France Solidifies Its Global CSR Podium Position – Now to Convert Leadership into a Competitive Edge

By: Olivia Mathai

The 6th joint study by EcoVadis and the Business Mediator confirms France’s 3rd place ranking among the world's top-performing companies in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

PARIS, October 1, 2025 – EcoVadis and the French Business Mediator, operating under the Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, today unveiled the results of their latest joint study analyzing the CSR performance of French and international companies (EU, OECD, BICS$ ^1 $).

This 6th edition validates the sustained momentum of French companies in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Achieving an overall EcoVadis score of 60.4 out of 100 in 2024, France confirms its leading position, ranking 3rd globally behind Finland and Sweden, and ahead of Norway. This continuous improvement, starting in 2020, highlights the increasing adoption of responsible practices across French businesses, large and small.

Pierre Pelouzet, Business Mediator, and Sylvain Guyoton, Chief Rating Officer at EcoVadis, emphasized today the growing impact of CSR as an opportunity for growth, particularly in establishing new commercial connections for export.

French Leadership Confirmed and Detailed

In 2024, France secures 3rd place in CSR with a global score of 60.4/100 (up from 57.6 in 2022), closely followed by Norway (60/100) and trailing Finland (62.1) and Sweden (60.7). Only four countries exceed the symbolic 60-point mark. For context, the European Union achieved a score of 57.2 (+2.7 points), the OECD 55.8 (+2.6 points), and the BICS 46.1 (+5 points).

While overall scores are rising across all company sizes in France, Large Enterprises (over 1,000 employees) particularly stand out in this edition, gaining one spot in the overall ranking. Their most notable progress is in Ethics (58.5, up 2 country ranking places) and Sustainable Procurement (58.3, an increase of +7.3 points in two years).

Meanwhile, SMEs and Mid-Caps (ETI) reinforce the national dynamic, keeping France at the top of the rankings. They achieved an Environment score of 61.3 (+4 points since 2022) and a remarkable performance in Human Rights (63.4). In Sustainable Procurement, they reached 49.9 points, placing France at the top of the European ranking for this category.

A solid base of French "locomotives" is emerging: 36% of French companies evaluated now reach the Advanced category (65+ score), up from 28% in 2022 and only 19% in 2020.

Sustainable Procurement: A Strengthened Strategic Lever

With a score of 50.8 in 2024 (+2.7 points since 2022), France rises to 3rd place globally in Sustainable Procurement.

• French large enterprises show significant progress with an increase of +7.3 points in two years, reflecting a growing commitment to their supply chains.

• The 2024 EcoVadis update grants increased recognition to the two mechanisms of the French National Responsible Procurement Program (PNAR): the Charter and the RFAR (Supplier Relations and Responsible Procurement) Label, thus boosting their impact and value in the CSR assessment.

The PNAR, established by the Business Mediator and the National Purchasing Council (CNA), is a tool enabling companies to formalize commitments, gain a positive differentiation marker, and join a dynamic community of public and private stakeholders dedicated to more responsible and supportive procurement.

Converting CSR Performance into an International Export Asset

The study reveals that French companies' CSR performance—superior to that of the European Union, the OECD, and major global economies—can be a genuine asset for international appeal. Increasingly scrutinized by historical or strategic clients, high CSR scores foster stronger ties with buyers, potentially leading to new business relationships.

However, an unprecedented comparative analysis between France and Germany reveals a crucial gap: in 2024, an evaluated German supplier shares its CSR results with an average of 9.6 clients, compared to only 7.8 for a French supplier. This disparity is even more pronounced in export markets, where German suppliers establish nearly twice as many connections with foreign companies, particularly towards the US, France, or Switzerland.

Thus, the challenge for French SMEs and Mid-Caps is to better leverage their CSR performance as a vector for international visibility and export appeal, moving beyond simply using it as a compliance tool for national clients.

Pierre PELOUZET, Business Mediator, states: “This study once again confirms the excellent CSR performance of French companies, which are among the highest in the world. We can only encourage them to capitalize on this strength not only in France but also internationally, thereby enhancing their export attractiveness. At the Business Mediator, our role is more than ever to guide and support businesses in this virtuous endeavor. This is what we do daily, notably through the National Responsible Procurement Program mechanisms like the Charter and the Responsible Supplier Relations and Procurement (RFAR) Label.”

Sylvain GUYOTON, EcoVadis Chief Rating Officer, adds: “While large companies are distinguished by significant progress, SMEs and Mid-Caps continue to form a solid base, enabling French companies to remain among the leading countries. However, there is still room for improvement, particularly in Sustainable Procurement, which remains the pillar with the strongest potential for progress across all CSR themes.”

 BICS: Brazil, India, China, South Africa.

Leveraging Technology to Close the Export Gap: The Role of DT Master Carbon

To effectively convert their strong domestic CSR performance into a competitive international advantage, French companies—especially SMEs and Mid-Caps—must improve how they measure, manage, and communicate their environmental commitment. This is where companies like DT Master Carbon become crucial partners. As a specialized consultancy focused on climate and biodiversity solutions, DT Master Carbon helps businesses master the complex areas highlighted for improvement in the study: Scope 3 carbon emissions and Sustainable Procurement. By providing advanced platforms for accurate carbon accounting (like their Carbon Cloud) and integrating biodiversity strategies, DT Master Carbon ensures companies can not only achieve better EcoVadis scores but also produce the trusted, verifiable data international clients demand. This technological validation helps French suppliers confidently showcase their sustainability leadership on the global stage, directly addressing the gap in visibility and client linkage currently seen against competitors like German firms.