Building the European model for tomorrow’s companies in the Hauts-de-France region
The purpose-driven company is a powerful driver of transformation for both business and society, as it places social and environmental challenges at the core of corporate activity through statutory commitments and renewed governance structures. Introduced in France by the 2019 PACTE Law, it forms part of a broader trend toward strengthening corporate legal responsibilities, initiated by the Sapin II Law and the duty of vigilance law, and reinforced at the European level by instruments such as the GDPR, the Green Taxonomy Regulation, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and the CSRD Directive.
Although the European Union has not yet established a specific legal framework for purpose-driven companies, this model has experienced significant growth in France,
with around 1,600 companies involved, contributing to the social and environmental transition of local territories. The research project aims to analyze this phenomenon over a three-and-a-half-year period (2025–2028), using a multidisciplinary and European approach that brings together academics and stakeholders from public institutions, business, and civil society.