ESG performance and women’s presence on the board: do operating cash flow opacity and sustainability committees matter? Evidence from the UK FTSE 100

Manuscript type: Research paper Research aims: The study aims to investigate the extent and level of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of listed companies in Thailand, and test for the relationship between ESG committees and performance. Design/methodology/approach: Using the top 100 Thai listed companies (364 firm-year observations) from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), the corporate annual reports during 2018 to 2021 are used to collect ESG board committee characteristics, while ESG performance is collected and measured by ESG scores from S&P Capital IQ and Capital IQ Pro databases. Descriptive analysis, correlation matrix, and multiple regression are used to analyse the data. Research findings: The average performance score of ESG in Thailand is 29.52. In addition, there was an increase of ESG performance by the top 100 firms in Thailand during the period under study. There is a significantly positive relationship between independent ESG committees and ESG performance, while dual positions between top management and ESG committees is negatively correlated with ESG performance. Theoretical contribution/originality: The findings of the relationship between ESG committees and performance demonstrates that agency theory can be used to explain the factors influencing ESG performance by Thai listed companies.

This research is motivated by corporate sustainability, where environmental, social and corporate governance issues are important in the company's annual report in addition to financial statements. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance on Stock Return based on changes in stock prices at the beginning of the year and the end of the year on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). This study uses data on companies listed on the SRI-KEHATI Index. Of the 25 companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, 17 sample data were used, namely company data for the 2019-2023 period. Environmental, Social, and Governance performance is assessed through the ESG score by the Morningstar Sustainalytics assessment agency obtained from Refinitiv Eikon. The analysis technique uses panel data regression analysis random effect model (REM) with ESG score as the independent variable and Stock Return as the dependent variable assisted by using the Eviews 13 application. Partial test results (t-test) show that there is no relationship between ESG performance and Stock Returns of companies that join the SRI-KEHATI index. The results of the F test simultaneously show that there is a significant relationship between ESG performance on the stock returns of companies incorporated in the SRI-KEHATI index. Keywords: ESG; Sri Kehati; stock return. Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh keberlanjutan perusahaan, dimana isu lingkungan, sosial dan tata kelola perusahaan menjadi penting dalam laporan tahunan perusahaan selain laporan keuangan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menguji hubungan antara kinerja ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) terhadap return saham berdasarkan perubahan harga saham pembukaan awal tahun dengan penutupan akhir tahun pada Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI). Penelitian ini menggunakan data perusahaan yang terdaftar pada Indeks SRI-KEHATI. Dari 25 peusahaan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia, sebanyak 17 data sampel yang digunakan yakni periode tahun 2019-2023. Kinerja Environmental, Social, dan Governance dinilai melalui ESG score oleh lembaga penilai Morningstar Sustainalytics diperoleh dari Refinitiv Eikon. Teknik analisis menggunakan analisis regresi data panel random effect model (REM) dengan ESG score sebagai variabel independen dan return saham sebagai variabel dependen yang dibantu dengan menggunakan aplikasi Eviews 13. Hasil pengujian secara parsial (uji t) menunjukkan bahwa tidak ada hubungan antara kinerja ESG terhadap return saham perusahaan yang bergabung dalam indeks SRI-KEHATI. Hasil uji F secara simultan menunjukkan ada hubungan signifikan antara kinerja ESG terhadap return saham perusahaan yang tergabung dalam indeks SRI-KEHATI. Kata kunci: ESG; Sri Kehati; return saham.

Non-technical summary The research paper studies business sophistication, tax revenue policies, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance across 105 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries spanning from 2013 to 2021. Key insights from the study underscore a positive association between business sophistication and ESG performance. This suggests that organizations leveraging advanced knowledge and innovation are better positioned to implement effective ESG strategies. Moreover, higher tax revenue is linked to better ESG, underlining a commitment to sustainability within the business landscape. Notably, Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) emerges as a pivotal catalyst in augmenting ESG performance, particularly when integrated with business sophistication and tax revenue mechanisms. Technical summary This study examines the relationship between business sophistication, tax revenue policies, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance in 105 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries from 2013 to 2021, focusing on the moderating role of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT). Using advanced econometric methods like Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS), two-step Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), and fixed-effect regression, the research also considers factors such as microfinance institutions, commercial bank financing, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal a significant positive link between business sophistication and ESG performance, indicating that companies with advanced knowledge and innovation are more likely to implement successful ESG policies. Higher tax revenue is also positively correlated with ESG improvements, reflecting support for sustainability. ICT is crucial in enhancing ESG performance, especially when combined with business sophistication and tax revenue. Microfinance and commercial banking are vital in promoting ESG practices in BRI countries. Despite a temporary decline in ESG performance due to COVID-19, the study predicts a post-pandemic resurgence, emphasizing the need to foster an innovation culture for sustainable development. Social media summary There is a positive association between business sophistication, tax revenues, microfinance, ICT, and commercial banking, which are key drivers of better ESG performance in BRI countries.

