CSR definitions and glossary

Accessibility

Adaptation of physical environments for people with disabilities.

Air/water/soil pollution

Emissions and discharges affecting environmental quality.

Avoided emissions

Indirect reductions generated through the use of a product/service.

Bilan Carbone®

French proprietary GHG accounting method (distinct from the GHG Protocol).

Biodiversity

Diversity and health of species, habitats and ecosystems.

Biodiversity footprint

Measure of activity impacts on ecosystems (dedicated indicators).

Biodiversity loss

Regression of species, habitats or ecological functions.

Biogenic emissions

Emissions originating from biomass (distinct from fossil).

Blue economy

Sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.

Business ethics

Guidelines on gifts, lobbying, fair competition.

Business relationships

Contractual/economic links with partners and subcontractors.

Carbon credit (t CO₂e)

Certificate for one verified tonne of CO₂e reduced/removed.

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e)

Common unit expressing various GHGs as CO₂ equivalents.

Carbon footprint

Total GHGs emitted by an organization, product or activity.

Carbon offsetting (offsets)

Financing/performing reductions or removals outside one’s own boundary.

CBAM

EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

Child labour / forced labour

Forms of employment prohibited by international standards.

Circular economy

Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle to limit waste and virgin resources.

Circular material use rate

Share of secondary resources reinjected into production.

Climate change adaptation

Adjustments of systems to limit damages and seize opportunities from climate impacts.

Climate change mitigation

Actions that reduce GHG emissions and strengthen carbon sinks.

Climate physical risk

Potential losses from extreme events or chronic trends.

Climate resilience

Ability to anticipate, absorb and adapt to climate effects.

Climate scenario analysis

Assessment of resilience under different scenarios (1.5°C/2°C, etc.).

Climate transition plan

Quantified roadmap (targets, capex/opex, governance) toward 1.5°C.

Climate transition risk

Exposure to regulatory, market, technology and reputational shifts.

Climate‑related opportunities

Potential benefits (new markets, efficiency, innovation).

Codes of conduct

Ethical rules governing expected behaviours (gifts, conflicts of interest).

Community engagement, volunteering & skills‑based pro bono

Employee time/skills dedicated to public‑interest causes.

Compliance

Adherence to laws, standards, policies and contractual requirements.

Confirmed case of corruption

Established act of corruption (bribery, embezzlement, facilitation payments).

Confirmed case of forced labour/trafficking

Verified human rights violation involving coercion/exploitation.

Conflicts of interest

A private interest compromises objectivity or the organization’s interest.

Corporate purpose

Organization’s fundamental reason for being beyond profit.

CSR (corporate social responsibility)

Voluntary integration of social and environmental concerns into strategy and operations.

CSRD

EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (includes double materiality).

Data protection (GDPR)

Respect of rights and security of personal data.

Decent wage

Pay covering essential needs in a given context.

Deforestation

Conversion/degradation of forest areas due to human activities.

Digital accessibility

Compliance of digital services (websites, apps, PDFs) with WCAG/RGAA standards.

Diversity targets/quotas

Numerical objectives for representation of under‑represented groups.

Diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI)

Policies and practices that foster representation, equity and an inclusive culture.

Double materiality

Company impacts on the world and the world’s impacts on the company.

DPEF

Former French non‑financial statement (superseded by CSRD).

Due diligence

Identification, prevention and remediation of social/environmental risks.

Eco‑design

Integration of environmental criteria from the design phase of a product/service.

Égalité professionnelle femmes‑hommes

Égalité des droits, carrières et rémunérations.

Employee engagement

Measured level of involvement/commitment (surveys, eNPS).

Employee participation

Mechanisms for employee voice/consultation (bodies, surveys, communities).

Employee retention

Ability to keep key talent.

Energy efficiency

Lower energy use for an equivalent level of service.

Energy sufficiency

Voluntary reduction of energy demand by changing uses.

Environmental & social audit

Independent evaluation of practices, management systems and ESG impacts.

Environmental claims

Verifiable, compliant messages that avoid greenwashing.

Equal pay

Elimination of unexplained remuneration gaps between groups.

ESRS

EU sustainability reporting standards detailing CSRD requirements.

Ethical labour practices

Fair treatment; ban on child/forced labour; decent working hours.

EU green taxonomy

Classification of environmentally sustainable economic activities.

Freedom of association & collective bargaining

Right to unionize and bargain collectively (ILO standards).

GHG Protocol

Global framework for accounting GHG emissions (Scopes 1, 2, 3).

Governance

Decision‑making, control and oversight structures and rules.

Green bond

Debt financing projects with verified environmental benefits.

Greenwashing

Misleading claims that exaggerate environmental performance.

GRI

International sustainability reporting framework.

Hazardous substances (REACH)

Management of SVHC substances and regulatory compliance.

