The Impact of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) on Sustainability and Ethical Marketing Practices

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Standards and Financial Performance in Vietnam’s Media Sector

While Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards are intended to promote sustainability, their actual impact on financial returns remains inconsistent and under-researched in emerging digital economies like Vietnam. Unlike manufacturing sectors such as clothing, the media and entertainment industry in Vietnam faces unique ESG challenges related to digital content responsibility and the profound societal influence of a young population. Understanding ESG’s financial relevance in this sector is critical for determining if ethical frameworks drive long-term value or act as a mandatory expense. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards are metrics that evaluate a company’s ethical and sustainability efforts across three dimensions: environmental (e.g., emission reduction), social (e.g., employee welfare), and governance (e.g., regulatory compliance). We hypothesized that ESG standards had a significant impact on the financial performance of Vietnamese media and communication companies. Using a dataset of 179 observations, we analyzed the relationship between ESG scores and key financial indicators. Our findings indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between higher ESG scores and stronger financial performance, particularly for firms pursuing strong growth strategies. However, financial leverage negatively correlated with return on assets (ROA), suggesting that excessive debt might hinder profitability. These results highlighted the importance of ESG standard integration in corporate strategies to enhance financial stability and investor confidence. Our study contributed to the existing literature on ESG standards in developing economies and offers practical insights for business leaders and policymakers.

Environmental social and governance (ESG) and profitability

In today's competitive business landscape, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have evolved from a niche concern to a central component of corporate strategy. While many companies initially viewed ESG as a compliance burden or public relations tool, a growing body of evidence reveals a powerful truth: strong ESG performance is closely linked to enhanced financial returns and profitability. This article explores the compelling connection between responsible business practices and the bottom line, providing insights for anyone looking to thrive in an increasingly sustainability-focused world. The growing awareness and concern surrounding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues is increasingly evident on a global level. Environmental aspects focus on how a company manages its energy use and the waste it generates, as well as the broader environmental impact of its operations. Social aspects involve how a company interacts with its stakeholders, including both directly and indirectly connected groups. Governance refers to the strategies a company employs to meet its responsibilities, ensuring adherence to ethical business practices and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

The Evolution of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Disclosure in Corporate Accounting and Reporting Practices

Developments in sustainability issues are prompting companies to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects into their accounting and reporting practices as a means of enhancing transparency, accountability, and responsibility towards stakeholders. This study aims to analyse developments in ESG disclosure within corporate accounting and reporting practices using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach. The study employs a qualitative method, examining academic articles sourced from the Google Scholar database. Literature selection was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, followed by content analysis and validation through source triangulation. Research findings indicate that ESG disclosure has driven a shift in accounting practices from a shareholder-centric to a stakeholder-centric approach, improved the quality of reporting through transparency, credibility and the relevance of information, and strengthened the confidence of investors and stakeholders. On the other hand, the implementation of ESG still faces challenges in the form of regulatory fragmentation, differences in reporting standards, limitations in human resource capabilities, and technological readiness. Therefore, regulatory harmonisation, the strengthening of ESG reporting standards, and the enhancement of human resource capacity and the utilisation of digital technology are required to support a more effective and sustainable implementation of ESG.

Impact of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Metrics on Corporate Financial Performance

The incorporation of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) measures into business decision-making has received a lot of attention because of the potential influence on financial performance. This study examines the link between ESG elements and company financial performance, using Unilever as a case study. This study looks at how sustainability activities help to risk reduction, operational efficiency, and long-term value development by analysing ESG reporting in depth. The report emphasises the importance of ESG openness in boosting investor trust, developing brand reputation, and achieving financial success. This study presents a complete framework for understanding the strategic value of ESG in corporate finance by combining stakeholder theory, a resource-based perspective, and signalling theory. The findings show that organisations that effectively implement ESG principles likely to have increased financial stability. The findings are useful for firms, investors, and governments, highlighting the importance of standardised ESG disclosures and sustainable corporate policies.

From ESG Disclosure to Digital-Driven Governance: Evidence From Indonesian Corporations and Infrastructure Ecosystems

Sustainable Finance and ESG: The Impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance Principles Implementation on Corporate Financial Performance and Firm Value

This study examines whether environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices enhance corporate profitability and firm value by reviewing empirical evidence from previous studies. Using a systematic literature review guided by a PRISMA approach, peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2025 and indexed in Scopus and Web of Science were analyzed. The findings indicate that firms adopting ESG practices generally achieve stronger financial performance and higher market valuation, although the strength and direction of the relationship vary across contexts. Five key factors influence these outcomes: the credibility of ESG disclosure, the financial materiality of ESG issues within the industry, governance quality, environmental exposure, and the institutional maturity of the market. The review also highlights that inconsistencies among ESG rating agencies contribute to measurement differences, leading to mixed empirical findings. Drawing on stakeholder and legitimacy theories, the study suggests that effective ESG implementation reduces information asymmetry, lowers financing costs, strengthens corporate reputation, and increases investor confidence. An integrative framework is proposed to explain the relationship between ESG implementation and firm value while identifying future research opportunities, particularly in emerging economies such as Indonesia, where sustainable finance regulations continue to develop.