Methodology for developing a reporting tool for the Social and Environmental Responsibility Action Plan (SER Action Plan)

Abstract

As part of its 2030 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, INRAE has developed an internal reporting tool to monitor the implementation of its 2021–2025 SER Action Plan (SER AP). Currently being finalized, this tool takes the form of a dashboard based on the Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility framework (SD&SR),. This tool serves two main purposes: a strategic one to guide and highlight INRAE’s SER performance, and an operational one to centralize, secure, and analyze data from the institute’s various units. The dashboard aligns the actions of the SER AP with the five axes of the SD&SR framework, facilitating monitoring and preparing for future certification. It also incorporates SER requirements: the “Service Public Eco-responsable” circular and the Objectives, Resources, and Performance Contract. Semantic and structural adjustments have been made to better reflect INRAE’s context, notably by including a «responsible digital» component and revising the «biodiversity» scope. Indicator selection is based on relevance, feasibility of data collection, and measurement quality, with special attention paid to year-on-year consistency. Despite some limitations due to evolving regulations and partial alignment with existing frameworks, the tool is one of the strategic lever to structure, manage, and enhance INRAE’s SER approach. It also positions the institute well for SD&SR certification as soon as it becomes available to research organizations.