THE SIGNIFICANCE AND ESSENCE OF ESG IN THE FOOD SECTOR IN POLAND

Abstract

The aim of the article is to assess the proposed EU regulations on the use of ESG (environment, society and corporate governance) in the food sector in Poland. The source of materials for the analysis were reports on sustainable development of the UN, European Environment Agency, European Commission and information from companies that are already implementing ESG principles. The essence and importance of ESG and the strategies used so far for sustainable production practices are discussed. An attempt was made to determine how companies in the food industry using ESG can improve their financial results. Key legal regulations were presented and the importance of ESG factors in building the value of enterprises in the agri-food sector was indicated. It was pointed out that companies from the food industry play an important role in meeting the needs of the population, both in terms of food and in solving the problem of the climate crisis. The growing importance of ESG issues creates both challenges and opportunities for the Polish food sector. Due to the growing interest of consumers and investors in the issues of evaluating companies according to ESG principles, the pressure to report these activities in company reports is growing. It has been shown that the implementation of environmental, social and corporate governance in enterprises is a necessity in the context of generating value and competitive advantage of enterprises.