Integrating ESG into corporate strategies: theoretical analysis and comparative case study

This thesis explores how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles are integrated into corporate strategy, combining a theoretical foundation with a comparative analysis of two major companies. The first part of the study reviews key academic and professional literature on ESG, including stakeholder theory, the evolution of sustainability practices, and the strategic value of ESG integration. The second part offers a case study comparing how both companies incorporate ESG into their corporate strategies, based on publicly available sustainability reports, ESG disclosures, and strategic documents. The analysis highlights similarities and differences in their governance models, sustainability objectives, implementation practices, and ESG performance. This thesis aims to provide insight into how ESG can be a strategic driver in business while also identifying challenges and best practices for effective ESG integration.