Development of CSR through the finance department : How can the financial department within a French company contribute to the development of Corporate Social Responsibility?
Barbot, Fanny (2020)
Barbot, Fanny
2020
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020052012666
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020052012666
Tiivistelmä
The present Bachelor’s Thesis is structured around two parts. The first is a literature review which aims to give the reader an understanding of the basic theories of Sustainable Development (SD) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). To do so, we first focus on relevant issues and regulatory frameworks. Then, we will look at the evaluation of performance using CSR indicators. We will present different benchmarks or measurement tools specific to the measurement of CSR performance, such as the Triple Bottom Line, the GRI and the Balanced Scorecard extended to CSR.
We will then describe the financial department at the heart of the CSR system. We will high-light how it supports CSR, but also how it responds to investor pressure.
After this review of the literature, the second part features the actual contribution of this thesis. It highlights how the financial department of a French company can contribute to the development of corporate social responsibility. The fruit of this part will be a case study on the ESG criteria of different French companies in the food industry such as Danone, Pernod Ricard and Fleury Michon. For this, a qualitative approach was used, which allowed the collection of empirical data through the analysis of extra-financial reports and annual reports.
The results of the literature review and case study revealed the importance of CSR, both within companies and in the eyes of shareholders. In addition, we find that ESG is currently the dominant framework for non-financial performance criteria, although the G is often the aspect most examined, largely because it is most closely linked to the financial management of the firm.
The final chapter presents recommendations for French companies regarding the use of ESG criteria.
We will then describe the financial department at the heart of the CSR system. We will high-light how it supports CSR, but also how it responds to investor pressure.
After this review of the literature, the second part features the actual contribution of this thesis. It highlights how the financial department of a French company can contribute to the development of corporate social responsibility. The fruit of this part will be a case study on the ESG criteria of different French companies in the food industry such as Danone, Pernod Ricard and Fleury Michon. For this, a qualitative approach was used, which allowed the collection of empirical data through the analysis of extra-financial reports and annual reports.
The results of the literature review and case study revealed the importance of CSR, both within companies and in the eyes of shareholders. In addition, we find that ESG is currently the dominant framework for non-financial performance criteria, although the G is often the aspect most examined, largely because it is most closely linked to the financial management of the firm.
The final chapter presents recommendations for French companies regarding the use of ESG criteria.