Auswirkungen nachhaltigen Wirtschaftens auf den Unternehmenserfolg – Darlegung anhand von Fallbeispielen

Abstract

Due to the increasing pressure on companies from various interest groups, companies are being urged to integrate sustainability into their corporate strategy. This prompts the question of whether the transition from a purely profit-oriented to a sustainable company is worthwhile, and whether the implementation of sustainable initiatives has a positive effect on the company’s success or merely contributes to the environment and society. In order to answer these questions, it is first necessary to examine the various concepts of sustainability. This is followed by a discussion of measurability and sustainability reporting. After this, the challenges of sustainable management are discussed, and the consequences of the lack of anchoring of sustainability in companies are shown. This is followed by a presentation of the advantages associated with a sustainable orientation of companies. Finally, the findings presented above are illustrated using five case studies of listed companies. In order to gain insight into the relationship between sustainable business practices and the development of companies, sustainability reports, annual reports and other scientific literature were consulted for these case studies. A significant number of companies have already initiated sustainable initiatives, while others continue to view sustainability as a single cost factor and additional expense, focusing solely on maximizing profits. It is argued that although sustainable business practices are associated with some challenges, some benefits can be expected in the long term if these difficulties are overcome. For example, lower operating costs and increased demand for products, as well as increased stakeholder satisfaction. Nevertheless, some companies attempt to obfuscate the actual sustainability of their operations through the practice of “greenwashing”, which subsequently affects the trust of various stakeholder groups. It is therefore crucial that companies integrate sustainability into their strategy out of their own volition and not merely in response to external pressure, as they recognize that a sustainable orientation lead to long-term success. The future will see sustainable management play a pivotal role in the continued existence of companies and in shaping the future

Date of Award	2024
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Albert Mayr (Supervisor)