Taking into account Sustainable Development issues when defining a company's business strategy and management has emerged as a basic data for any company wishing to base their development on the three balanced goals of :

• economic efficiency,
• social fairness,
• preservation of the environment.

Implementing a "Sustainable Development" project requires setting up a precise methodology in order to :

• identify Sustainable Development issues related to corporate activities and values,
• establish an action plan for achieving the Sustainable Development objectives,
• define the objectives and measurable indicators that demonstrate the company's tangible commitment,
• identify the various stakeholders involved in the development of the company.

To enable a practical application of the Sustainable Development concept, AFNOR has published two guides on implementing a corporate project :

• Guide for the inclusion of Sustainable Development issues in corporate strategy and management SD 21000 (May 2003 - Reference FDX 30-021),
• Guide for the identification and prioritisation of Sustainable Development issues (April 2006 – reference FDX 30-023).

The support involved in setting up a corporate strategy and management based on Sustainable Development concepts is provided in the following steps :

• An initial diagnostic is performed of the company's positioning (in relation to the 34 issues involved in sustainable development),
• the Sustainable Development action programme is drafted,
• the commitment by Senior Management is formalized: the company's Sustainable Development Policy,
• an open approach to priority stakeholders and an external communication plan are set up,
• the management tools associated with the Sustainable Development project are implemented,
• support is provided in order to implement the Sustainable Development project and deploy the Sustainable Development action plan in the field.

The diagram below presents the Sustainable Development initiative (with reference to a document of the European Community).

GENERIC MANAGEMENT PROCESS
FOR CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
(Source: EC/CELE Approval VS/2003/0580)

The CNPP has taken part in two collective operations resulting in the deployment of a "sustainable development" initiative in companies of Upper and Lower Normandy (providing support for 8 companies from all sectors of activity): training in the use of AFNOR and AQM diagnostic tools, production of diagnostics, and customised support.

The skills of our consultants in carrying out audits of quality, occupational safety and environmental management systems is also a plus in implementing this type of initiative.

Contact :

Tel : +33 (0)2.32.53.63.50

Fax : +33 (0)2.32.53.73.84

E-mail : audit.conseil@cnpp.com