The French Senate has published a report on corporate social responsibility, which highlights the value of the co-op model.
Co-ops can include a range of stakeholders, the report notes, and are also able to put social and solidarity goals ahead of economic ones.
Published on 25 June, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): an example to be better encouraged, argues that companies of various sizes are becoming increasingly aware of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The tendency of entrepreneurs to reduce their companies’ negative impact on society must be encouraged and valued, it adds.
The report includes 18 recommendations, including making CSR accessible to small and medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). It calls on the government to drive and facilitate corporate social responsibility and promote human rights-friendly international trade relations.
France is home to 23,000 co-operatives with 1.3 million employees and more than €300bn in turnover. Apex Coop FR was interviewed as part of this work in December 2019.
“The co-operative formula does not belong to the past,” added the report, which mentions platform co-operatives as a hybrid model that can brings together classical employment and self-employment.
The paper also acknowledges the long-term vision of co-operatives and their commitment to the one member, one vote principle.
