All about durability: impact and environmental issues

The objective of durability is to reconcile economic growth, protecting the environment and social equity. For a company, durability means adopting practices which minimise its impact while contributing to the well-being of its teams, customers and suppliers.

This entails a global approach encompassing aspects as varied as the management of natural resources, reducing waste, technological innovation, social responsibility and transparency.
ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria lie at the heart of the concept of durability. These are pillars for assessing the non-financial performance of companies. They make it possible to rigorously assess the impact of a structure on the environment, society and its own governance. It is by integrating these criteria in investment decisions that responsible investors, through SRI (Socially Responsible Investing), contribute to financing projects with a positive impact. By aligning financial objectives with social and environmental goals, SRI fosters the development of innovative and sustainable companies, able to meet the challenges of the 21st century. In summary, SRI is a financial tool which makes it possible to implement the principles of durability.

By investing in structures which respect ESG criteria, SRI encourages the transition to a more circular economy, combating climate change, improving working conditions and the promotion of diversity and inclusion. In doing so, it contributes to creating a fairer and more sustainable model for future generations.

In a context of globalisation and a heightened awareness of environmental issues, companies which integrate durability into their strategy are not only subscribing to the road map defined by the Paris Agreement but can also boost their competitiveness and appeal. By switching to a circular economy or decarbonising their activities, companies can reduce their environmental impact, comply with the regulations... and enhance their reputation.

Durability has thus become a lever for growth and innovation - a means to stand out from the competition and help build a better future.

There is also the pragmatic question of becoming more profitable. This is a genuine facet of this issue: non-sustainable practices represent a major economic risk for companies and undertakings over the long term. By ignoring environmental and social challenges, companies expose themselves to a multitude of risks that can seriously compromise their longevity.

These risks may take various forms:
- reputational damage in the event of an environmental or social scandal,
- financial sanctions linked to non-compliance with the regulations,
- difficulties in accessing finance from increasingly demanding investors,
- loss of competitiveness with respect to more responsible rivals,
- and finally a dependence on limited natural resources which can give rise to shortages and increased costs.

In addition, extreme weather events, which are growing more and more frequent and intense as a result of climate change, may trigger significant financial losses for the companies exposed to them. It is therefore crucial to take account of risks connected with non-durability and to adopt practices which are more respectful of the environment and society.

To implement a sustainable strategy, companies may adopt various approaches:
- Eco-design of products
By integrating environmental criteria right from the product design phase, companies can reduce their environmental impact throughout the product life cycle, from production to end of life.

- Optimisation of the procurement chain
By choosing suppliers who are committed to sustainable practices and shorting procurement chains, companies can reduce their environmental impact and improve the traceability of their products.

- Waste management
The implementation of waste reduction, recycling and recovery programmes helps reduce the impact on the environment and even generate new sources of revenue.

- Circular economy 
The adoption of circular economic models, which seek to extend the life span of products and minimise the production of waste, is a promising approach for companies seeking to reduce their environmental impact.

- Developing skills and expertises.

- Diversity and inclusion
To promote equal opportunities and prevent discrimination.

- Team engagement
By raising awareness and educating employees with regard to sustainability issues, companies can facilitate their involvement and creativity in the implementation of sustainable projects.

Technological innovations play a key role in the transition to a more sustainable economy. 

Renewable energy: The installation of solar panels, wind turbines or geothermal facilities can reduce the consumption of energy from fossil fuels and curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Internet of things (IoT) : The IoT enables us to optimise the management of water and resources and raw materials, thanks to smart sensors, which collect data in real time.

Innovative materials: New solutions, such as biomaterials or recycled materials, offer more sustainable alternatives to traditional materials.

We can also consider artificial intelligence to optimise certain processes, but the energy cost will need to be less than the expected profit… in other words, we will need to tailor it to our needs!