Sustainability as a Strategic Advantage: Evaluating the Financial Benefits of Environmental Criteria and Sustainability Perceptions in Colombian Enterprises

This study examines the relationship between sustainable practices and corporate profitability in Colombian enterprises using data from 3572 responses to the FAEDPYME 2022 survey. Through Structural Equation Modeling, the research analyzes how environmental criteria and sustainability perceptions impact business performance, considering operational efficiency and corporate reputation as mediators. The results demonstrate that environmental supplier selection, energy efficiency management, and environmental certifications positively correlate with increased profitability. Conversely, plastic packaging management shows a negative relationship. The perception that sustainability enhances profitability strongly is associated with higher business performance. Both operational efficiency and corporate reputation serve as significant mediators in these relationships. The study confirms that the strategic implementation of specific sustainable practices is positively associated with enhanced corporate profitability. Furthermore, a managerial conviction that sustainability drives profitability appears to be a significant factor in achieving such positive financial outcomes.