“Without ESG governance, companies will struggle to adapt.”
“Without ESG governance, companies will struggle to adapt.”
Video interview with Vincent Canu, Managing Director of osapiens France.
osapiens is the co-founder of the working group on ESG regulation and governance, within the think tank “2030, Investing in Tomorrow,” an initiative launched in partnership by media outlets L’Agefi and ID l’Info Durable.
This working group aims to demonstrate how ESG regulatory compliance can serve as a strategic transformation lever and a driver of long-term value creation for companies.
Vincent Canu, Managing Director of osapiens France, identifies three major drivers of corporate transformation that can lead companies to better integrate ESG considerations: “The first and most common is regulation. Companies are required to measure and report on various action plans and internal processes, which forces them to engage in self-assessment and often realize they could reposition themselves differently. The second driver stems from changes in governance—such as the transfer of ownership to the founder’s children—who may be more attuned to certain causes or business models, and who implement new strategies more aligned with today’s challenges. Lastly, some companies must adapt simply to survive, as they face significant pressures linked to the environmental transition.”
Establishing Robust ESG Governance Is Becoming Essential
“In order to implement such a transformation, companies need a clear framework, defined processes, and leadership—something that is difficult to achieve without appropriate governance,” explains Vincent Canu, Managing Director of osapiens France. He notes “a stark contrast between, on one hand, large corporations that have already structured their ESG governance—albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness and scope—and, on the other hand, mid-sized and small businesses (ETIs and SMEs), which are significantly lagging behind on this complex topic that requires dedicated resources and time.”
Supporting companies in this transition is at the core of osapiens’ mission, through data collection, process implementation, and the development of actionable roadmaps, all framed within a coherent ESG governance structure.
You Can’t Improve What You Don’t Measure
While regulation is often the primary catalyst, the CSRD directive has sparked debate about its scope and constraints. “Climate change and adapting to planetary boundaries are part of a civilizational shift. Transformation is inevitable,” says Vincent Canu. “The aim of this regulation is to introduce transparency—requiring companies to identify how their various activities impact the planet. But we can’t improve what we don’t measure. Regulation is therefore essential. And companies that fail to adapt will disappear.”
Content written by Florent Berthat.
