- An external CSR initiative is an action led by a third-party organization to encourage responsible practices: voluntary commitments, standards, certifications or verifications.
- Joining one provides a common framework and strengthens the credibility of your approach with stakeholders.
- General initiatives (UN Global Compact, PRI) coexist with environmental (SBTi, CDP), social (Diversity Charter) and sustainable procurement (RFAR label) initiatives.
- Each initiative comes with its own commitments: annual reporting, membership fees, or periodic compliance assessment.
What is an external CSR initiative and what are their goals?
An external CSR initiative refers to an action or project implemented by a third party organization to encourage ethical and responsible practices in businesses. These initiatives may include voluntary commitments, international or local standards and regulations, and certification and verification programs.
What are the reasons for joining an external CSR initiative?
| # | Benefit |
|---|---|
| 1 | benefit from a common framework giving direction to its approach, |
| 2 | communicate on its sustainability commitments and strengthen the legitimacy of its approach among its stakeholders. |
What are the existing CSR initiatives? (non-exhaustive list)
General initiatives:
1. UNGC or United Nations Pact:
What is it about?
The United Nations Compact, or Global Compact in English, is a United Nations initiative that emerged in 2020, following the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. This initiative details 10 principles that members are required to comply with.
Concrete expectations?
By joining the United Nations Global Compact, organizations commit to respecting its 10 principles and to preparing an annual report entitled “Communication on progress” each year in which they report on their progress. Member organizations are also encouraged to communicate about and promote the Global Compact.
2. PRI or Principle for Responsible Investment:
What is it about?
PRI are a set of 6 principles for investors and asset managers that define the concept of responsible investment.
Concrete expectations?
Organizations adhering to the PRI are required to respect the 6 principles set out above and pay an annual fee to the initiative.
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Environmental initiatives:
3. SBTi or Science Based Target initiative:
What is it about?
Science Based Target Initiatives is an initiative born from different organizations such as CDP, the United Nations Compact, WWF and WRI. to companies that define a plan with clear and transparent goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is based on the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel of Experts on Climate Change.
Concrete expectations?
The first expected is to engage you through a letter that establishes your intentions to set up a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on science. Next, it is expected to work on establishing a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target in accordance with the SBTI criteria. Then, present your objective to the SBTi for official validation. In the future, it is expected that you will communicate your reduction objective to all stakeholders. Finally, report on all your emissions and monitor the progress of the objective annually.
4. CDP or Carbon Disclosure Project:
What is it about?
Founded in 2000, the Carbon Disclosure Project is an international non-profit organization that fulfills the mission of a global system for declaring the environmental performance of companies, local authorities or public authorities. It measures climate impacts, on water and on forests.
Concrete expectations?
Organizations can freely disclose their environmental strategy and respond to CDP questionnaires, in particular by reporting on their greenhouse gas emissions, the implementation of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the awareness of their employees about climate risks.
Social initiatives:
5. Diversity charter:
What is it about?
Created in 2004, the Diversity Charter is a commitment text for employers. Its objective is to encourage companies to promote diversity in their recruitment, human resources management and career development practices. By signing this text, they must respect several fundamental principles.
Concrete expectations?
The signatories of the Diversity Charter are required to respect its 6 commitments, which include raising awareness and training employees on diversity issues.
Initiatives related to responsible procurement:
6. The RFAR label - Supplier relationships and responsible purchasing:
What is it about?
The only public label, it replaces the Responsible Supplier Relations (RFR) label and highlights French companies or public entities that are part of sustainable and balanced relationships with their suppliers.
Concrete expectations?
The concrete expectations depend on the type of organization and its specific objectives. In general, the first thing that is expected is to be a signatory of the Responsible Supplier Relations and Purchasing Charter. The request must then be made in writing to the labeler. To inspire you, here is an example of an application file for the RFAR Label.
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After receiving the written agreement of the labeler in return, you can designate an interlocutor duly authorized to represent your organization. Then, you can have an expert third party approved by the labeler carry out an assessment of the conformity of its organization and its management actions with the RFAR Label Standard.
Then, you are asked to make a commitment to implement any corrective measures resulting from any discrepancies observed during the evaluation and, more generally, in favor of the continued achievement of the objectives of the framework. Finally, it is necessary to undergo the annual verification assessment within the deadlines set and communicated by the labeler.
Choose the right CSR initiative for your company
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External CSR initiatives: key takeaways
| Initiative | Domain | Main commitment |
|---|---|---|
| United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) | General | 10 principles and annual progress report |
| PRI | Responsible investment | 6 principles and annual membership fee |
| SBTi | Climate | Science-based emissions reduction target |
| CDP | Climate, water, forests | Annual transparency questionnaire |
| Diversity Charter | Social | 6 HR commitments |
| RFAR label | Sustainable procurement | Compliance assessment and annual review |
