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Comparative Study of ESG Practices Among Brazilian Sanitation Companies

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  • Estefânia Hetman de Almeida Caciato

    (Sociedade de Abastecimento de Água e Saneamento S/A (SANASA), Avenida da Saudade 500, Ponte Preta, Campinas 13041-903, Brazil)

  • Cândido Ferreira da Silva Filho

    (Postgraduate Program in Sustainability, School of Economics and Business, Campus I, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini Street 1516, Campinas 13087-571, Brazil)

  • Samuel Carvalho De Benedicto

    (Postgraduate Program in Sustainability, School of Economics and Business, Campus I, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini Street 1516, Campinas 13087-571, Brazil)

  • Vinícius Eduardo Ferrari

    (Postgraduate Program in Sustainability, School of Economics and Business, Campus I, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini Street 1516, Campinas 13087-571, Brazil)

  • Duarcides Ferreira Mariosa

    (Postgraduate Program in Sustainability, School of Economics and Business, Campus I, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini Street 1516, Campinas 13087-571, Brazil)

  • Diego de Melo Conti

    (Postgraduate Program in Sustainability, School of Economics and Business, Campus I, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini Street 1516, Campinas 13087-571, Brazil)

  • Bruna Angela Branchi

    (Postgraduate Program in Sustainability, School of Economics and Business, Campus I, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini Street 1516, Campinas 13087-571, Brazil)

  • Rubén Danilo Bourdon García

    (Ingeniería en Seguridad y Salud para el Trabajo, Fundación Universitaria San Mateo, Transversal 17 No. 25-25, Bogotá 111311, Colombia)

Abstract

Brazilian sanitation companies disclose their sustainable practices through sustainability reports as part of their commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of the 2030 Agenda, which aims to ensure universal access to water and sanitation. This study proposes a methodology to evaluate how these companies integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their management and disclosure practices, rather than assessing service delivery or operational outputs directly. These indicators were applied to the sustainability reports of Brazil’s three largest sanitation companies: Sabesp (Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo), Copasa (Companhia de Saneamento de Minas Gerais), and Sanepar (Companhia de Saneamento do Paraná). The results indicate that all three companies have incorporated sustainability into their competitive strategies and corporate governance practices. Sabesp demonstrated a stronger adherence in the environmental and governance dimensions, Copasa excelled in social performance while also performing well in governance, and Sanepar exhibited the lowest adherence among the three. Hence, we present a methodological framework for monitoring corporate ESG performance and governance practices aligned with SDG 6, focusing on their management and disclosure practices, rather than directly assessing service delivery or operational results.

Suggested Citation

  • Estefânia Hetman de Almeida Caciato & Cândido Ferreira da Silva Filho & Samuel Carvalho De Benedicto & Vinícius Eduardo Ferrari & Duarcides Ferreira Mariosa & Diego de Melo Conti & Bruna Angela Branch, 2025. "Comparative Study of ESG Practices Among Brazilian Sanitation Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:16:p:7312-:d:1723401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Godoy, Arilda Schmidt, 1995. "Introdução à pesquisa qualitativa e suas possibilidades," RAE - Revista de Administração de Empresas, FGV-EAESP Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (Brazil), vol. 35(2), March.
    2. Gary Christiam Farfán Chilicaus & Luis Edgardo Cruz Salinas & Pedro Manuel Silva León & Danny Alonso Lizarzaburu Aguinaga & Persi Vera Zelada & Luis Alberto Vera Zelada & Elmer Ovidio Luque Luque & Ro, 2025. "Circular Economy and Water Sustainability: Systematic Review of Water Management Technologies and Strategies (2018–2024)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-31, July.
    3. Yuan Yuan & Hong Dai & Jiaqi Ma, 2025. "The Impact of Corporate ESG Performance on Supply Chain Resilience: A Mediation Analysis Based on New Quality Productive Forces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-20, May.
    4. Regina Scheyvens & Glenn Banks & Emma Hughes, 2016. "The Private Sector and the SDGs: The Need to Move Beyond ‘Business as Usual’," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(6), pages 371-382, November.
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