This week in CSR news, we will talk about the world of work with the impact of skills sponsorship and CSR training aimed at, but also other topics such as the assessment of the Green Deal or the abandonment of TotalEnergies' lawsuits against Greenpeace.
Happy reading!
What is the CSR impact of skills sponsorship?
Skills sponsorship is a practice that consists, for a company, in making an employee available free of charge to an association or a general interest organization, during his working time. The sociologist Mathilde Renault-Tinacci, a specialist in the issue, reveals that this device is appreciated by collaborators.
Indeed, the virtues are numerous. First, employees can gain skills in new environments that renew the challenges to be met. In addition, it is an opportunity to give more meaning to your activity, by making it available for social utility projects. Finally, it is perceived as “a way to improve self-esteem by engaging in concrete actions.”
The sociologist points out that this approach sometimes appears as a managerial solution in response to dysfunctions in the labor market: supporting seniors to leave, avoid burn-out, escape pressure, etc.
Is AI a solution for ethical consumption?
According to a Criteo study that aims to question the links between consumer eco-consciousness and new technologies, “46% of consumers believe that AI will soon help them to opt for more sustainable choices.”
The study reveals an overall positive view of AIs on the consumer side, who say that 57% are ready to be recommended links that direct them to products that align with their ethical beliefs. “For many consumers, it's a real everyday tool to find the products that are right for them,” says Marc Fischli, Executive Managing Director EMEA at Criteo.
In general, the study shows a tendency among consumers to prefer ethical and sustainable consumer alternatives, despite a slightly higher purchase price. This is something to delight companies that want to deepen their CSR approaches.
CSR training for professionals
L'Info durable has selected 4 courses to engage in CSR jobs during a professional career, which it is never too late to reorient towards a more sustainable activity!
Essec - Sustainable Development and CSR: 6-day training, management questions or adaptation to climate change are on the agenda.
Demos - Sustainable development and CSR training: a professional training organization, this training is mainly aimed at marketing managers.
Edhec - CSR strategy training: Strategy-oriented, this 5-day training course offers the keys to understanding the “challenges, rules and models of CSR”
Challenges and People - Ecological measures and accounting: designed by Tek4life, this training aims to acquire skills in socio-environmental accounting, uncorrelated from purely financial issues.
What is the balance sheet for the European Green Deal?
As the European elections take place on 9 June, the question arises as to the role played by the European Green Deal (or Green Deal) during the current term of office, which is about to be renewed. As a reminder, the major challenge raised by this initiative is a climate-neutral Europe in 2050.
It has major political and regulatory successes that make it the “compass of the European economy”: the end of thermal vehicles by 2035, carbon tax at borders, CSRD, CSRD, CSDD, SFDR... These are all laws and normative packages that reflect a strong environmental commitment on the part of the EU.
However, some commentators have qualified this assessment. In particular in agriculture where, as noted in recent months, significant declines have taken place in terms of the protection of biodiversity and nature. This is evidenced by the adoption of a limited version of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) that is less ambitious than expected.
For a sustainable textile, the bet on hemp
According to a Textile Exchange report, in 2021 France was the world's leading hemp-producing country, with a total production of 143,000 tons. A plant mainly used in the cosmetic and food sectors or for technical uses, a French textile company is betting on this local and sustainable material for the manufacture of clothing.
Indeed, the Frech Filature relies on this plant which is more resistant to weather hazards than others. In particular, who manages to adapt more easily by fetching water deep into the ground. In addition, it does not need phytosanitary products, according to Karim Behlouli, the managing director of NatUp Fibres, which owns the subsidiary that manages the Normandy spinning mill.
It is also an initiative that defends a local economy, which emits less carbon, and which supports the French social model.
The paradoxes of French photovoltaics
Why is it so difficult to manufacture solar panels in France? While it is the cheapest and fastest way to carry out an effective ecological transition, and while many countries value it as a solution for the future, European photovoltaic industries are going bankrupt or relocating.
