“Not engaging in CSR is a brake on growth”: how this part of the economy is gaining ground in Aveyron

The issue of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is gaining ground in the department. Proof of this is with the organization of the 24th economic meetings by PAC communication and Face Aveyron-Tarn, Wednesday evening at the Athyrium in Onet-le-Château. For one evening, 300 local business leaders and numerous figures from the department, whether political or institutional, discussed the subject of CSR, chosen as the theme of this edition.

“This subject has attracted many entrepreneurs”

“We didn't know what to expect and we directly saw that this subject had attracted many entrepreneurs. This year we have the presence of several registrants that we did not yet know,” rejoices Pierre Censi, at the head of PAC communications. This theme is today at the heart of the economy and the questions of business leaders regarding the direction of their companies at a time when the relationship with work seems to be in the midst of a revolution.

“It’s not just a marketing argument!”

Which made Grégoire Chauvière Le Drian, director of the European Investment Bank in France and present during this evening, say: “Not engaging in CSR is a brake on growth, it is not just an argument marketing!” And Aveyron is no exception to this rule. “Doing CSR is not complicated, we can do it on a daily basis and that’s what makes it almost a conviction for all companies to get into it,” observes Mathieu Ginestet, president de Face (Foundation acting against inclusion) Aveyron-Tarn, socially engaged business club. Because what we call CSR takes all kinds of forms, ranging from sustainable development to simple working comfort for employees, including inclusion.

Inclusion, green economy…

It is particularly in the latter that Face Aveyron-Tarn observes dynamic action in the territory. “The idea is to open up the field of possibilities by giving a second chance in access to employment, continues Mathieu Ginestet. And in Aveyron it is all the more important as it allows companies to address the labor shortage. However, the question of the green economy is unavoidable.

“Today, we can no longer finance a project which has a negative impact on the climate”, takes for example Grégoire Chauvière Le Drian, the European Investment Bank, now proclaiming itself the European climate bank, which has granted 44.3 billion euros in financing in 2023, including 10.6 in France. “It’s important to be part of the ecological transition,” he argues. While defending the idea that in 2024, a virtuous project for the planet will also be virtuous economically speaking, if only through the potential subsidies and loans available for businesses. The director of the French branch of the European investment bank took advantage of his visit to Aveyron to visit the RAGT company, perhaps with sustainable initiatives at stake.