Impact

Measurable effect of activities on society and the environment.

Information security (ISO 27001)

Management system to protect confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Integrated reporting

Publication combining financial and non‑financial information.

Internal carbon price

Internal price signal to steer decisions and investments.

ISO 50001

Energy management system standard.

ISSB / IFRS S1 & S2

Global investor‑focused standards (general & climate).

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

Metrics to track progress toward objectives.

Life cycle assessment (LCA)

Multi-criteria assessment of impacts from design to end‑of‑life of a product/service.

Living wage

Pay enabling a decent standard of living (often above ‘decent’).

Local anchoring

Positive contribution of an organization to local economic and social development.

LULUCF

Land Use, Land‑Use Change and Forestry (sources/sinks).

Materiality

Selection of priority topics based on impacts and stakeholder expectations.

Natural capital

Stocks of natural resources providing ecosystem services.

Nature‑based solutions (NbS)

Actions using ecosystems to address socio‑environmental challenges.

Net zero

Balance between minimized residual emissions and robust removals/compensation.

PCAF

Methodology to measure financed emissions of financial portfolios.

Prêts liés à la durabilité (KPI‑linked loans)

Prêts dont les conditions varient selon l’atteinte d’objectifs ESG.

Product durability & reparability

Design enabling long life, repairs and spare parts.

Product sustainability engagement

Integrating sustainability into product/service design and use.

Purpose‑driven company (France)

Legal status embedding a social/environmental purpose in bylaws.

Rapport de durabilité (extra‑financier)

Document consolidant résultats, risques et engagements ESG.

Reductions vs removals

Cutting emissions at source vs removing CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Renewable energy

Energy from naturally replenishing resources.

Responsible digital / IT footprint

Reducing IT impacts: web eco‑design, hardware, data, usage.

Responsible onboarding

New‑hire integration aligned with sustainability values.

Responsible procurement

Purchasing that integrates social, environmental and ethical criteria across the supplier lifecycle.

Responsible talent management

Career paths and evaluations aligned with sustainability goals.

Responsible tax

Transparency and paying tax where value is created.

SASB

Sector‑based ESG disclosure standards relevant to investors.

SBTi

Initiative validating science‑based emissions reduction targets (1.5°C).

SBTi FLAG

SBTi framework for Forest, Land and Agriculture.

Scope 1

Direct emissions (combustion, process, fleet).

Scope 2

Indirect emissions from purchased energy (electricity, heat, steam).

Scope 3

All other indirect value‑chain emissions (upstream/downstream, 15 categories).

SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals

UN’s 17 goals for sustainable development.

SEQE‑UE (ETS)

Système européen d’échange de quotas d’émission.

Social dialogue

Exchanges and negotiations between employers, employees and representatives.

Social justice

Fair distribution of resources, rights and opportunities.

Social taxonomy (under discussion)

Project to classify activities with social benefits.

Sous‑produit

Résidu réutilisable d’un processus de fabrication.

Stakeholders

Individuals/organizations affected by or influencing the company.

Sustainability label

Certification attesting compliance with sustainability criteria.

Sustainability policy

Document formalizing commitments, principles and internal roles.

Sustainability roadmap

Action plan structuring commitments, targets and KPIs.

Sustainability training & skills

Programs building understanding and capabilities on sustainability.

Sustainability‑linked bonds (SLB)

Bonds indexed to ESG KPIs (step‑up/step‑down).

Sustainable development

Meeting present needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs.

Sustainable supply chain

Supplier selection/management based on ESG criteria and due diligence.

Sustainable/green finance

Financial flows directed toward social and environmental objectives.

TCFD

Recommendations for climate‑related disclosures.

Territorial dialogue

Cooperation with local stakeholders on social/environmental issues.

TNFD

Framework for nature‑related risk and opportunity disclosures.

Total annual compensation

Base + variable pay + benefits over a year.

Traceability

Ability to track a product and its components throughout the supply chain.

Transparency

Clear, comprehensive and accessible communication on decisions and impacts.

Universal accessibility

Design of spaces, services and products usable by everyone without specific adaptation.

Value chain actors

Direct and indirect stakeholders from upstream to downstream of a product/service.

Vigilance plan

Document to prevent and monitor social/environmental risks across the value chain.

Vision, mission, values, strategy

Organization’s fundamental orientations and compass.

WASH

Access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

Waste management

Reduction, sorting, reuse, recycling, recovery; hazardous vs non‑hazardous.

Water footprint

Total freshwater used directly and indirectly.

Water stress (exposed areas)

Situation/area where water demand exceeds or approaches sustainable availability.

Wellbeing & quality of work life

Physical/mental health, work–life balance, work environment and psychosocial risks.

Workforce planning & responsible hiring

Ethical, inclusive hiring practices; bias mitigation.