CSR in Retail

Where CSR comes from

The approach took shape in the 1980s alongside sustainable development principles, and gained weight in France with the 2001 New Economic Regulations law obliging listed companies to report on the environmental and societal consequences of their activities.

The European Commission defines corporate social responsibility as the voluntary integration of social and environmental concerns into business operations and relationships with stakeholders.

What it covers in retail

• Environmental impact of sourcing, transport and packaging
• Fair commercial relationships with suppliers and producers
• Working conditions and social dialogue
• Transparency towards consumers on origin and production methods

One strategy, four dimensions

From fruit and vegetables to seafood, the difficulty is not choosing between environmental, economic, ethical and social goals but combining them in a single coherent strategy that purchasing decisions actually reflect.