved. He added yoghurt, jam and a simple pale ale. He now shops flour in bulk, swaps surplus jars with neighbours and spends less on packaged goods. He reports calmer mealtimes and predictable costs.
Parents of young children talk about clarity. They read labels, then decide to make a few staples themselves. Students cite savings and skill‑building. Retirees mention pleasure and pace. Different groups reach for the same tools for different reasons.
Motives stack, not replace
- Money: cutting supermarket premiums and brand mark‑ups.
- Health: choosing ingredients and reducing additives.
- Environment: shrinking packaging and transport miles.
- Identity: making something tangible during uncertain times.
Less packaging, fewer delivery kilometres and fewer unknown additives come as natural by‑products of making things yourself.
Quality and personalisation
Homemade goods rarely chase shelf life. People choose salt levels, fibre content and spice. Coeliacs can manage cross‑contamination risks at home. Parents can trim sugar in yoghurts. Hobbyists can tune bitterness in beer or fragrance in soap. Choice sits with the maker, not the factory.
Control from start to finish
Control matters beyond taste. Households now think about pesticide residues in fruit, stabilisers in sauces and microplastics in cosmetics. A jar, a pan and a thermometer bring transparency. A notebook records what worked and what failed. That record keeps improving results.
Ecology meets economy
Homemade often cuts packaging to near zero. It also reduces product transport. A kilogramme of flour becomes loaves without extra plastic. A glass bottle of vinegar turns into months of cleaning fluid. Energy costs count, yet many people batch tasks to use ovens and hobs efficiently.
Worked example: what a month can look like
The figures below show a typical calculation for a four‑person household that bakes, ferments and mixes a few staples. Prices vary by town and season. Energy and water are included in the homemade estimate.
| Product | Shop price | Homemade cost | Monthly saving (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bread (12 loaves) | €2.20 each = €26.40 | €0.70 each = €8.40 | €18.00 |
| Yoghurt (4 x 8 pots) | €3.20 each = €12.80 | €1.20 each = €4.80 | €8.00 |
| Jam (3 jars) | €2.50 each = €7.50 | €1.20 each = €3.60 | €3.90 |
| All‑purpose cleaner (2 bottles) | €2.50 each = €5.00 | €0.30 each = €0.60 | €4.40 |
| Laundry liquid (2 litres) | €8.00 | €2.00 | €6.00 |
| Weekday lunches (9 homemade vs bought) | €4.50 each = €40.50 | €2.00 each = €18.00 | €22.50 |
| Total | — | — | €62.80 |
This kind of mix makes the monthly shop smaller and bins lighter. It also spreads spending across local markets and bulk stores.
Beyond food: cleaners, cosmetics and clothes
The movement now extends far outside the kitchen. People blend simple cleaners with vinegar, lemon and soap. They craft basic balms with shea butter and beeswax. Sewing skills return through mending clubs and village workshops. Many prefer a repaired zip to a new pair of jeans. Households view these tasks as normal maintenance rather than a niche hobby.
Digital know‑how accelerates change
Short clips, step‑by‑steps and community groups remove friction. A hesitant first attempt becomes a confident routine after a few tries. Shared spreadsheets track costs. Local chats arrange fruit swaps for jam sessions. This digital layer locks in the habit by making it social and easy.
Risks, limits and how to handle them
Homemade does not suit every product. Food safety demands clean kit, proper temperatures and timing. Preserves require tested ratios of sugar, acid and heat. Cosmetic recipes need patch tests for sensitive skin. Electrical repairs sit outside safe DIY for most people.
Pick low‑risk wins first. Bread, yoghurt, jams, basic cleaners and simple sewing deliver fast gains with modest kit.
Time and energy costs
Time remains the main constraint. Families who succeed schedule batch sessions and keep recipes simple. They use residual oven heat, pressure cookers and efficient hobs. They share tasks and rotate chores. They set a limit on how many items they make at home.
What this means for shops and brands
Grocers already sell bulk staples, jars and fermentation tools more prominently. Some brands pivot to concentrates and refills. Others teach techniques and sell reliable base ingredients. Independent shops lean into local grain, fruit and soap supplies. The line between retailer and workshop feels thinner.
Signals to watch through 2025
- Refill aisles and bulk sections gaining metres in large supermarkets.
- Neighbourhood bakeries offering flour and starter kits alongside bread.
- Pharmacies stocking beeswax, citric acid and amber bottles for home formulas.
- Community kitchens hosting monthly canning or bread evenings.
How to start without stress
Pick one habit and one container. Bake a single loaf. Set a yoghurt overnight. Mix a litre of cleaner. Track the cost and time on a sticky note. Repeat the one that felt easiest and paid back fastest. Add only when the last one fits your week. If electricity costs worry you, use batch baking or cold‑process recipes.
Consider a simple rule for your household. If a homemade version takes under 20 minutes of hands‑on time and saves at least €2 per unit, it earns a place in your rotation. If not, buy the item and spend your time elsewhere. This pragmatic filter keeps the movement sustainable for busy lives.
