Doing business in France: Sustainability
07 March 2012by Ina Dimireva -- last modified 30 March 2012
CSR encourages businesses to take account of social and environmental concerns in their business strategies, management and operation methods, and the design of their products and services.
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Legal requirements
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
CSR encourages businesses to take account of social and environmental concerns in their business strategies, management and operation methods, and the design of their products and services.
Corporate Social Responsibility
The European Council in Lisbon made CSR a top political priority, resulting in the European Alliance for CSR. France has now followed up these initiatives with its own national sustainable development strategy.
National sustainable development strategy
Standards
The best way for businesses to integrate CSR is via existing standards, e.g. quality management standards (ISO 9001), environmental management standards (ISO 14001, EMAS), and occupational health and safety management standards (OHSAS 18001).
French standardisation body (AFNOR)
Environmental Management System (EMS)
EMS is a form of business management that seeks to reduce a business's environmental impact through:
- cost control;
- integrating regulatory constraints;
- satisfying client demands;
- improving a business's image;
- motivating staff.
Environmental management system
Orée (environmental management for sustainable development)
Socially Responsible Investment (SRI)
SRI is a management method which integrates social and environmental criteria with conventional financial criteria. The SRI manager deals with financial matters (profitability and risk) while taking into account social, ethical and environmental aspects when investing.
Novethic - CSR and SRI research centre
The law requires businesses to comply with minimum social and environmental rules.
Administrative procedures
Applying Corporate Social Responsibility
Businesses interested in introducing CSR can contact the CSR observatory.
The French standardisation agency advises businesses wanting to incorporate the standards into their business.
Resources
The French environment and energy management agency (ADEME) helps businesses make the commitment to environmental practices, for example via:
- 'carbon footprint' software, which calculates a business's greenhouse gas emissions;
- pre-diagnostic and diagnostic specifications to promote rational energy use;
- eco-business planning for introducing environmental management;
- the booklet: 'Business travel: a new route for businesses'.
French environment and energy management agency
France's waste exchange publishes adverts to help businesses looking to dispose of and/or re-use waste.
An energy diagnosis can reduce energy use by around 20%.
Information on better energy use in businesses
Doing business in France: Environmental rules
Doing business in France: Staff welfare
Source: European Commission
