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Every year, the IÉSEG Center of Excellence for Organizational Responsibility (ICOR) rewards the best student thesis in the fields of organizational ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and corporate sustainability, with the ICOR Award. In fact, no less than 30% of end-of-study theses focus on topics related to ethics, CSR, and sustainable development.

For the 10th anniversary of the ICOR Award, a first jury made up of 5 IÉSEG professors (Lucas AMARAL, Jérémie LEFEBVRE, Joost LUYCKX, François MAON, and Dilyara SALAKHOVA) selected the 3 finalists for the Award based on strict academic criteria.
A second jury, consisting of working professionals (Romain DEKEYSER [Caisse d’Épargne Hauts-de-France], Olivia MACHARIS [Center for Humanitarian Dialogue], and Charles THOMASSE [Électro Dépôt]) then chose the winner from among the finalists.

The three finalists for the ICOR 2025 Award are:

– Rose FALEMPIN, for her thesis titled “Children, the New Adults: Examining the Ethics of Marketing Strategies Targeting Children and their Impact on Development in the Digital Age,” supervised by María DE JUAN VIGARAY ;
– Mélodie LACHAUD, for her thesis on “Sustainable Decision-Making: Examining the Roles of Financial Insights, Personal Traits, and the Rebound Effect in Shaping French Energy Practices,” supervised by Uyanga TURMUNKH

– Manon TURC, for her thesis “Brands as New Defenders of Social Subjects: A Potential for Enhancing Brand Equity and Social Change?”, supervised by Véronique PAUWELS.

Mélodie LACHAUD, winner of the ICOR 2025 Award

Mélodie LACHAUD is the winner of the ICOR 2025 Award. Her thesis aims to improve the understanding of French consumers’ habits in terms of energy consumption, by differentiating between energy efficiency and energy saving, two interconnect yet distinct concepts.

While energy efficiency focuses on better consumption, energy saving is about consuming less. These two concepts are essential and complementary for achieving sustainability goals and ensuring human well-being for all, while respecting planetary boundaries. To understand the factors that drive these two types of behaviors, the research question was: to what extent do financial information and personal traits influence the behavior of French consumers regarding energy efficiency and energy saving, and should the rebound effect be taken into account?

“Winning this award is a true recognition of my commitment. This thesis is the culmination of five years of study and is part of the continuity of sustainability topics that are dear to me and around which I have structured all my academic, professional, and personal projects. Seeing IÉSEG value and reward these essential issues is even more motivating in a context where they are being questioned on a global scale,” responds Mélodie LACHAUD.

Mélodie LACHAUD, ICOR 2025 Award winner

Mélodie LACHAUD supports the Primo Levi Center and donates 50% of her endowment

The ICOR Award prize of €2,000 is shared between the winner and the non-profit organization or social enterprise of their choice. Mélodie LACHAUD chose to support the Primo Levi Center. Founded in 1995 by five associations involved in health and human rights advocacy (Amnesty International France, Médecins du Monde, the Action of Christians for the Abolition of Torture, Lawyers Without Borders, and Trêve), the Primo Levi Center is a reference association specifically dedicated to the care and support of individuals who are victims of torture and political violence and are exiled in France.

The Primo Levi Center’s mission is to provide care and support to victims of torture and political violence who are refugees in France. Many of them, forced to flee their countries due to conflict and persecution, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition still too often stigmatized and poorly managed. In the face of ongoing conflicts and the rise of authoritarian political movements worldwide, I believe it is crucial to provide these individuals with the physical and psychological assistance they need to rebuild their lives. By helping them, we are also defending the values of democracy. Helping those who have fought for their rights and freedoms is a powerful way to oppose oppression and promote justice and equality.

Mélodie LACHAUD, ICOR 2025 Award winner