In French, sustainability often refers primarily to financial issues, with debt sustainability, for example, being both a political and managerial concern. However, the French language also offers a different perspective on sustainability, in the sense of what can be endured or supported. Sustainability is the idea that goods and services should be produced in such a way that they do not use resources that cannot be replaced and that do not damage the environment. It is a form of development that can be supported within societal and environmental limits. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) shares this view, defining sustainability as a state in which all systems (environmental, social, economic) are able to meet present needs without preventing future generations from meeting theirs. The sustainability of a country or organization is therefore the goal of sustainable development.
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With over €2 trillion in outstanding loans, banks remained the primary providers of credit in 2021, according to the Bank of France. Given the sums involved, they place a borrower's ability to repay their debts at the heart of their concerns. The challenge is indeed to reduce the cost of risk and maintain the highest quality loan portfolio possible. From their perspective, the commitment—the contract by which the client acknowledges their debt and undertakes to repay it—is largely unaffected by risk. It specifies the debtor's repayment schedule as well as the reciprocal rights and obligations of both parties.
- Management Dictionary
- Corporate and Market Finance