This study examines the relationship between operational efficiency, market efficiency and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) performance of publicly traded aircraft manufacturers. As a contribution to the literature, this research provides a novel efficiency analysis of aircraft manufacturers and applies wavelet methodology to the investigation of ESG-efficiency relationships in aviation. For the period 2003¬–2023, manufacturers’ efficiency was analyzed using Window Network DEA, which effectively addresses the limited number of industry decision makers. In the second stage, wavelet analysis was used to examine the relationships between efficiency outcomes and ESG scores, which has the advantage of revealing temporal relationships without requiring cointegration tests. The results show that the correlation patterns between manufacturers' efficiency and ESG scores exhibit temporal variations, with strong correlations (0.7-0.9 coherence) consistently observed over 10–15-year periods. Specifically, strong relationships were found between Airbus' operational efficiency and ESG performance in 3–4-year cycles, and between Boeing's marketing efficiency and ESG performance in the 8–15-year range. These findings suggest that ESG integration requires a long-term strategic approach that goes beyond the short-term focus prevalent in the existing literature. From a managerial perspective, the impact of ESG integration varies across firms depending on factors such as size, market segmentation and operational context, suggesting that ESG strategies should be tailored to specific firm characteristics. This research contributes to the growing aviation sustainability literature by providing unique insights into the long-term relationships between ESG and efficiency in an oligopolistic market.

PurposeAssessing the performance and stability of financial institutions is crucial for investors, regulators and stakeholders. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the economic resilience and sustainability performance of banks operating in Türkiye through their capital adequacy, asset quality, management quality, earnings, liquidity, and sensitivity to market risk (CAMELS) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores. The research examined whether there was a significant relationship between the CAMELS and ESG scores of the banks in the sample and how they affected each other.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzed the relationship between the CAMELS and ESG scores of five public and private banks operating in Türkiye. The study used statistical techniques such as correlation, regression and descriptive statistics to analyze the relationship between the CAMELS and the ESG score clusters. The data in the research cover the period 2008–2022 and were obtained from open sources disclosed to the public by the banks.FindingsThe study found a statistically significant relationship between the financial institutions’ CAMELS and ESG scores. Banks with higher CAMELS scores had a better ESG performance; however, this relationship was not linear. Regression analysis allowed for the identification of factors that had a significant impact on ESG scores within the CAMELS framework. No effect was detected on earnings (E), one of the CAMELS elements in the “economic, environmental, and governance elements” section of the banks' ESG scores. Management quality (M) positively affected only governance (G). Additionally, it was determined that the banks’ environmental performance (ENV) positively affected their CAMELS score.Practical implicationsThe positive relationship between the CAMELS and ESG dimensions shows that financial sustainability is essential. The findings are expected to enrich the understanding of financial institutions’ resilience in the context of Türkiye, which constitutes the research sample. In addition, the inferences that can be made from this Turkish sample are essential for informing investment decisions, regulatory frameworks and broader stakeholder engagement in similar markets.Social implicationsAlthough a significant and positive relationship was established between ESG and CAMELS scores, a substantial and positive relationship only sometimes emerged when the sub-elements of the variables in question were examined. Investing in environmental initiatives helps companies build sustainable business models for the long term, paving the way for future profits and improved capital adequacy and liquidity. However, new regulations and practices related to environmental activities may introduce additional costs, necessitating changes to existing business processes.Originality/valueThis study provides important information regarding the interaction in financial institutions between financial stability assessed by CAMELS scores and sustainability performance measured by ESG scores. The findings show that institutions with robust economic fundamentals demonstrate better ESG performance. This indicates that there is a positive relationship between financial stability and responsible business practices. This information will help investors, regulators and stakeholders to make informed decisions about financial institutions, decisions that focus on sustainability. The results also suggest that it is necessary to use dynamic models and analytical tools to address the link between CAMELS and ESG.

