Do no Significant Harm (DNSH) Principle in Corporate Sustainability Strategies: Towards a Methodological Framework

The integration of corporate sustainability strategies into business activities has become increasingly essential due to the growing concerns about environmental degradation resulting from population growth and resource depletion. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) emphasizes the need for businesses to consider their environmental and social impacts, promoting a holistic approach to sustainability that goes beyond profit maximization. Green finance has a pivotal role in driving the transition toward sustainability, aligning financial objectives with environmental and social goals; however, sustainable finance initiatives face issues regarding their trustworthiness. This research has a threefold objective. Notably, it suggests a methodological framework for the integration of the Do Not Significant Harm (DNSH) principle into the sustainable initiatives of companies, alongside two taxonomies to assist public and private companies in managing corporate sustainability strategies. The taxonomies are identified by using the Delphi methodology. More in detail, a sample of experts was involved to integrate complementary perspectives. Notably, the first taxonomy aims to support firms in choosing the potential investments that could be drawn up; meanwhile, the second seeks to establish useful metrics to quantify the environmental impact generated by economic activities. Moreover, these frameworks could also be useful for policymakers to evaluate sustainable investments.