Ermolaeva P.O., Ermolaeva Yu.V., Basheva O.A. Socio-ecological sustainability of Russian business: sociological analysis and ESG practices. Sustainable development management. 2022. No. 3 (40). Pp. 16-27. EDN:HCHTZO.

Abstract

The authors carried out a comprehensive assessment of the social and environmental aspects of the activities of Russian large, medium and small businesses based on the results of a semi-structured online survey (n=400) and a series of in-depth interviews (n=30) with business leaders in Moscow and Kazan. The results showed that every sixth company has its own environmental initiatives, programs or standards. The most common eco-practices are those that are convenient, economically and symbolically beneficial, as well as financially and technically easily integrated into organizations and supported in the future. More economically, legally and technically difficult to implement corporate initiatives, such as the use of alternative energy, certification of enterprises according to international standards, CO2 monitoring are less attractive, since they are not mandatory for certification and operating activities of companies. Large industrial enterprises, which are the main sources of CO2 emissions, are under pressure from environmental regulations, the market and stakeholders, and also have enough resources to be environmentally responsible, while medium and small enterprises, burdened in Russia with numerous bureaucratic procedures and inspections, comply with environmental standards which are primarily economically beneficial to them. The main measures to improve the practice of sustainable development at Russian enterprises should be to receive comprehensive financial, legislative, technical, and educational support in the form of a public-private partnership. The authors carried out a comprehensive assessment of the social and environmental aspects of the activitiesof Russian large, medium and small businesses based on the results of a semi-structured online survey(n=400) and a series of in-depth interviews (n=30) with business leaders in Moscow and Kazan. The resultsshowed that every sixth company has its own environmental initiatives, programs or standards. The mostcommon eco-practices are those that are convenient, economically and symbolically beneficial, as well as financiallyand technically easily integrated into organizations and supported in the future. More economically,legally and technically difficult to implement corporate initiatives, such as the use of alternative energy, certificationof enterprises according to international standards, CO2 monitoring are less attractive, since they arenot mandatory for certification and operating activities of companies. Large industrial enterprises, which arethe main sources of CO2 emissions, are under pressure from environmental regulations, the market andstakeholders, and also have enough resources to be environmentally responsible, while medium and small enterprises,burdened in Russia with numerous bureaucratic procedures and inspections, comply with environmentalstandards which are primarily economically beneficial to them. The main measures to improve thepractice of sustainable development at Russian enterprises should be to receive comprehensive financial, legislative,technical, and educational support in the form of a public-private partnership.