PurposeThis research aims to investigate the relationship between environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and the performance of real estate companies before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. By conducting a comprehensive case study analysis, we will explore how real estate companies' adoption of ESG practices has influenced their financial performance, market value and resilience during these uncertain times. The findings of this study will contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the relationship between ESG factors and company performance, specifically within the real estate sector. Moreover, the research outcomes will offer practical implications for real estate companies, investors, policymakers and other stakeholders, aiding them in making informed decisions regarding ESG integration and its potential benefits in uncertain times. Overall, this research aims to shed light on whether ESG factors truly enhance the performance of real estate companies, considering the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and sanctions. By examining the case study before and during uncertain times including COVID-19 pandemic and sanctions, we provide valuable insights into the role of ESG practices in shaping the future of the real estate industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study focuses on the selection process and main model used to investigate the relationship between ESG factors and firm performance. The data is divided into four groups based on ESG quartiles to analyze differences between firms with high and low ESG scores. The Difference-in-Differences (DID) model is employed to assess anomalous returns and stock volatility across different ESG quartiles before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Panel data models are utilized to study the association between ESG and firm performance, with random effects and fixed effects estimators considered. The study builds a model to analyze the impact of ESG on financial performance indicators, incorporating various factors and control variables. Additionally, the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATET) analysis and DID model are explored to evaluate the causal impact of ESG on firm performance. The study emphasizes the importance of testing for parallel trends to ensure the validity of the ATET analysis and it presents a generalized DID model to examine the relationship between ESG scores and company performance outcomes.FindingsOur study's main conclusions show that, in a world with some degree of stability, ESG not only does not improve but, in some situations, also hurts firms' success. On the other hand, at times of notable worldwide unrest, like the COVID-19 pandemic, firms with better ESG ratings demonstrate exceptional stock market success and a noteworthy ability to rebound from a crisis. Moreover, we note that investors truly prioritize sustainable investments as a risk mitigation strategy in addition to their environmental and social duties only when companies face sufficiently significant risks. The results will highlight the significance of sustainable and responsible investment for investors and provide management with more knowledge to create effective ESG strategies for their companies.Practical implicationsBy incorporating sustainability and responsibility into their operations, businesses may reduce risk, perform better over the long run and benefit society and the environment. As investors come to understand the importance of ESG issues in their decision-making, the global landscape is experiencing a transformation. Therefore, in the era when stakeholders, such as consumers, workers and shareholders, want more responsibility and transparency when it comes to ESG practises, it is crucial that companies should devote their priority to their ESG performance in order to reduce the danger of slipping behind, especially in light of the increasing importance of sustainability issues and changing laws. However, in the case of small-sized firms, investment policies to improve companies’ governance need to be controlled in moderation during the period of stability because it will create financial pressure and leave them without enough resources to cope with negative impacts during uncertain period. In sum, sustainable and ethical investment is not only a fad; rather, it is a vital and unavoidable route for companies looking to prosper in an unpredictable and complicated global environment.Originality/valueThis research study significantly enhances the existing academic discourse surrounding the relationship between ESG factors and firm performance, particularly, in periods of uncertainty. The findings underscore the critical importance for real estate companies to place a greater emphasis on ESG practices in order to not only benefit themselves but also to improve their overall performance and sustainability in the long term. By shedding light on the positive outcomes associated with prioritizing ESG considerations, this study offers valuable insights for real estate firms seeking to enhance their competitive advantage and stakeholder value in today's dynamic business landscape.

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to examine the relationship between the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and their operational efficiency and performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use S&P Global (formerly SNL Real Estate) for the study analyses and examine all publicly traded REITs based in the United States over the 2019–2020 sample period. The authors regress the measures of REIT operational efficiency and operational performance on REIT ESG scores while controlling for REIT characteristics and use an ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation model with heteroscedasticity-robust standard errors. The authors also run additional regressions to examine the implications of operational efficiency on the relationship between ESG and operational performance.FindingsThe authors find that REITs that perform well on the ESG scale have higher operational efficiency. In addition, the authors find that REITs with better ESG scores are associated with better operational performance. Finally, the authors find that the positive association between ESG scores and operational performance is stronger in REITs with higher operational efficiency.Practical implicationsFirst, the adoption of ESG adds value to the REIT in terms of increased operational performance and efficiency. Second, the value addition of ESG to an REIT is driven by the better operational efficiency of some REITs over the others. Therefore, the authors’ findings suggest that REITs that currently score poorly on ESG performance would first need to focus on all the possible avenues to improve economies of scale and hence operational efficiency. This approach would help ensure that when those REITs adopt ESG initiatives, they get the most bang for their buck.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that relates operational efficiency and operational performance of REITs to their ESG scores.

