BNP Paribas and Sparknews: innovation with a positive impact

Positive innovation means innovating for responsible projects that aim to protect the environment and combat inequalities. As part of its commitment to CSR (corporate social responsibility), BNP Paribas signed a partnership with Sparknews, an international media outlet focusing on initiatives with a positive impact. It’s an excellent way to expand the Group’s efforts in this area.

“Positive innovations” are projects that bring new solutions to existing problems faced by society, the environment or the economy. Aspiring to achieve more than just a return, they develop innovative products and services that combine sustainable development and profitability. For example, an agricultural innovation may help to reduce the use of pesticides, while also boosting crop yields and revenue for its beneficiaries. Similarly, a socially responsible investment vehicle can finance anti-poverty initiatives, while offering investors a high-performance investment.

As with any other innovation process, collaboration is central to positive innovation. Startups, associations, entrepreneurs, non-profits, civil society, government and other organizations combine their expertise within an approach based on dialogue and co-creation. In this manner, BNP Paribas supports around 10 positive-impact innovation projects developed with startups in three key areas of sustainable development: energy transition, social entrepreneurship and green finance.

In March 2018, the BNP Paribas Group signed a partnership with Sparknews, an organization that spotlights positive solutions implemented around the world through an international network of journalists, and events catering to change leaders working in the media, the business world and civil society.

Launched in 2016, the Positive Innovation Club is one of the tools used by Sparknews to relay positive initiatives and encourage the emergence of new projects of this type. After Paris, London and Hong Kong, the Club opened its doors in New York, with the support of BNP Paribas, which hosted the event at its Innovation Lab, at 787 Seventh Avenue. 

At each of its locations, the Club organizes bimonthly meetings bringing together corporate executives driven by a shared ambition—to help accelerate positive change and develop their own CSR policy through practices that respect the planet and social equality. Through talks from entrepreneurs presenting their innovative approaches and ideas, participants discover new business models to tackle these challenges. The circular economy, zero waste, the blue economy, new organizational models, and tech for good are just some of the topics discussed at meetings. Facilitated by Sparknews, the small, group sessions allow for fruitful discussion and exchange among participants. 

The Positive Innovation Club notably led to the development of the Roadmap for the Creative Manager, a guidebook for managers outlining positive innovations to apply within companies and best practices for initiating positive change. 

Through this partnership with Sparknews, BNP Paribas is encouraging collective action in favor of positive innovation, thereby helping to create a community of managers determined to accelerate change. 

As a creator of sustainable financial products and a partner of social entrepreneurs around the world, BNP Paribas has made Positive Business a central component of its long-term growth strategy.  

Investments and financing with a positive impact constitute the first commitment of the Economic Responsibility pillar in the Group’s CSR policy. BNP Paribas thus commits to supporting the economy in an ethical way, notably by working to implement a system combining “innovation” and “positive impact”.