Sustainable development and corporate social responsibility

For the past thirty years, public authorities have been promoting sustainable development, while private companies have been seeking to demonstrate their social responsibility. Sustainable development suggests a new project for society at a time when our threatened ecosystems require us to rethink the relationship between humans and nature and, to do so, to transform our economies. Social responsibility reflects a new perspective on the role of business in our societies, which now extends beyond the economic sphere.

Both terms have been the subject of numerous statements and analyses. What exactly do sustainable development and social responsibility mean? What are their main principles? What changes do they bring? How are the various players in society affected by their challenges?