Integration of sustainable development principles into the strategy of socially responsible business

The article examines the theoretical, methodological, and applied foundations for integrating sustainable development principles into the strategy of socially responsible business amid global transformations, rising environmental challenges, and growing stakeholder demands for corporate transparency and accountability. The relevance of the topic lies in the need to build long-term competitive advantage for enterprises by balancing economic efficiency, social responsibility, and environmental security. The expediency of transitioning from fragmented social initiatives to the systemic integration of sustainable development principles into all business processes of the enterprise, including strategic planning, risk management, innovation activities, corporate culture, and stakeholder engagement, is substantiated. It is determined that implementing sustainable development principles increases investment attractiveness, strengthens reputational capital, and builds trust among partners and consumers. Methodological approaches to assessing the level of integration of sustainable development principles into enterprise strategy are investigated, in particular through the ESG indicator system, non-financial reporting, and monitoring the achievement of strategic goals. The instruments of strategic integration are considered, including the formulation of a sustainable development policy, the development of corporate codes of ethics, the implementation of environmental management standards, and the establishment of internal control systems. It is revealed that the barriers to integrating sustainable development principles include insufficient managerial maturity, limited financial resources, a lack of clear methodological guidelines, and a low level of corporate responsibility culture. At the same time, the factors of successful integration are identified, including strategic leadership, digitalization of management processes, active stakeholder engagement, and the use of innovative management approaches. The study of the impact of integrating sustainable development principles on enterprise performance identified a positive correlation between corporate social responsibility and financial stability, competitiveness, and long-term value. A conceptual approach to integrating ESG principles into the enterprise’s strategic management system is presented, which involves aligning mission, values, goals, and key performance indicators with sustainable development benchmarks. A structural and logical model for developing a socially responsible business strategy is proposed by identifying the significant aspects of the enterprise’s impact on the economic, social, and natural environments. Keywords: sustainable development, socially responsible business, ESG principles, strategic management, corporate social responsibility, competitiveness.