ECONOMICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS THROUGH THE PRISM OF THE ESG CONCEPT AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

Abstract

The research method is a comprehensive assessment of the environmental performance of transnational corporations in 2020–2024 through the prism of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an increase in resource efficiency, close attention to the spheres of recovery of recovered energy, repeated water recovery and recycling of waste. Particular attention is paid to identifying the dynamics of change in corporate strategic approaches to managing the carbon footprint and integrating the principles of steel development and the circular economy.

The methodological basis for the investigation is a thorough and clear analysis of the corporate non-financial information of leading transnational corporations. Vicorista methods: regular analysis – to assess the dynamics of key environmental indicators (Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3, water recycling, waste recycling, energy recovery); structural-dynamic analysis – to identify trends and patterns in changes in indicators; an indicative approach – to determine the level of environmental performance of other corporations and the leveling of their strategies; system approach - to integrate the results into a single model for assessing environmental performance.

The article presents a systematic analysis of the environmental responsibility of leading multinational corporations in 2020–2024 using an integrated approach to assessing greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable resource use, and the integration of circular economy principles. Direct (Scope 1), indirect, related to the consumption of purchased energy (Scope 2 – location-based and market-based), as well as indirect emissions in value chains (Scope 3) were investigated. Particular attention is paid to key environmental indicators: the share of renewable energy, the volume of water reuse, and the level of waste recycling, which allows assessing the comprehensive effectiveness of the corporate environmental strategy. Based on the analysis of data from 11 international corporations (Apple Inc., Nvidia Corp., Microsoft Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer Inc., Amgen Inc., Ecolab Inc., Caterpillar Inc., CRH.), both progressive practices of decarbonization and resource management were identified, as well as problematic aspects, including high indirect emissions, unstable water use and fluctuations in waste recycling rates. The study demonstrates the relationship between scientifically based climate goal setting and their implementation in corporate practice, identifies leaders in environmental efficiency and provides an empirical basis for developing strategies to reduce carbon footprint, integrate circular approaches and increase the resilience of business processes. The results obtained have practical significance for the formation of corporate sustainable development policies and the alignment of corporate strategies with global climate initiatives.