SUSTAINABILITY AND ESG: SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION IN THE NEOLIBERAL SCENARIO1

Abstract

This article aims to verify whether corporate sustainability, using the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework, within the current neoliberal capitalist system, can contribute to truly sustainable practices and sustainable consumption. To this end, the tripod of sustainability and its influence on the corporate sector are explained according to the Triple Bottom Line and ESG. The current neoliberal capitalist system and the resulting civilizational crisis are analyzed. Finally, we seek to verify whether sustainable consumption, driven by the corporate sector through ESG, can be an alternative to the civilizational crisis emerging from the neoliberal capitalist system. The inductive method is used, using the techniques of referent, category, operational concepts, and bibliographical research. It is understood that sustainability creates competitive advantages, improves the company’s reputation, and strengthens relationships with stakeholders, but, on the other hand, it cannot be ignored that, sometimes, the market can take advantage of environmental care situations simply to increasingly boost its capitalist opportunities. Corporate sustainability, with ESG, is an important way to contribute to mitigating harmful environmental impacts for the survival of humanity, contributing to sustainable consumption.