On September 22, the event "A More Sustainable Institute" was held on campus to rally the staff community behind the Institut Pasteur's environmental, social and economic commitments.  

A strategic vision aligned with the "Pasteur 2030" plan

The Institut Pasteur, ever committed to the human-centered and progress-driven values of its founder, has made corporate social responsibility (CSR) an integral part of its Pasteur 2030 Strategic Plan.

A new CSR Roadmap sets a clear and ambitious trajectory to align world-class scientific excellence with the demands of a changing world. The event was an opportunity to explore the broad dimensions of CSR at the Institut Pasteur:

•    Part I: environmental dimension: 2023-2026 carbon footprint analysis and action plan
Presentation with the CSR/RSE Department, the Waste Management and Recycling (GVED) Department, the Real Estate and Technical (SIT) Department and Projet Celsius

•    Part II: social dimension: Developing talent and employability 

•    Part III: economic dimension: Ethics and sharing in research
 

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At the event, Alban Hautier, Senior Executive Vice-President, and Nathalie Denoyés, Vice-President Corporate Social Responsibility and Technical Resources, also presented the CSR Roadmap (which will be communicated to all staff over the coming months), the CSR training module developed by the CSR Department and HR teams, and the Practical Guide produced with the GreenTeam.

Link to the CSR training module

Link to the Practical Guide

A time for sharing views and ideas

The day also included plenty of time for discussion and collective reflection. The Initiatives Village gave a comprehensive overview of all CSR-related activities at the Institut Pasteur. Several guests also had stands, including Projet Celsius, Labos 1point5, Foodles and API Restauration. The aim was to create connections between staff, encourage buy-in to projects and promote in-house initiatives.

The workshops run with Labos 1point5 were an opportunity to identify new avenues and proposals to improve the Institut Pasteur's carbon reduction plan, especially drawing on experience and reflections from the scientific community. Several promising ideas emerged and will be presented to staff separately.
 

The workshop "Taking inspiration from utopia to conceive inhabitable worlds," led by François Bontems, encouraged participants to take a step back and reflect on possible changes at the Institut Pasteur beyond material questions by thinking about the meaning of work, organizational and governance methods, the role of individuals within teams, and how we relate to time. The discussions called into question certain widely held assumptions, such as the need for specialization, the emphasis on hierarchies and competition, the desire for ever greater speed, and the importance placed on publication and excellence. The idea also emerged of a more flexible organizational structure based on trust, autonomy, relevance of action and the sense of belonging to a community. Lastly, reflections on time and work spaces suggested the need for a new approach to the boundaries between work, rest, social life and spaces, and for conditions conducive to the development of an institute poised to address future challenges.
 

A dedicated cycle of sessions will be run in the coming months so that discussions can be continued and innovative approaches proposed to the management team. If you are interested in this initiative, please contact us: campus-vert@pasteur.fr  
 

workshop report
 A day for sharing ideas, challenging the status quo and building vision

Several questions were asked throughout the day, reflecting the high level of interest in these issues and the desire among the Institut Pasteur community to better understand the changes that are under way and their real-life impact.
These questions will all be addressed and dealt with in a separate message to staff aimed at providing answers and insights.
 

A look back in pictures

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From responsive measures to a proactive plan: ambitious, quantifiable targets

The Institut Pasteur's commitment to CSR, previously based on one-off initiatives or responses to regulatory developments, is undergoing a major change, transitioning from a responsive stance to a position of proactive, anticipatory leadership.

To guide our actions on a day-to-day basis, the CSR Roadmap sets out clear, measurable targets:

•    Climate and carbon reduction: 15% reduction in direct and indirect energy-related emissions (Scopes 1 & 2) by 2030 (compared with 2022) and 20% reduction in indirect emissions (Scope 3 – procurement, travel, etc.). Target of carbon neutrality by 2050.

•    Energy: 40% reduction in energy consumption in built assets on campus by 2030.

•    Biodiversity: 100% wastewater compliance and a pathway to 60% of trees with high carbon capture potential.

•    Responsible procurement: All calls for tenders to incorporate environmental and CSR criteria by 2026.

•    Awareness and engagement: Target of 1,000 staff having completed Climate Fresk training by 2030 and > 95% scientific publications in open access.
 

Many thanks to all participants for the fruitful discussions on September 22. Change is coming, and each and every individual has a part to play in it, from management to laboratories and offices!