Franco-German, Eugène is a fourth-year BBA student at ESSEC and also pursuing a philosophy degree at Paris Nanterre University. His academic journey has taken him on exchange semesters to Rabat and Oslo. At the same time, he has been doing a part-time internship at EY in financial audit for the past two years. He has also been actively involved for three years with 180 Degrees Consulting ESSEC, a student-led consulting organization focused on social and environmental impact, where he currently serves as co-president.

His interest in ethical issues in the business world has led him to explore them further through his undergraduate thesis.

What is your background, and what led you to take an interest in CSR?

As a Franco-German, I grew up between two cultures, and it was in Germany that I was first made aware of environmental and societal issues. There, recycling is second nature—deeply embedded in schools and shops alike. All bottles are returnable, and most are made of glass. The focus on recycling, waste reduction, and bike-centered mobility left a deep impression on me. When I returned to France, not adopting these practices felt completely illogical.

While studying at ESSEC, I naturally joined 180 Degrees Consulting, the school’s consulting association focused on environmental and social impact. My first mission left a lasting mark: for a company specializing in canned beverages, we sought ways to reduce its carbon footprint along the supply chain. I contributed to measuring its current carbon impact, then assessing alternative solutions. Our biggest breakthrough was recommending an innovative startup capable of transporting raw materials with far lower carbon emissions—essentially rethinking the client’s entire logistics model.

In parallel, my studies in philosophy have allowed me to deepen the ethical reflection around CSR, grounding my actions in a pragmatic yet fundamentally human vision of sustainable development.

How does CSR play a concrete role in your life?

CSR is part of my everyday life through simple habits that have become second nature since my childhood in Germany: systematic recycling, prioritizing soft mobility (like biking or walking), and careful attention to responsible consumption.

Beyond these personal habits, I’ve always tried to incorporate impact into my commitments. At 180 Degrees Consulting, I’ve contributed to concrete projects aimed at reducing carbon footprints or improving clients’ social strategies. At EY, I’m discovering every day how sustainability can be integrated into the financial processes of large corporations—especially with frameworks like the CSRD.

Even in more human-centered experiences, like my volunteer work in Berlin with the Johanniter organization, social responsibility remains present: taking action on an individual level to contribute to a more just balance.

Today, I see CSR less as a collection of isolated actions and more as a consistent way of living and working—where intellectual rigor, ethics, and pragmatism come together.

How do you define CSR?

For me, CSR means coherently integrating environmental, social, and ethical responsibilities into all decisions and actions of a business. It’s not just about limiting negative impacts—it’s about positively contributing to society and the environment, with the same rigor applied to financial objectives.

On a more fundamental level, I see CSR as an attempt to embed economic activity within a purpose broader than the mere pursuit of profit: that of the common good. It’s this dual commitment—both pragmatic and ethical—that gives CSR its depth and legitimacy.

How do you envision the future of CSR and your role in it?

As a student, I don’t yet have a fixed plan for my future role in CSR. What matters to me is continuing to grow in environments where ethics aren’t just talked about, but practiced. I would like to continue in the consulting sector—provided I can contribute, at least in part, to the real implementation of ethical and sustainable principles within corporate strategies. Without that dimension, I know I would lose interest and engagement.

For me, CSR should not be a separate specialization, but a natural reflex embedded in all areas of decision-making—now more than ever.