The Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSR) has become a major issue in recent years. Aware of this evolution, HEC Junior Conseil has been fully committed to this approach for the past four years. This dynamic has been confirmed by the choice ofHervé Navellou - President of l'Oréal France - as sponsor for the 2023-2024 term, which has encouraged us to broaden our offer towards these themes of tomorrow.
Every year, HEC Junior Conseil carries out more than 30 CSR-related assignments for a wide range of clients includingENGIE Solutions, the French Ministry of Health, the Ardian Foundation and WWF, among others. We have also collaborated with the La Poste Group on a CSR literature review and a benchmark of ESG indicatorsindicators, with the aim of strengthening communication on the Group's positive impact.
The need for La Poste
In June 2021, La Poste adopted the status as a Mission-driven company, incorporating its raison d'être and four commitments into its articles of association, thus reaffirming its desire to pursue social action at the heart of its DNA. With this in mind, La Poste Group wanted to call on the services of a Junior Entreprise to identify competing ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) initiatives to be integrated at the heart of its ESG reporting.
Seduced by the professionalism and rigor of the HEC Junior Conseil team, Groupe La Poste entrusted us with this six-week assignment in April 2024.
A recurring problem for companies today
This is a recurring problem for large groups, who struggle to find their way through the multitude of indicators. There are several categories of indicators, each with a distinct scope: impact indicators, which are directly linked to the company's activity; ESG indicators, which take indirect externalities into account; and objectives and means indicators, which lend credibility to an approach that is still under construction. We can also differentiate between standard and consolidated indicators, which are often used at Group level in reporting processes, but which can obscure the specific local impact. The latter can be better understood through ad hoc indicators, developed in consultation with local stakeholders.
Our solution: a benchmark identifying best practices and tomorrow's solutions
Twenty-three companies, carefully selected on the basis of their sector, business model or image, were closely examined to analyze their ESG reporting. These analyses revealed various strategic positions in terms of communication, based on several structuring variables, such as the use of different types of indicators.
Example of a company sheet (NB: some information has been masked for confidentiality reasons)
At the same time, we carried out documentary research by analyzing reports and theses in order to grasp all the issues involved in ESG reporting. We also studied the methodology and indicators used by rating agencies and certification bodies.
The impact of this study on La Poste Group
This study will enable La Poste Group to adopt an approach tailored to its material challenges, consistent, honest and well-justified, thanks to indicators that provide a comprehensive picture of the company's main challenges. This was an important assignment for HEC Junior Conseil, as it enabled us to position ourselves as a benchmark player in CSR consulting. Since then, we have continued to support our customers in addressing new ESG-related issues. The deliverables, submitted in May, will be used by the Board of Directors to guide the Group's future ESG communication and reporting strategy. Our aim is to to be able to offer solutions to all companies facing the challenges of tomorrow, by offering them our expertise and our young, innovative approach.