Purpose This examine the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance on financial reporting quality (FRQ) before and during COVID-19 in the Egyptian market. Design/methodology/approach This study uses quarterly data from 2017 to 2021 to draw conclusions, with a sample consisting of 486 firm-year observations for 27 Egyptian companies listed on the Standard and Poor’s/Egyptian Stock Exchange ESG index. This study uses both firms’ ESG scores and the Beneish Model, an earnings detection model, as proxies for FRQ. COVID-19 effects on ESG performance and FRQ were examined by using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and two-stage least squares. Findings COVID-19 has a significant impact on the link between ESG and FRQ. This implies that corporations with high ESG performance are less likely to manipulate earnings (having a low M-score) and thus provide high FRQ during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, there is a significant positive relationship between firm size, leverage and M-Score, indicating that large firms typically present a high FRQ. Research limitations/implications The sample size and data availability are the main research limitations. Additionally, this study only considers the effects of firms’ ESG performance on FRQ during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, future research should consider other factors associated with investors’ corporate social responsibility (CSR). Practical implications This research has practical implications for market regulators seeking to establish a legislative framework and enhance guidance to mandate managers to provide ESG data and CSR reports appropriate for Egypt and other developing economies in times of crisis. Social implications Promoting the adoption of ESG practices in business, particularly during crises, has the potential to effectively provide high-quality and reliable financial reporting required for investment. Originality/value This study aspires to address notable deficiencies in the pertinent literature concerning the relationship between ESG performance and FRQ during COVID-19. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, little is known about how ESG performance changes in response to pandemics in emerging markets. To address this gap, this study examines the effects of COVID-19 on the relationship between ESG performance and FRQ in Egyptian-listed firms from 2017 to 2021.

Purpose This study aims to assess the direct and indirect effects of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance on investment efficiency by investigating the role of financial reporting quality in mediating this relationship. Design/methodology/approach To obtain a more comprehensive measurement of ESG performance, this study used both Refinitiv Eikon and Bloomberg ESG scores, while previous studies typically used one ESG score measurement. The test was conducted on cross-country samples of 5,980 observations over 2016–2023. The mediation effect was tested using the three-stage least squares method developed by Baron and Kenny (1986). The Oster test was done to address endogeneity issues that become a matter of concern in determining the estimation model used in this study. Findings Empirical results show that ESG performance positively affects investment efficiency, and financial reporting quality mediates the positive effects of ESG performance on investment efficiency. The results of this study indicate that ESG performance will reduce agency problems, thus increasing investment efficiency. This implies that high ESG performance and good financial reporting quality are determining factors for companies to invest more efficiently. Originality/value This study reveals how ESG performance affects investment efficiency mediated by financial reporting quality, which has never been discussed in other studies. ESG performance was measured by using the average of Bloomberg ESG score and Refinitiv Eikon ESG score to complement previous studies that generally used one ESG score measurement.

The study aims to assess the impact of the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) score of the company on its market value. The research focuses on stock companies of financial markets of European Union (EU) Member States for the years 2011–2021. The ESG discourse on the EU regulated markets was examined across nine economic sectors, in line with LSEG terminology. To test the relationship between ESG performance and firm value, the modified Ohlson Valuation Model (OVM) was utilized. Tobin’s Q was considered as the proxy of firm value, RoA as the proxy of the company’s financial performance, and ESG scoring as the proxy of ESG information that is relevant in assessing the market value. Seven control variables for firm characteristics were also included. To account for potential institutional bias, grounded in legitimacy and institutional theories, we employed two dummy variables – COUNTRY and SECTOR. The findings confirmed our research hypothesis that there is a statistically significant relationship between ESG score and firm value. In line with stakeholder theory, the results support the notion that companies with high ESG scores achieve higher firm value than those with low ESG scores, thus shedding more light on the growing importance of ESG factors for the performance of European companies. The study offers new insights into relationship between ESG performance and firm market value, examined from both from country and sectoral perspectives.

