The European Union relied on symbolism when adopting the CSRD, the new European directive on the liability of organizations. Indeed, it was born on the same date as the first anniversary of the Paris Agreement. This highly publicized international agreement aims to combat global warming. The CSRD, the exact content of which we will discover in this article as well as its daily application, is therefore one more step in a transition towards a more sustainable economic model that is more respectful of the environment and social issues.
CSRD: Definition and practical application give you the food for thought you need to initiate a CSR (corporate social responsibility) approach in your company. This new directive complements an approach that aims to be increasingly comprehensive and consistent. In order to properly integrate the new obligations into the management of your organization, training on the subject gives you the assurance of thinking about all the details. Beyond the legal obligations, a good training also allows you to identify the opportunities and levers of action of the CSRD for your activity.
CSRD: Definition
The CSRD is an acronym for “Corporate Social Responsibility Directive”. In French, this gives “directive on corporate social responsibility”. The objective of this new directive, in force since January 2023, is to make a growing number of companies accountable for their environmental and social responsibilities. The directive therefore obliges the companies concerned to draw up an extra-financial report. This report must meet very specific requirements. Training on the subject allows you to better identify the points that your company must address and thus remain within the framework of the regulations.
The companies concerned are those which:
- have a total balance sheet above 20 million Euros;
- have a turnover greater than 40 million Euros;
- have more than 250 employees;
- are listed on the stock exchange.
Attention, concerning the first three criteria, a company must meet at least two of them.
CSRD: Practical application for companies
The objective of CSR is therefore to encourage companies to be more pro-active, more committed to all issues related to CSR. But when you don’t yet have a CSR strategy in place, how do you start the process? Not always easy to find! A good first avenue to explore is the application of a repository to your activity. Today there are several reference systems, at the French level but also at the international level. Depending on your activity, your size but also your ambitions, you can choose one or the other. Of course, they are far from exclusive.
ISO 26 000 : This international standard has already been called the “Bible of CSR”. Organized around 7 petals, the CSR flower is suitable for all companies and all sectors of activity. Not certifiable, this standard aims to standardize a certain level of quality and high standards when it comes to sustainable development.
Global Compact : The Global Compact, in French Global Compact, is an initiative of the UN. On a voluntary basis, this initiative is the largest in the world when it comes to CSR commitment. All companies can commit to applying the principles of the Global Compact for a more sustainable economy and practices over the long term.
Global Reporting Initiative : The GRI is another well-known and recognized standard. It is more intended for industry and is available in several sectors of activity. It requires organizations applying it to reference a large number of indicators figures. Beyond the relevance of monitoring the requested indicators, it also makes it easy to identify missing information.
Conclusion
As you will have understood by reading this article, the CSRD represents a real opportunity for companies, regardless of their size. The definition and application of CSRD wish you well! Whether or not they fall under its obligation, all companies can use CSR as a lever for performance and innovation. Why deprive yourself of it? If you don’t know where to start or just want to explore a few avenues, contact one of our CSR consultants today. Since 2009, they have been supporting companies of all sizes and in all sectors of activity on liability issues. Environment, quality of life and working conditions, quality management, etc. Just as much current topics as the opportunity to take your business to the next level!
