Our Social and Environmental Commitments
Learn about our commitments to corporate social responsibility—a global vision, a comprehensive commitment.
Our CSR Commitment, by Denis Le Bossé, President
As a business law firm with over 35 years of expertise in debt collection and as a trusted third party, our work places us at the center of the dialogue between companies and suppliers on a daily basis, helping to foster, maintain, and strengthen positive client relationships based on the values of respect, trust, and transparency.
Beyond that, the ultimate goal of our mission is to protect economic actors in increasingly unstable and unpredictable environments that threaten their long-term viability.
This mission is now aligned with the company’s approach to corporate social responsibility and non-financial performance—an approach that an increasing number of our clients and partners are adopting, not only in response to an increasingly stringent French, European, and international regulatory framework, but also, and above all, to meet the expectations of their stakeholders regarding social and environmental issues, particularly climate change.
Given our mission, we must strive to set an example—going beyond the specific requirements of our business while remaining consistent with them. That is why we have launched an initiative, with the help of Parangone—a consulting firm specializing in CSR strategy and transformation that has been supporting companies and organizations for over 13 years—to take our commitment to the next level, an effort that had previously been driven step-by-step by our teams.
Our goal is to make the coming years a time for building robust commitments, by making each of our employees a key player and ambassador for the best practices we aim to implement, and by equipping ourselves with the methods and tools needed to measure and report on a sincere, authentic, and impactful approach.
We outline these initiatives below and are committed to implementing them as part of our ongoing efforts to optimize our CSR policy.
AFNOR Certification has certified our firm
We have been awarded the “Engagé RSE” and “Responsibility Europe” certifications by AFNOR Certification to demonstrate our effective contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
We chose AFNOR Certification’s “Engagé RSE” label to demonstrate our commitment to sustainable development. This label has very stringent requirements: more than 50 criteria are evaluated in accordance with the ISO 26000 standard and the Sustainable Development Goals.
More than just a self-assessment or an online questionnaire, the Engagé RSE certification is awarded following an on-site evaluation conducted every 18 months. We provide an independent evaluator with objective evidence of our management of the social, environmental, and economic impacts of our activities. The evaluator challenges us and encourages us to improve. Employee representatives at all levels of our organization are interviewed, as are external stakeholders. This certification attests to the comprehensiveness and consistency of our approach to continuous improvement. It also demonstrates that we have identified our stakeholders and established a dialogue with them to understand and address their expectations.
The seven areas assessed by the Engagé RSE label correspond to the seven core issues of ISO 26000 (governance, human rights, labor relations and working conditions, the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, and communities and local development).
This label also enjoys international recognition through the “Responsibility Europe ” brand, of which the Engagé RSE label is one of three European partners.
Created at the initiative of the AFNOR Group (France),the INDR (Luxembourg), andEcoparc (Switzerland), Responsibility Europe brings together leading CSR labels that are rigorous and pragmatic, demonstrate genuine added value, and contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A proactive and forward-looking approach
For more than 35 years now , our company has been committed to doing everything in our power to help reduce payment lead times among economic actors. This is at the heart of our business and is an integral part of what we owe our clients. But our vision extends further; we also strive to contribute to various initiatives aimed at improving governance, transparency, and compliance. This involvement is part of our vision of what a commitment to social and environmental responsibility should entail. It is in this spirit that we choose to anticipate, as much as possible, any regulatory and legal requirements in this area, so that we can be both a driving force for change and a true advocate.
Presentation by Régis Faucon
Sales Director Cabinet ARC
To ensure a committed and effective CSR approach,
we rely on trusted third parties and authoritative solutions
We apply the same standards to our decisions regarding social and environmental responsibility as we do to our day-to-day operations. That is why we prioritize leading, recognized partners and industry-standard solutions to translate our policy into concrete, day-to-day actions.
We have chosen Parangone, a Mission-Driven Company since 2021, to support us in a practical and realistic effort to improve our environmental, societal, and social initiatives.
