What is the LUCIE label?
In a context where companies must now prove the sincerity and consistency of their commitments, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an essential pillar of sustainable performance. But between multiple regulatory frameworks, international standards, and growing stakeholder expectations, one question remains: how can companies structure and promote their CSR approach in a credible way?
The LUCIE label provides a concrete answer to this question. Recognized as one of the most comprehensive CSR labels in France, it supports organizations in implementing a responsible strategy based on ISO 26000, the international standard for sustainable development. More than just an assessment, the LUCIE label offers a continuous improvement approach focused on progress, transparency, and the creation of shared value.
Obtaining the LUCIE label means choosing to anchor your CSR commitments in a structured, measurable, and recognized framework. It also means joining a community of committed companies that share the same ambition: to combine economic performance with positive impact.
But beyond the label itself, the real strength of this approach lies in the implementation of a concrete action plan capable of integrating cross-cutting issues such as reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the low-carbon transition.
In this context, tools such as Global Climate Initiatives' (GCI) Decarbo'Solution® are proving to be effective levers for extending and strengthening the label's commitments by helping companies measure, manage, and improve their environmental performance.
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The LUCIE Label: a benchmark for companies committed to CSR
An approach based on ISO 26000
The LUCIE Label is based on a solid foundation: the international standard ISO 26000, published in 2010, which defines guidelines for social responsibility in organizations. It is also in line with environmental initiatives such as the ISO 14001, which provides a framework for environmental management and reducing the impact of a company's activities.
This standard is not limited to technical requirements: it helps companies to consider their overall impact on society, the environment, and the economy. It is structured around seven key issues, ranging from governance to fair practices, human rights, working conditions, and environmental protection.
Based on this recognized standard, the LUCIE Label provides organizations with a clear, structured, and universal framework that is suitable for all sectors and all sizes of organizations. It enables every organization—whether an SME, large group, local authority, or association—to measure its CSR maturity and identify areas for improvement.
This progressive and pragmatic approach sets LUCIE apart from simple certification: it is a strategic management tool that promotes sustainable skills development rather than one-off checks.
A unifying label accessible to all organizations
Unlike other labels that are perceived as complex or reserved for large organizations, LUCIE was designed to be accessible to all. TheLUCIE Agency, created in 2007, has developed several levels of support and recognition, including LUCIE Progress for companies new to CSR. This simplified self-assessment tool allows you to carry out an initial diagnosis, identify priority actions, and then progress step by step towards full certification.. A community has formed around the label. true community of committed companiesthe LUCIE Community, which now has more than 1,000 members. This network provides a forum for discussion, sharing best practices, and mutual support among stakeholders who believe that a responsible economy can be synonymous with sustainable performance. The strength of the label therefore lies as much in its demanding standards as in its collective dynamic, which encourages organizations to cooperate rather than compete..Credible and demanding recognition
Obtaining the LUCIE Label involves committing to a rigorous process.
After aself-assessment phase, the company undergoes an independent audit carried out by a third-party organization that is a long-standing partner of the LUCIE Agency. This audit validates the consistency of the approach, assesses the progress made, and helps to co-develop a three-year action plan.
This plan becomes the organization's CSR roadmap: it sets specific objectives, monitoring indicators, and verifiable commitments. Every three years, a new audit is conducted to measure progress and renew the label.
This logic of continuous progress distinguishes LUCIE from purely declarative labels: here, the company commits to evolving, questioning itself, and demonstrating the reality of its actions.
Furthermore, transparency is at the heart of the approach: certified companies publish their commitments on the LUCIE Agency website, thus offering clear and credible visibility to their stakeholders—customers, investors, employees, and institutional partners.
This requirement for consistency and traceability reinforces the value of the label in CSR and ESG strategies.
In summary, the LUCIE Label acts as a reference framework for all companies that wish to make CSR a strategic and measurable lever. It does not simply certify an intention, but helps to build a concrete action plan based on reliable indicators and collective commitment.
This natural progression paves the way for a new stage: taking action, which the next section explores through the steps of LUCIE certification.
The LUCIE Label process: structuring and implementing your commitment to social responsibility
Obtaining the LUCIE Label is much more than just symbolic recognition. It is a genuine roadmap that helps organizations bring lasting consistency to their social, societal, and environmental initiatives.
The certification process is structured around three key stages: an internal analysis, an independent external assessment, and then the implementation of concrete measures to drive progress.
Taking stock: understanding your strengths and priorities
The first phase consists of conducting a comprehensive self-assessment.
Using the LUCIE framework—based on the ISO 26000 standard —the organization examines its practices according to seven key themes: governance, human rights, workplace relations, environment, loyalty, customer satisfaction, and local roots.
This exploration makes it possible to measure the overall maturity of the structure and identify the most sensitive issues.
This period of introspection is often revealing. It encourages teams to question their habits, to value initiatives already in place, and to identify areas for improvement.
It is also a motivating moment: everyone, from managers to employees, can contribute to defining future directions and generating new ideas.
For small organizations, the simplified LUCIE Progress version is the ideal starting point. It allows you to quickly assess your level of commitment and lay the foundations for a responsible strategy, without administrative burdens or complex prerequisites.
Operational levers: data, indicators, and transparency
Once this preparatory work has been completed, an independent auditor takes over.
