Why These Logistics Companies Are Becoming Mission-Driven Companies

Mission-driven companies are gaining followers. In one year, their number more than doubled in France: from 597 in 2021, they rose to 1,008, according to the latest Barometer from the Mission-Driven Companies Observatory. And logistics companies are no exception to the trend. La Poste was the first to take the step in June 2021, now followed by Aréfim and Virtuo Industrial Property. 

“Our tagline, ‘Deeply committed!’ perfectly sums up who we are,” says Valéry Fenès, President of Aréfim. A French real estate company specializing in the development of business parks, Aréfim became the first logistics company to adopt mission-driven company status in February 2023. It was a decision “carefully considered since 2021,” explains Valéry Fenès. Becoming a mission-driven company is a way to formalize our commitment.” Virtuo Industrial Property has taken the same approach: “Including Virtuo’s mission in the company’s articles of association is a strong commitment,” emphasizes its President, Grégory Blouin. Specializing in the development of logistics platforms, the company became a mission-driven company on June 15.  

“Becoming a mission-driven company was part of our CSR strategy. At Aréfim, we are convinced that our future depends on our actions. We are fully engaged in driving change.”, says Valéry Fenès. To achieve this, the company amended its articles of association and defined statutory objectives for each of its values: co-construction, the environment, biodiversity, and workplace well-being. These four values are part of its DNA and feature in its purpose statement: “Together, let us create innovative living spaces that serve businesses, the community, and biodiversity.” In every project, Aréfim aims to bring these four values to the fore. This was the case with Cosmetic Park in the Centre-Val de Loire region.  

“To promote workplace well-being, we installed a daycare center with 40 places. Starting in 2024, a hotel, restaurant, and sports facilities will be added to Cosmetic Park. From an environmental standpoint, we prioritized green energy to power the site’s buildings—geothermal energy for the offices, for example, and photovoltaic power for the L’Oréal building. The latter is one of the first buildings in France to receive triple certification: LEED® Gold, BREEAM® Excellent, and Biodivercity ® Performant.” details Aréfim’s President.  

“Being a mission-driven company means going beyond talk and making a concrete commitment through action,” adds Grégory Blouin. Indeed, not just any company can become mission-driven. To obtain this status, a company must first have a purpose statement: “Consciously revitalizing spaces conducive to the emergence of a logistics model that is deliberately chosen” is Virtuo Industrial Property’s purpose statement. Once that step has been completed, the company must define its missions and amend its articles of association. “It is a process lasting six to nine months between initiating the initiative and changing the articles of association,” explains Grégory Blouin. Once this stage has been completed, it is time to demonstrate the commitment through action.  

If a company has more than 50 employees, for example, it must establish a mission committee. This committee ensures that every decision takes social and environmental criteria into account and produces an annual report. Regardless of the company’s size, achievement of its objectives is also reviewed every two years by an independent third-party body. What happens if the objectives are not met? Proceedings to revoke mission-driven company status may be brought before the competent commercial court. 

A demanding status—but what are the benefits? “It gives meaning to our profession, explains Valéry Fenès. In the term ‘mission-driven company,’ there is the word ‘mission,’ and our own mission is to support our tenants and all our service providers in the energy, environmental, and social transition.” he says. Partners are likewise reassured. “Many local authorities trust us because we are statutorily committed to sustainable development,” Grégory Blouin offers as an example. Mission-driven company status helps transform the image of logistics real estate and also makes it possible to engage new partners. “You cannot commit to this type of initiative without a minimum level of personal conviction. By becoming a mission-driven company, we give up certain developments, but we gain others with more demanding tenants who share our values,” concludes Valéry Fenès. 

Introduced by the PACTE Act (Action Plan for Business Growth and Transformation), purpose-driven companies and mission-driven companies enable businesses to set voluntary objectives. Although they may appear similar, the two concepts are quite different. A purpose statement refers to a general-interest ambition that company leaders intend to pursue. Mission-driven company status enables a business to publicly affirm its purpose statement, along with one or more social and environmental objectives that it undertakes to pursue as part of its operations. While a company’s primary purpose is to generate profits, mission-driven companies set themselves another goal, set out explicitly in their articles of association.