<p><b>This thesis investigates the relationship between cross-country mandatory environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulations and firm-level outcomes, such as ESG performance, corporate finance, and investment, for both developing and developed countries. ESG performance is initially examined to determine whether mandatory ESG regulations affect it and to what extent. Second, the study investigates the impact of mandatory ESG on corporate finance and investment. Lastly, the study explores whether mandatory ESG regulations affect firm-level outcomes based on countries' governance and economic systems, and industries. The study uses a large sample of 69,010 firm-years across 73 countries, over the period 2005 – 2020 to address the foregoing issues.</b></p> <p>In addressing the impact of mandatory ESG regulations on ESG performance, the study employs a difference-in-differences (DiD) design. The DiD technique can isolate the effect of regulatory shocks to firm-level outcomes. According to the DiD analysis conducted, cross-country mandatory ESG improves firm-level ESG performance in developed countries, but not in developing countries. The study also concludes that mandatory ESG regulations have a positive impact only on ESG components in developed countries and have a more dominant impact on environmental (E) component. The findings are robust to a range of checks and test cases, including a triple DiD design set-up and propensity score-matched sample.</p> <p>The study employs an investment Euler equation framework and generalised method of moments (GMM) estimators to explore how mandatory ESG impacts corporate finance and investment. Euler frameworks account for the dynamic nature of investment, whereas GMMs account for endogenous dynamics in dynamic models. The study demonstrates that mandatory ESG increases corporate investment by increasing firms' access to external funds. The findings are robust to a battery of tests, including a triple DiD design set-up, propensity score-matched sample and the parallel trends assumption.</p> <p>Using an investment Euler equation framework and the GMM estimators, the study explores whether the impact of mandatory ESG on corporate finance and investment is dependent on a country's governance and economic system. When mandatory ESG is affected by country factors such as governance systems and economic well-being, the effect of mandatory ESG on investment via internal finance channel persists, according to the study. However, while consistent results are found in developed countries, inconsistent results are found in developing countries. According to the study, oil, gas, and mining firms are likely to respond effectively to mandatory ESG regulations because of increased scrutiny and pressure.</p> <p>Overall, the findings from the study imply that cross-country mandatory ESG has had a positive impact on corporate ESG performance, finance, and investment. For firms located in developed countries, these findings hold consistently, while for those located in developing countries, the opposite holds true. Also, the study reveals that firms in the oil, gas, and mining industries effectively respond to regulatory requirements. As a result, this study provides policy makers and accountants with an understanding of how mandatory ESG impacts firm ESG activities and performance, which is crucial for regulatory reforms.</p>

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance on the firm performance of select Indian companies.Design/methodology/approachThe present paper is a cross-section study based on secondary data with a sample of 222 Indian firms. The ESG performance for Indian companies is based on the Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL) ESG score, and the financial data are extracted from the ACE Equity database. Both accounting- and market-based measures of firm performance are used. Ordinary least squares and simultaneous quantile regression models are used for empirical investigation.FindingsThe study reveals that Indian firms focus much more on governance and social parameters than environmental ones. The results indicate that ESG performance and its components are positively associated with firm performance. The results of quantile regression show that the impact of ESG is different at different locations of the conditional distribution of firm performance and the positive impact is more pronounced at upper quantiles.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in India based on the CRISIL ESG score for analyzing the ESG and firm performance relationship. Furthermore, in the Indian context, a modest attempt is made to study the influence of ESG performance at different locations of the distribution of firm performance by using quantile regression.