Our approach is structured around the following three main areas:
- Environmental
- Social Services
- Governance
Environment: Assessing and Managing Our Environmental Impact
Against the backdrop of the climate emergency and the need to restore biodiversity and ecosystems, the Cabinet ARC intends to do its part—within the scope of its operations and in consultation with its stakeholders—to reduce its environmental footprint, based on the completion of an initial carbon assessment, which is essential for measuring progress and embedding a data-driven culture.
Measuring Our Footprint to Take Effective Action
In order to develop and implement a coherent action plan, a carbon assessment is now conducted annually using the GCI (Global Climate Initiative) tool.
Our carbon footprint takes into account the direct and indirect emissions associated with our activities, including:
- direct emissions from business travel and fuel consumption;
- indirect emissions associated with the energy consumption of buildings;
- emissions related to employees' commutes;
- emissions resulting from the use of the firm’s assets, particularly its computer equipment.
Summary of the carbon footprint of the web Cabinet ARC,
; estimated emissions in tCO2e
The major expense categories that stand out are employee travel, our IT equipment, and our energy consumption.
We are continuing our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. Since conducting our first energy audit, these efforts have resulted in a 17% reduction in our emissions.
Implementing Our Environmental Commitments
Identifying Opportunities for Optimization with Our Suppliers: Two suppliers have been identified as priorities: our IT services partner and our waste management contractor. Working meetings will be gradually organized to discuss their current practices and processes and to work with them to identify areas for improvement.
Our offices are accessible by public transportation, and employees are encouraged to use it
Adopting eco-friendly habits in our daily lives, with the involvement of all our employees:
- Continuously raising their awareness of best practices forreducing electricity consumption(completely shutting down workstations, automated systems for checking and turning off lights, and judicious use of air conditioning and heating).
- A focus oninvesting in the most environmentally friendly solutions(full LED lighting, air conditioning maintenance, selecting the most energy-efficient models, and eliminating single-use items in break areas in favor of reusable personal containers).
- Direct access to the offices via various modes of public transportation, and an incentive for employees to choose these modes of transportation.
Implementation of a responsible clearing solution:
In early 2024, we launched a partnership with OCO to provide financial support for a biodiversity restoration project: Gaston's Farm
This agroforestry project led by Tine and Dries in Saint-Aubin-le-Monial (Allier) aims to plant more than 2,000 trees and plants, offsetting the equivalent of 442 metric tons of CO₂ over the course of the entire project.
With a strong focus on the biodiversity of their environment, this project—rooted in the heart of the municipality of 260 residents—will help provide resources for pollinating insects, as well as fruit and fodder for their livestock.
Our Participation in the “La Ferme de Gaston” Project
Implementing Our Responsible Digital Policy
To reduce our environmental footprint and improve our operational efficiency, we have implemented several measures to digitize our operations:
- We promote remote work and communication by prioritizing the use of videoconferencing and online collaboration tools, thereby reducing the need for travel and the associated carbon footprint
- We use an Electronic Document Management (EDM) solution to manage our documents online efficiently and securely, thereby reducing our paper consumption and the costs associated with printing and physical storage.
- We have fully digitized our accounting by adopting online financial management solutions, which allows us to reduce our paper usage and streamline our financial management processes
- Payments of recovered funds to clients are made exclusively by bank transfer, which ensures fast and secure processing of transactions while reducing the use of paper checks and processing times. This also saves space for archiving, improves accounting records, and helps combat VAT fraud.
- We have adopted the DocuSign solution for electronic document signing, which enables secure, fast, and eco-friendly management of our contracts and agreements by eliminating the need for printing, handwritten signatures, and mailing.
These digital transformation initiatives demonstrate our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint while improving our operational efficiency through the responsible adoption of digital technologies.
Throughout 2026, we plan—in particular through the establishment of our ambassador network—to raise awareness among our employees about responsible digital practices and habits.