Their role is to provide an objective view of the consistency of the CSR project.
This expert meets with managers, consults reference documents, and compares the practices announced with the reality on the ground.
This exchange goes beyond simple verification: it promotes a strategic and supportive interpretation of social commitment.
The auditor highlights strengths, suggests areas for improvement, and helps structure a continuous improvement program tailored to the size and sector of the organization.
Once this work is complete, the LUCIE certification committee reviews the application and decides whether or not to grant official recognition.
This validation marks a turning point: it distinguishes those players who have successfully transformed their values into tangible, visible, and measurable practices.
Living up to commitments over time
Obtaining the Label is not an end in itself, but the beginning of an ongoing journey.
Certified organizations commit to improving their practices and sharing the results with their stakeholders. It fits naturally into a QSE (Quality, Safety, Environment) approach, reinforcing consistency between social performance, workplace safety, and reducing environmental impact.
Every three years, a new review measures the progress made and adjusts the objectives.
This logic of constant evolution gives the LUCIE Label a lively and credible dimension.
It encourages consistency over time, while avoiding the trap of "one-off" initiatives, which are often criticized in certain social responsibility approaches.
The challenge is not to tick boxes, but to evolve the internal culture towards greater transparency, ethics, and sustainable performance.
Beyond the official process, the LUCIE Community plays a leading role.
It now brings together more than a thousand public and private actors who exchange experiences, share educational resources, and help each other to progress.
Training courses, thematic workshops, feedback: everything is designed to foster a collective dynamic around a single ambition— reconciling economic development with positive impact.
Firstly, the use of GCI has enabled a significant reduction in the uncertainty of the GHG Balance, particularly for scope 3, from 50% to 5%. The Group now has 95% accurate data.
Thanks to supplier data collected and interpreted by the GCI tool, in-depth in-house analyses have been carried out on the impact of 35,000 products, grouping suppliers into 170 families. This represents +80% of purchases in mass and in euros.
From label to action: boosting CSR performance with GCI's Decarbo'Solution®
CSR and climate: a logical continuity
Once LUCIE certification has been obtained, the real challenge is to ensure that the approach is sustained over time.
For a company, this means transforming CSR commitments into concrete and measurable results.
New ESG requirements and reporting obligations now demand greater precision and transparency in managing impacts, particularly climate impacts.
CSR audits and reports are no longer enough to simply declare intentions: they must demonstrate verifiable actions and a clear trajectory.
With this in mind, consistency between social responsibility and carbon strategy becomes essential.
The LUCIE Label, based on the ISO 26000 standard, and Global Climate Initiatives' (GCI) Decarbo'Solution® share this same philosophy: structuring, measuring, and improving overall performance.
One provides the ethical and social framework; the other provides the tools to control environmental impact with precision and rigor.
From certification to measurable action with Decarbo’Solution®
Developed by GCI's carbon experts, Decarbo'Solution® enables CSR teams to link their strategy to concrete indicators.
Thanks to its Decarbo'Target® module, it is now possible to develop a carbon action plan aligned with the objectives set during certification.
Emissions are analyzed, prioritized, and translated into realistic trajectories, accompanied by a clear report that can be used in audits and ESG reporting.
The training courses offered by GCI complement this system.
They enable employees to understand the basics of carbon calculation, ensure data reliability, and guarantee the quality of the information transmitted.
This educational approach promotes autonomy and reinforces the credibility of future certifications.
By combining the methodical structure of the LUCIE Label with GCI'soperational expertise, companies have access to an effective continuum: a structured, measurable, and action-oriented CSR approach.
It is this consistency between values, measurement, and management that now sets French ESG strategies apart.
Innovation and integrated tools to drive transformation
Monitoring an engagement policy requires appropriate tools that can centralize information and ensure the reliability of the indicators being tracked. This is the rationale behind the new digital solutions developed by Global Climate Initiatives (GCI).
Decarbo’Solution®, for example, supports organizations in developing a strategy that is consistent with their climate and societal commitments. The tool facilitates the consolidation of indicators, carbon price tracking, and ensuring consistency with SBTi benchmarks. It also supports teams in assessing the impacts of their activities in order to identify the most effective levers for reducing their footprint.
This integrated approach combines rigor and agility. It enables organizations to manage their programs in a coordinated manner, improve their visibility among institutional stakeholders, and strengthen their long-term credibility. By linking strategy, transparency, and innovation, digital tools such as Decarbo’Solution® become true catalysts for sustainable transformation.
The LUCIE Label has become an essential benchmark for French companies seeking to give meaning to their CSR strategy.
More than just a distinctive mark, it provides a clear method for structuring social, societal, and environmental priorities, while enhancing transparency for stakeholders.
But beyond this recognition, the real challenge lies in continuity: moving from reflection to concrete implementation.
This is where Decarbo'Solution®, designed by Global Climate Initiatives (GCI), comes into its own.
By combining rigorous audits, reliable carbon data, and high-quality ESG reporting, it helps every company manage its performance in a methodical and consistent manner.
Combining the LUCIE Label structure with GCI's expertise means choosing measurable and credible progress— a concrete way to link social impact and climate performance in the service of a more forward-thinking and forward-looking model.