The Luxembourg association IMS (for Inspiring More Sustainability) has existed for 15 years and brings together many Luxembourg companies that have decided to invest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues.
IMS is at the origin of the Luxembourg Diversity Charter. It goes one step further with the creation of an academy dedicated to in-company training around these same crucial subjects. Sandrine Grumberg, its director, has been active for fifteen years on topics related to sustainable development, particularly in sustainable procurement and purchasing in companies.
Sandrine Grumberg, IMS director © Focalize.lu Emmanuel Claude
Sandrine Grumberg : “In fact, the CSR training offer already existed in Luxembourg, but we are the first to work 100% on CSR themes. Our role is to match sustainability objectives to concrete situations and objectives encountered in companies.”
Some examples in the field of real estate?
Training can concern waste management in vertical housing, the integration of more sustainable and circular criteria in projects, more transparency, environmental and societal reporting, etc. The Sustainability Academy raises companies’ awareness very early on, for example, to better consider the links between a real estate project and the biodiversity that surrounds it. We start from the SBTI (Science-Based Targets Initiative *), developed following COP 21, whose philosophy is simple: let’s listen to the scientific world and reduce our carbon footprint.
In practice, do you go to companies to convey these messages to staff at the request of management?
That’s right. But I must admit that the first challenge is for companies to integrate these CSR aspects into their strategic training plan. Too often, we are still faced with encouraging statements such as “Yes, excellent subject, but there are no requests from our staff”. And so, clearly, there is an urgent need for companies to no longer treat CSR topics solely as communication opportunities, but for these topics to also become more strategic. They should feature in training plans.
*Around 2,000 global companies have committed to “science-based” targets that are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global warming to a level well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels and continue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
Tags: CSR, Luxembourg, Sandrine Grumberg, SBTI., Sustainability Academy, Sustainable Development
