The year 2024 will be marked by a series of new legal obligations in terms of CSR criteria criteria for companies and local authorities. These obligations are designed to enhance the transparency and impact of CSR initiatives, and accelerate the ecological and social transition.
Here are some of the main obligations to be aware of:
Application of the European CSRD directive :
Coming into force on January 1, 2024, the European CSRD directive (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) will change the landscape of non-financial reporting. The directive aims to harmonize and enhance the transparency of information published by companies on their environmental and social and social impacts.
This concerns 50,000 European companies, including large listed companies, listed SMEs and large unlisted public-interest companies. Reporting obligations will apply progressively, with the first deadline in 2025 for large listed companies.
The CSRD requires more comprehensive and precise reporting, covering aspects such as sustainability strategy, environmental environmental and social governance, risk management and social performance. Data will have to be externally audited and aligned with European sustainability reporting standards currently under development.
In short, the CSRD is a major change that will have a significant impact on the way companies communicate their extra-financial performance. The key to success lies in rigorous anticipation and preparation, taking ownership of the directive's requirements and investing in the necessary tools and skills.
Source separation of bio-waste
Since January 1, 2024, all businesses, whatever their size or activity, have been obliged to sort their biowaste. This applies to restaurants, offices, retail outlets and administrative bodies alike. This obligation is in line with the 2020 AGEC (anti-waste and circular economy) law, and aims to reduce the environmental impact of food waste and other biowaste.
In practical terms, companies must set up a system for sorting bio-waste at source. This can be done, for example, by installing specific garbage cans for food waste, fruit and vegetable peelings, meal leftovers, etc. The bio-waste collected in this way must then be recycled by composting or methanization. The bio-waste collected in this way must then be recycled by composting or methanization.
There are several ways to recycle biowaste. All our advice in our latest article "Source separation of biowaste, new regulations in 2024"..
New CSR criteria for public procurement
A new era is opening up for public procurement, with the integration of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) criteria in the awarding of contracts. From now on, candidate companies will have to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable development if they hope to win a public procurement contract. This measure, which aims to encourage sustainable practices in the public sector, represents a major development for public procurement.
The CSR criteria criteria may include aspects such as environmental protection, social inclusion, responsible governance and business ethics. Companies will have to provide concrete evidence of their actions and commitments to reduce their environmental impacts. These new CSR criteria criteria will enable the emergence of a new generation of responsible and committed companies, contributing to a more sustainable development of society.
This measure is expected to have an impact on several fronts. Firstly, it will encourage the emergence of a greener, more inclusive economy. Secondly, it will improve the overall performance of companies, by encouraging them to adopt more responsible practices.
Continuing the fight against greenwashing
Greenwashing" refers to deceptive practices whereby companies exaggerate or fabricate the environmental aspects of their products or services. In response to the ecological emergency and growing consumer demand for sustainable products, the AGEC law (Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy) now governs companies' environmental claims.
A stronger legal framework for greater transparency :
Passed in 2020, the AGEC law aims to combat greenwashing by introducing a number of obligations for companies. They must now :
- Use precise, verifiable terms to describe the environmental impacts of their products and services.
- Provide consumers with clear and accessible information on the environmental features of their products.
- Use scientific data and objective methodologies to back up their claims.
Dissuasive sanctions to ensure compliance with the law :
Failure to comply with these obligations can result in penalties of up to 300,000 euros for individuals and 2 million euros for legal entities.
A paradigm shift for CSR communications :
The AGEC Act represents a major change for companies, who must now demonstrate greater vigilance and transparency in their CSR communications. This is no longer a time for vague, misleading statements, but rather for clear, precise and verifiable information.
To sum up, 2024 is a pivotal year for CSR. It is an opportunity for companies to stand out from the crowd, improve their performance and enhance their attractiveness by implementing an eco-responsible approach.
The success of CSR depends on everyone working together.
It's time for companies to take responsibility and contribute to building a more sustainable and inclusive society.