Expertise in avoided costs

Following on from its work on Impact Unicorns, Impact France has teamed up with Wavestone to conduct an exploratory study entitled "Economically valuing corporate commitment" to translate the impact of companies' social and environmental actions into avoided costs for society.

Seven case studies, seven levers for creating value

For each case, the analysis, based on a rigorous, transparent, and deliberately conservative methodology, makes it possible to quantify:
Download the Study

Key findings of the study

  • Companies' social and environmental commitments are already generating significant economic benefits for society, ranging from several hundred thousand euros to several billion euros.
  • The widespread adoption of these measures could save society tens of billions of euros in costs each year.
  • The analysis of costs avoided for society provides relevant analytical support to guide both public and private investment decisions .

Innovations of the companies studied

How can biomass accelerate the decarbonization of industrial sites?


Installation of a biomass boiler room at an industrial site (Evron, France).

Thisapproach makes it possible to replace fossil fuels with local renewable energy in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to heat production.

≈ €1.7 million in costs avoided for the company in 2024 through Bel's actions
≈ €51 million in costs avoided for society in 2024 through collective action
How can an active policy for hiring people with disabilities be implemented?

Hiring and retaining people with disabilities (France, national)

Thisapproach promotes the long-term professional inclusion of groups that are more vulnerable to unemployment, while contributing to social cohesion.
≈ €12.4 million in costs avoided for society in 2024 through Harmonie Mutuelle's actions
≈ €2.4 billion in costs avoided for society in 2024 through collective action
How can industrial water use be transformed into a circular model?

Closed-loop water recycling at a site (Lagorce, France)

This approach is based on the implementation of a closed-loop water recycling, recovery, and reuse system and helps to preserve a resource that is under pressure.
≈ €100,000 in costs avoided for the company in 2024 through the actions of L'Occitane en Provence
≈ €4.5 million in costs avoided for the company in 2024 through collective mobilization
How can intergenerational policies support local employment?

Employability of young people and seniors (France, national)

This approach promotes the employability of groups that are more vulnerable to unemployment, while contributing significantly to social cohesion and economic growth in local areas.

≈ €1.9 billion in costs avoided for society in 2024 through La Poste's actions 


Seniors: €1.5 billion & Young people: €354 million

≈ €100 billion in costs avoided for society in 2024 through collective mobilization
Seniors: €96 billion & Young people: €3.7 billion
How can logistics platforms be transformed into drivers of carbon-free mobility?

Electrification of logistics platform flows (Rungis, France)

Thisapproach reduces greenhouse gas emissions and pollution associated with logistics transport.

≈ €2.4 million in costs avoided for society in 2030 through collective action
How can waste centers be turned into low-carbon energy producers?

Methane capture & green electricity cogeneration (Ipéro, Brazil)

The studyanalyzes the effects of this action in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions: methane reduction and substitution of fossil-based electricity with renewable electricity.

≈ €29 per resident served in avoided costs for society in 2024 through Veolia's actions

Find the full study

Catherine Touvrey
Chief Executive Officer of Harmonie Mutuelle
"The unprecedented study conducted by Mouvement Impact France and Wavestone, using a pioneering and iterative approach, marks a new stage: the transition from conviction to quantified demonstration of impact. We are proud of this collective effort, which shows that the proactive approaches of committed companies are already significantly benefiting the community, providing a real incentive for greater mobilization by all, both private and public actors."
Florian Croce
General Manager of Manufacturing at L’Occitane en Provence
"Participating in this study allowed us to objectively confirm what we already suspected: corporate investments in sustainability are more than just a moral commitment. They are not only a lever for strengthening the robustness of our business model, but also a means of avoiding costs for the community and the various economic players in the Ardèche region."
Anne-Sophie Carrier
Managing Director of BEL France
"Contributing to this study is an opportunity for the Bel Group to demonstrate the relevance of its dual-pronged approach combining economic performance and environmental responsibility. Objectively assessing and promoting our actions is essential to accelerating the transition and playing a pioneering role that can inspire our entire ecosystem."
Jonathan Sebbane
Chief Executive Officer of Sogaris
At a time when climate change is struggling to remain high on the political agenda, Sogaris is reiterating and amplifying its commitment to decarbonizing logistics flows as a strategic priority, requiring a collective effort across the logistics value chain, backed by significant investment. Measuring the negative impacts avoided through monetization does not mean diverting attention from the primary effort to reduce impacts. Such an exploratory approach calls for humility in the analyses carried out, but highlights the need for systemic and multi-stakeholder interpretations."
Pierre-Yves Pouliquen
Director of Sustainable Development at Veolia
"It is more important than ever to ensure that public and private stakeholders recognize the positive impact of the solutions proposed and implemented by companies. Monetizing avoided costs is not the only way to do this, of course, but it is a particularly effective one."
Valerie Decaux
Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of human resources
"It was essential for La Poste to contribute to the development of new methodological standards via the 'avoided costs' approach on a subject as important as employment. The results of this study confirm La Poste's importance to the French socio-economic fabric and demonstrate that strong mobilization by companies in favor of inclusive employment can have a decisive impact on society as a whole."

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