Recent French news reveals two important elements in the field of CSR: the transposition into French law of the European Directive of 22 October 2014 on the publication of non-financial information, and the publication of a recent survey by the C3D (college of sustainable development directors) on “Integrated Thinking”.

The new regulation on the publication of non-financial performance clearly affirms an approach based on “materiality” and the search for greater relevance and usefulness for companies and their stakeholders. It is no longer a question of providing a precise list of pre-established CSR information that is identical for all companies, but a more proactive and tailor-made statement presenting: the business model, the main risks on major non-financial issues, the policies and due diligence implemented and the key performance indicators.

To meet these needs, the C3D survey shows that more and more companies are using Integrated Thinking and the development of an integrated, cross-functional report that maps and provides a 360-degree view of strategic issues, linking financial and non-financial performance.

The life cycle approach has a central role to play.  Integrated Thinking”  designed to enable a holistic assessment of impacts along the entire value chain, avoiding transfers (between life cycle stages, geographical areas and types of pollutants for example) and identifying “hotspots”, which are themselves linked to “materiality”.

Thus, it becomes one of the key principles for designing and implementing a global social and societal responsibility approach, and enabling an approach adapted to the new CSR challenges.