Purpose This paper aims to empirically assess the effect of hospitality firms’ digital dynamic capabilities (DDC) on their corporate digital responsibilities (CDR) and the subsequent impact on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. Specifically, it examines how CDR practices shape ESG digitization and performance in the hospitality industry. Design/methodology/approach The authors collect cross-sectional data via the online survey platform, gathering responses from 257 hotel firms across 42 countries and estimate the structural paths using partial least-squares (PLS) structural equation model. To reduce unobserved heterogeneity for robustness, the authors additionally implement finite mixture PLS (FIMIX-PLS), supported by a post hoc power analysis conducted through G*Power. Findings The results indicate that the three elements of DDC – digital sensing, digital seizing and digital reconfiguring – positively affect substantive and symbolic CDR of hospitality firms. Both CDRs simultaneously contribute positively to firms’ ESG digitization, whereas their direct effect on ESG performance is found to be insignificant. Given the positive impact of ESG digitization on ESG performance, this indicates that ESG digitization acts as a mediator, bridging the impact of both CDRs on ESG performance. Thus, DDC elements enhance CDRs, which, in turn, influence ESG performance indirectly through ESG digitization. Research limitations/implications The empirical support for the interconnected relationship between DDC, CDR and ESG performance provides hospitality and tourism managers with the latest understanding of the mechanism by which they can enhance sustainability performance. Originality/value This study addresses a significant gap in the prior literature by investigating how substantive and symbolic CDR practices differently impact ESG outcomes in the hospitality industry. From a dynamic capability perspective, the study integrates the concept of DDC with ESG and highlights their role in enhancing the effectiveness of CDR practices.

In recent years, investors' increasing focus on sustainable investments and the sustainability orientation of companies has led to parallel growth in the market for environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and ESG rating agencies. However, even though ESG rating agencies have become very influential institutions, the literature has found that ESG performance ratings provided by different agencies often differ from each other. This causes consequences that should be considered, such as complex evaluation of companies' ESG performance and uncertainty in ESG investment decisions. Therefore, it is necessary to identify which determinants influence ESG performance. This study aims to identify the internal determinants of an ESG score using bank-specific balance sheet indicators such as capital and risk ratios. The analysis focuses on the European banking sector from 2018 to 2022. Banks mainly foster the transition to a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Moreover, after the recent financial crises, banks have increased their social responsibility practices, strengthening their credibility, trust and reputation. Generalised estimating equations with standard error robust to heteroscedasticity were used. The results reveal that the factors that most influence the ESG score provided by ESG rating agencies are bank size and liquidity risk exposure. The larger the size of the bank and the lower the exposure to liquidity risk, the higher the ESG score assigned.

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of sustainable practices as proxied by the environmental, social and governance (ESG) score on capital structure. It also investigates whether ESG performance influences the speed of adjustment (SOA) to target leverage in firms. Design/methodology/approach The sample covers 116 non-financial firms listed on the main stock exchanges from five Southeast ASEAN countries (Bursa Malaysia, Indonesia Stock Exchange, Philippines Stock Exchange, Singapore Stock Exchange and Stock Exchange of Thailand) over the period 2012–2019. The study adopts the OLS regression and system-GMM estimators to perform the data analysis. Findings The authors show that the ESG score is positively associated with book leverage, suggesting that firms increase their debt capital through sustainable practices. However, they find that the ESG score is negatively associated with market leverage across our model estimations. The authors also reveal that environmental, social and governance pillar scores produce about 7.82%, 2.88% and 0.47% SOAs, respectively, higher than the SOA of the traditional SOA without the ESG factor. The aggregate ESG score has about 3.41% SOA higher than the baseline SOA without the ESG factor. Practical implications This study is of interest to investors, corporate firms and policymakers. The study demonstrates that the ESG score increases the firm’s SOA to target leverage. By disaggregating the ESG score, the authors establish that ESG pillar scores produce higher SOAs than the traditional SOA (without ESG), with the environmental score inducing the fastest SOA. Practically, the study implies that environmentally sustainable activities reduce environmental transaction costs, benefit firms through better information transparency and enhance a trustful climate between the firm and suppliers of capital. Therefore, this study demonstrates that firms do not only incur the cost of disseminating ESG information but also benefit from lower information asymmetry and a higher SOA with better tax-deductible advantages. Social implications The findings have combined advantages for both stakeholders and directors who monitor and manage the firms’ resources to improve the quality of ESG practices and initiatives. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to establish that sustainable practices induce higher debt capital. Secondly, unlike prior research focusing on the cost of capital, the authors examine whether ESG performance affects capital structure patterns. Thirdly, it documents the extent to which sustainable practices influence the SOA towards target leverage in firms. The authors contribute to corporate finance literature that firms reach faster to their target leverage in the presence of ESG performance. Theoretically, through the notion of the stakeholder proposition, the study establishes that the firms’ pursuance of stakeholder goals further enhances the prediction of the trade-off theory.