doi.org/10.52340/eab.2025.17.01.11

In the modern era, auditing has become a vital tool for evaluating sustainable development and corporate responsibility. The primary objective of a sustainable development audit is to evaluate a company's business practices in alignment with sustainable development principles and corporate social responsibility (CSR). It involves a thorough evaluation of various aspects, including environmental policies, energy efficiency, employee social protection, ethical production, and other critical sustainability factors.
The scope of a sustainable development audit spans environmental, social, and governance (ESG) components. This includes analyzing energy consumption and carbon footprints, waste management practices, supply chain sustainability, water usage efficiency, and the company’s impact on biodiversity.
The main goal of such audits is to provide independent and objective assurance regarding sustainability-related processes within a company, as well as the effectiveness of its internal control environment. A robust and consistent ESG strategy, along with independent assessment executed by the internal audit function (the "third line "), is essential for corporate sustainability and represents an opportunity to enhance a company’s investment potential.
In today's world, where sustainability is increasingly prioritized, regular sustainability audits have become both a corporate responsibility and a strategic necessity. Through comprehensive evaluations of environmental impacts, businesses can adopt practices that foster environmental and social responsibility, paving the way for a more sustainable and stable future.
Sustainable development is now a cornerstone of corporate success. Organizations that emphasize these audits are better prepared equipped for long-term growth in a world where integrating business development and environmental preservation is imperative.
A sustainability audit evaluates a company's environmental, social, and economic activities from a fair and strategic perspective. This process promotes responsible and ethical business practices, benefiting both the company and society as a whole. Meeting sustainability audit requirements ensures a company’s long-term success in the following key areas:
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively identifying and addressing environmental and social risks helps organizations avoid legal, financial, and reputational challenges.
• Cost Optimization: Enhancing resource efficiency and reducing waste not only supports environmental protection but also yield significant cost savings.
• Enhanced Corporate Reputation: Adherence to sustainability principles strengthens a company’s image, fosters positive stakeholder relationships, and appeals to environmentally conscious consumers.
• Strategic Decision-Making: Sustainability audits provides organizations with critical valuable insights for informed decision-making, enabling aligment with environmental and social responsibility objectives.

Keywords: Environmental policy, ecological aspects, inclusivity, sustainable development audit, social responsibility
JEL Codes: Q01, Q56, M14, L21, D22

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