Grenoble Ecole de Management has been involved in the field of CSR for several years. In 2021, it confirmed its place as the first Grande Ecole to become a société à mission and one of the rare business school to be a member of the Business Convention for Climate Change (Convention des entreprises pour le climat). Here, we focus on the founding commitments.
On February 25, 2021, Grenoble Ecole de Management secured its commitment to a responsible and sustainable future, by becoming a société à mission - the new measure created by the PACTE Law. Its Board of Directors voted unanimously in favor of this change to its Articles of Association, which confirms several years of societal commitment, in particular through the creation of the Economic Peace, Well-Being at Work, and Mindfulness Chair, and the implementation of CSR actions as of 2012.
Through its status as a société à mission, Grenoble Ecole de Management champions a raison d'être which is: "to provide answers, through training and research, to the major challenges of the ecological, societal, and economic transition and to contribute to a more resilient, more just, more peaceful, and more responsible world. This pioneering commitment in the Grandes Ecoles landscape is one of GEM's four strategic projects for 2025.
By capitalizing on its founding expertise in Technology and Innovation Management, in connection with the academic, scientific, and economic world, GEM aims to be recognized as one of the most innovative and influential business schools of its time on the issues of technological, ecological, and social transitions. GEM also secures its commitments to educational transitions as a Business Lab for Society.
GEM, a Stakeholder in the Business Convention for Climate Change
In April 2021, Loïck Roche, Managing Director of Grenoble Ecole de Management, joined the second wave of 30 leaders selected to participate in the Business Convention for Climate Change (CEC). He joins other leaders of important organizations in the Grenoble area which have an influence in France and abroad, such as ARaymond, Photoweb, Petzl, and Keria.
The Business Convention for Climate Change (CEC) runs from July 2021 to March 2022. The selected leaders constitute a collective of 150 decision-makers whose mission is to co-construct the roadmaps aligning their companies with the objectives given to citizens in 2019. These roadmaps will serve two purposes.
- Firstly, to propose ambitious and credible internal initiatives that will enable the company to act to regenerate biodiversity and meet a national carbon trajectory of at least -40% by 2030.
- Secondly, to contribute to a platform of proposals intended for the political world and for the candidates for the 2022 presidential election.
The 30 managers signed a participation charter, which shows their commitment to the CEC's proactive approach.
A Zero Waste Campus
In terms of sustainable and responsible development, the Grenoble School is continuing its quest for a 0-waste Campus, initiated in 2017, and is teaming up with three new service providers: dabba (container-return system), Behring (organic and sparkling drink fountains "Fabrik à boissons"), and Newcy (reusable cup solution).
Last but not least, GEM is now taking a step forward as an observer school at COP26. The Grenoble School plans to send a delegation of seven people, including a researcher specializing in the Anthropocene at GEM and six students from several GEM associations, to attend COP26.
"Sustainability Passports" for all GEM Students
Grenoble Ecole de Management (GEM) launched "Sustainability Passports" last September. What's the purpose of these passports? To promote the understanding and commitment of its students in the face of climate and societal emergencies, in line with the five major commitments of the Grenoble School. The Sustainability Passports will be available in two formats, and its various names reflect the words that have made up GEM's motto since 2015 "Act, Think, Impact".
Level 1 "THINK Sustainability Passport" to Support and Enhance the Acquisition of Basic Knowledge:
Students must participate in a minimum of four THINK capsules - a minimum of seven hours of work. The THINK capsules correspond to activities in various formats, face-to-face or virtual (conference, workshops, murals, MOOC etc.), and target various subjects (climate change, biodiversity, using digital technology mindfully, diversity & inclusion, discovery of the SDGs - Sustainable Development Goals etc.). The Sulitest (Sustainability Literacy Test) will be a mandatory capsule to apply for Passport validation.
Level 2 "ACT & THINK Sustainability Passport" to Enhance and Support Understanding and Commitment to Sustainability:
In addition to participating in the four THINK capsules, students will have to complete an ACT experience: an active and voluntary contribution to a practical project in response to at least one of the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). To have the passport validated, the student will have to qualify the positive impact of his or her ACT experience in terms of skill contributions and in terms of its impact on society.
