With the DD&RS label in hand, Centrale Nantes is taking its sustainability strategy to the next level with a new Master Plan through to 2030

80% of the previous Master Plan complete: a solid foundation on which to build

The awarding of the DD&RS label is based on the successful implementation of over 80% of the actions outlined in the 2021–2025 Master Plan (in French), which demonstrates the school’s commitment. It marks a key milestone in the institution’s strategic trajectory and commits Centrale Nantes to a continuous improvement process aimed at boosting its effective contribution to sustainable development.

Centrale Nantes has thus developed a new Master Plan for 2030 (in French), expanding its ambitions with 80 actions structured around six focus areas, including an additional focus on stakeholder engagement, with the aim of maximising the ripple effect within its ecosystem.

The DD&RS label serves as a compass: it invites us to align our daily practices with the values we stand for. The new DD&RS Master Plan builds on this momentum by embedding our commitments in a shared and cross-cutting approach. This drive for continuous improvement is also supported by regular and transparent assessment. The newly published 2023–2024 DD&RS Report reviews the concrete progress made, the results achieved, and the areas for improvement that informed the development of the new Master Plan. - Emmanuel Rozière, Director of Sustainable Development at Centrale Nantes.

Training professionals capable of building solutions that respect planetary boundaries

The new plan aims to align all academic programmes with the school’s strategic positioning on contributing effectively to sustainable development. This involves integrating DD&RS issues at all levels of study and explicitly identifying how each curriculum contributes to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Following signature of the Biodiversity Charter for Higher Education Institutions in 2024, the concept of biodiversity will be integrated more systematically into academic programmes. The aim is to make students aware of the impact of their decisions on biodiversity and the preservation of life, and equip them to design innovative solutions to meet these challenges. The school also intends to boost its ability to develop sustainable solutions and reinforce a strong “hands-on culture” by promoting practical experimentation, critical thinking, and ethical consideration of technological choices.

Our position of excellence in sustainable development comes with responsibility. Educating engineers who can address planetary boundaries and build sustainable models is essential. This master plan reflects our determination to act with purposefully, responsibly, and meaningfully. - Jean-Baptiste Avrillier, Director of Centrale Nantes.

Combating climate change and adapting: measurable targets

The plan sets out measurable targets: carbon neutrality for scopes 1 and 2 by 2030, and for scope 3 by 2050; awareness initiatives on responsible food consumption; and a reduction in the school’s environmental footprint at every level. All staff, faculty, and governing bodies will receive training on sustainability issues. The campus will become a living laboratory for ecological and societal transition.

A resilience audit will also be carried out across academic programmes, research activities, infrastructure, and organizational systems. This will assess how robust they are in the face of major environmental disruptions expected between 2030 and 2050, particularly with regard to resource availability and local climate change.

Equality, diversity, and quality of life remain overarching priorities. The plan reinforces the school’s commitments to diversity, inclusion, equal opportunity, and quality of life at work, building on existing action plans (gender equality, disability inclusion, student life strategy, quality-of-life-at-work initiatives, energy-saving plan, etc.).

Creating momentum at the local level

The 2025–2030 plan is the result of an ambitious participatory and co-creation process, including collective intelligence workshops, student-led sessions, one-on-one interviews, and open webinars in both French and English, as well as active involvement from governing bodies. This process has grounded the plan in real-world needs and emphasised the vital leadership role that the school can play in the regional transition.

Centrale Nantes aims to share best practices, encourage the pooling of knowledge, and help accelerate local ecological, social, and economic transitions. This ambition is underpinned by strong local partnerships, active involvement in sustainable development networks and agencies, and collaborative research and training projects.

• Download the press release (in French)
• Download the Master Plan for Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility (2025 - 2030) (in French)