ESG is Not an Option, but a Survival Strategy
As the climate crisis accelerates and each country's ESG disclosure regulations are strengthened, the sustainability management strategies of global companies have now established themselves as a core axis of corporate competitiveness. While ESG was once regarded as an extension of image management or social contribution, ESG as of 2026 has evolved into a practical business variable determining supply chain management, investment attraction, regulatory compliance, and market accessibility.
The European Union (EU) already began applying ESG disclosure obligations to domestic companies in stages starting from the 2024 financial year, and from 2026, it is expanding this obligation to global companies operating businesses above a certain scale within the EU. Consequently, companies entering the EU market are now in a situation where they must disclose sustainability information to stakeholders regardless of their nationality.
Amid this changing global ESG environment, global leading companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Unilever, along with major domestic corporations including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company, POSCO, and SK Hynix, are implementing ESG strategies tailored to their respective industry characteristics. We examine their achievements, challenges, and honest flip sides.