Social: Fostering the well-being of our employees and social progress
The men and women who work at our company are our greatest asset. It is the quality of their work, their unwavering commitment to our customers, and their loyalty that have enabled us to become a market leader today. Therefore, it is only natural that our CSR priority matrix places social issues at the top of our list of priorities.
Ensuring fulfilling work conditions for our employees
At the Cabinet ARC, we firmly believe that well-being, professional fulfillment, and diversity are essential to ensuring the success and sustainability of our company. Our human resources charter reflects our commitment to creating an ethical, inclusive, and respectful work environment where everyone can thrive and fully contribute to our mission.
To ensure the well-being of our employees, we implement and uphold the right to disconnect. We monitor the use of digital tools during work hours to ensure that rest periods, vacation time, and personal and family life are respected.
In the same vein, our flexible remote work policy allows our employees to work remotely up to two days a week, and in some cases, to work remotely full-time for those who face transportation challenges.
We listen to our employees and maintain an open dialogue with them to prevent psychosocial risks and provide support when needed.
Maximum amount of time allowed for remote work for positions that permit it
Since 2025, a campaign to raise awareness about posture, well-being, and health in the workplace has been implemented.
This program is designed to remind employees of the actions and habits they should adopt to maintain their physical health. It is supplemented by training on psychosocial risks in the workplace.
A Commitment to the Employability of Older Adults
The firm is partnering with Seniors Force Plus to take concrete action to promote employment among seniors—a valuable source of experience for businesses, yet one that is often overlooked by companies. Thong Chhor, founder of Seniors Force Plus, stated in the media:“In France, the employment rate for seniors is lower than the European average: in 2023, 58.4% of people aged 55 to 64 were employed in France, compared to 63.9% in the European Union, according to the Ministry of Labor. However, with pension reform, increased life expectancy, a declining birth rate, and a steadily shrinking workforce, we will have to work longer to contribute to France’s economic development. Yet companies tend to let go of employees aged 50 and older; they neither hire nor train them. This undeniably reduces their employability.”
On December 11, 2025, the firm participated in the 2nd National Summit on Senior Employment, organized by Seniors Force Plus, alongside CAC 40 companies that are also committed to this cause. The firm has participated in this event since its first edition in 2024.
Maintain regular communication with our employees
All of our employees were surveyed as part of our stakeholder survey. The results of this survey helped us identify our employees’ main expectations:
- The implementation of a training program on CSR issues
- The implementation of regular internal communications and internal events that foster team cohesion
- The opportunity for employees to contribute to the process of continuous improvement (environmentally friendly practices, establishment of working groups)
Since 2024, we have been conducting an employee satisfaction survey to compile an annual barometer on this topic. This barometer serves as a key driver for informing and guiding our continuous improvement process.
Developing our employees' skills
When new employees join us, we provide a comprehensive 4-month training program on the firm’s methods and tools, ensuring their successful integration.
We firmly believe that raising awareness and providing training for our employees are essential to effectively integrating CSR into our corporate culture. To this end, we partnered with the agency Parangone to develop a training program offered to all our employees on April 26, 2024. The goal was to equip them with the tools to understand the context—particularly the regulatory landscape—so they can effectively anticipate changes in the expectations of our clients and prospects, as well as to provide them with a clear understanding of our approach, enabling them to contribute to it.
Since 2025, a training plan has been implemented to organize and schedule continuing education for our employees.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
The fight against all forms of discrimination is an integral part of our values, and we have always been committed to implementing inclusive hiring processes.
In 2024, we became a signatory to the Diversity Charter.
Beyond simply adhering to the values set forth in this charter, the “ cabinet Arc ” must now use it as a tool for education and communication to help educate and raise awareness among everyone about social inclusion.
Since 2024, we have formalized and communicated our commitment to equal opportunity in hiring, and we are actively committed to the inclusion of employees with disabilities.
Our Social Initiatives: A Commitment to Making Our Experts' Expertise Available to Society
- We provide free updates on legal developments and advice to businesses regarding debt collection through our website and social media channels (LinkedIn, Instagram—videos on Instagram; our latest video on electronic invoicing requirements and solutions has received 12,000 views).