The first cause is the competition led head-on by China, which is 10 years ahead of Europe: it has invested more than 50 billion euros in the sector since 2011. Thus, Chinese photovoltaic energy giants have developed, and export panels that are up to 4 times cheaper to produce than in Europe.
The other reason identified is the delayed political response of the EU and France in this area. However, measures to promote European production chains are planned, in order to boost the photovoltaic industry in the EU.
The AGs oppose investors and companies on CSR issues
Shareholders, with the arrival of General Meetings (GA) season, are trying to influence the management of the company where they invest. Although the environment is increasingly important in shareholder dialogue (according to Scalens), differences can generate tension between investors and the company.
Thus, a company's resolutions may not be in line with the vision of a shareholder, who may then vote against it. While some observers affirm the rarity of these situations, the NGO Reclaim France denounces the “lack of ambition on the part of investors in their shareholder commitment”.
While some major investors may sometimes oppose resolutions (BNP Paribas AM, Mirova, Amundi...), in France “most of the resolutions proposed by the company's management were voted with more than 95% of the votes”.
TotalEnergies drops its lawsuit against Greenpeace
The Paris Judicial Court declared inadmissible the procedure brought by TotalEnergies against Greenpeace for “dissemination of misleading information”. Indeed, the environmental NGO published a report in April 2023 which denounced the oil and gas group for largely “underestimating its greenhouse gas emissions for 2019”.
To be precise, Greenpeance and Factor-X had calculated a carbon footprint 4 times higher than what the group claimed, i.e. 1.4 billion tons of CO2 eq.instead of 455 million. These results seriously called into question the ambition displayed by the company to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, considered “downright fanciful” by the NGO.
While Greenpeace is on the alert to seize other opportunities for condemnation, TotalEnergies plans to join the New York stock exchange.
The High Court of Justice rules the British government's climate policy illegal
The British “High Court” has deemed the climate action plan planned by the government of Rishi Sunak illegal. Depending on the jurisdiction, there is not enough evidence that effective measures will reduce GHG emissions.
The government now has 12 months to comply with the Court's requests. In particular, it has two obligations: ensuring that the United Kingdom achieves legally binding carbon budgets and meeting its commitment to reduce emissions by more than two-thirds by 2030.
At the origin of this decision, the environmental associations Friends of the Earth and ClientEarth, which filed a joint lawsuit against the British Ministry of Energy (the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero).
SIAL 2024: food puts CSR in the spotlight
Next October, the International Food Show will be held in Paris. It is the largest event for professionals in the agri-food sector in the world. For this 2024 edition, the meeting intends to promote “energy sobriety, rigorous waste management and increased promotion of circularity”.
As a reminder, the event sector is particularly carbon emitter: between purchases, the transport of goods and people and the management of waste, the balance can be very high.
The stated ambition of the show is to improve the recycling rate by 30% compared to 2023. In addition, the electricity supply and lighting will be as close as possible to 100% renewable.
A reuse platform will also be set up for exhibitors to promote the “circularity of resources” in order to make the event more simple, and to highlight sustainable and sober practices among visitors.
Sources:
Novethic “One month before the elections, has the Green Deal become Europe's compass?”
Reporterre “Solar panels: why is it so difficult to manufacture them in France?”
Youmatter “Skills sponsorship, between a search for meaning and a remedy for the ills of work”
CSR Magazine “SIAL Paris: towards a 2024 edition under the sign of CSR”
L'info Durable “Preparing for general meetings: from dialogue to a showdown between investors and companies”
Novethic “Made in France: La French Filature is betting on hemp, ecological and local”
Sustainable news “4 training courses to engage in CSR and sustainable development”
RSE Magazine “Consumption: the importance of ethics and sustainability”
The Tribune “Climate: TotalEnergies renounces to appeal in its lawsuit against Greenpeace”
The Guardian “Britain's Climate Action Plan Unlawful, High Court Rules”
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