- For the past 13 years, in partnership with IFOP, we have been conducting the annual survey on corporate cash flow, SME financing, and debt collection, and we have been proposing solutions to reduce payment terms. This survey is presented each year to an audience of business leaders, chief financial officers, and credit managers.
- Since last year, we have been conducting interim surveys, in part to shed light on how businesses perceive the French economy.
- Since October 2023, one of our employees has been contributing to our support for the public justice system as a judge at a consular court, which is freely accessible to all companies.
By providing updates on legal developments in the area of debt collection, we help keep businesses informed and raise their awareness of regulatory changes.
Governance: Sharing Our Commitments with Our Stakeholders
Driven and embodied by senior management and the executive committee—with the goal of integrating ESG criteria into the company’s overall strategy and organizational structure—our approach to corporate social responsibility and continuous improvement is rooted in the long-standing values of the Cabinet ARC, foremost among them ethics, and in a culture of dialogue with our internal and external stakeholders.
Our Ethical Commitments
Ethics is a core value of our business. It therefore naturally serves as a primary framework for structuring our corporate social responsibility commitments and sharing them with our stakeholders. Our ethical commitments are set forth in our Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility Charter. This charter guides our conduct, actions, and decision-making, affirming principles of respect for human rights, business integrity, and data protection, while promoting continuous improvement.
The web Cabinet ARC is firmly committed to upholding the following principles:
- Compliance with the Law and Ethical Standards: We are committed to strictly complying with the law and adhering to the highest ethical standards in all our activities. We believe that legal compliance, accountability, and transparency are the fundamental pillars of our commitment to all our stakeholders, whether they are our customers, our partners, or society as a whole.
- Prevention of Corruption and Fraud: Corruption, in all its forms, is unacceptable and incompatible with our values. Cabinet ARC is committed to actively combating corruption, whether through the solicitation, offering, or acceptance of bribes, conflicts of interest, fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, or any other form of corruption. We reject any unethical practices and are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations regarding the fight against corruption.
- Fair Competition and Respect for Property Rights: We firmly believe that there can be no fair competition or respect for property rights unless organizations deal with one another honestly, fairly, and with integrity. Cabinet ARC is committed to complying with competition laws and protecting the intellectual property rights of its clients and partners.
In addition, the Cabinet ARC is taking the following measures to ensure compliance with these principles:
- Commitment to the AFA, the ACPR, and the Sapin 2 Law: We are firmly committed to strictly adhering to the guidelines of the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) and to scrupulously complying with the provisions of the Sapin 2 Law regarding the fight against corruption and money laundering. Furthermore, the Cabinet ARC is fully committed to complying with the WASERMAN Act, enacted in France on February 16, 2022. This Act strengthens the effectiveness of the Sapin 2 Act by clarifying the status of whistleblowers, guiding their procedures, and reinforcing their rights, as well as those of individuals or organizations that support them.
- As an active member of the French Association of Credit and Receivables (AFDCC) and the National Association of Financial and Management Control Directors (DFCG), Cabinet ARC is firmly committed to upholding the highest standards of professional ethics and corporate social responsibility.
Our Responsible Purchasing Policy
The unique nature of our business makes us particularly mindful of meeting payment deadlines, which is the top priority of a responsible procurement policy. Furthermore, our purchases account for a significant portion of our emissions, totaling 28.66 tCO2e, making them the third-largest source of emissions at the Cabinet Arc.
Our responsible procurement policy aims to assess and minimize the potential negative impacts of our purchases. We are committed to maintaining fair and sustainable relationships with our suppliers, selecting suppliers who adhere to strict ethical and environmental standards, and promoting responsible procurement practices within our organization.
We are committed to meeting agreed-upon payment deadlines, thereby fostering fair and transparent business relationships . We engage in dialogue with our suppliers and ensure that they uphold our commitments to corporate social responsibility. We expect our suppliers to provide the same quality of service that we offer our customers.