SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: THE TRIPOD OF SUSTAINABILITY AS AN APPROACH TO ALIGN ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES

Objective: To investigate the applicability of the sustainability tripod as an approach to align economic, social and environmental practices in organizations. Methodology : It was an exploratory qualitative approach, which was carried out with 15 managers of Brazilian companies from various sectors. Individual in-depth interviews and discourse analysis were used to understand perceptions, practices and challenges related to sustainability and socio-environmental management. Results and Analysis : As a result, it was possible to see that managers emphasized the increasing strategic priority of sustainability not only to comply with regulations, but also to improve operational efficiency and strengthen the corporate image. Benefits include improved corporate image and tangible financial gains, highlighting sustainability as an opportunity for optimization and advantage in the conscious global market. However, challenges include complexity in adapting to environmental requirements, limited employee awareness, and integrating sustainable practices into the supply chain. Conclusion: It is concluded that sustainability and socio-environmental management are crucial for Brazilian companies not only as a response to environmental challenges, but also as a strategy for organizational competitiveness in the face of competition.


INTRODUCTION
Concern about environmental impacts has intensified in recent decades as human activity continues to exert significant pressure on global ecosystems.Since the Industrial Revolution, greenhouse gas emissions, rampant deforestation, ocean pollution and biodiversity loss have profoundly altered the planet's natural systems, compromising its ability to sustain life as we know it.These impacts are clear evidence that the way economic activities are currently conducted is not sustainable in the long term (Lima et al., 2024;Machado;Checon, 2023).
In this context, sustainability emerges as a fundamental guiding principle for mitigating environmental damage and promoting practices that can ensure a balance between current needs and the future capabilities of the planet.Sustainability goes beyond simple environmental conservation; it also encompasses social and economic aspects, seeking to ensure that future generations can enjoy natural resources essential to human life, without compromising their availability for other species and ecosystems (Costa;Ferezin, 2021).
Socio-environmental management emerges as a strategic and operational response to integrate sustainability principles into the daily practices of organizations.It involves not only minimizing the environmental impacts of business operations, but also engaging with local communities, promoting fair and secure working conditions, and developing ethical and responsible supply chains.Socio-environmental management is essential so that companies can not only fulfill their legal and regulatory obligations, but also contribute positively to the society and environment in which they are inserted (Lima et al., 2024).
The sustainability tripod, consisting of the economic, social and environmental pillars, offers a holistic approach to guiding organizations in their pursuit of sustainable development.
The economic pillar aims to ensure the long-term financial viability of operations, considering not only the immediate profit but also the value sustainably generated for all stakeholders.The social pillar focuses on promoting fair, safe and inclusive practices for employees, customers and communities impacted by the company's activities.The environmental pillar, on the other hand, seeks to minimize the negative impacts of operations, promoting efficiency in the use of natural resources, the reduction of emissions and respect for the ecological limits of the planet (Irigaray;Stocker, 2022).
Thus, the objective of this research was to analyze the applicability of the sustainability tripod as an approach to align economic, social and environmental practices in organizations.

METHODOLOGY
To investigate the relationship between sustainability and socio-environmental management in Brazilian organizations, an exploratory research of a qualitative approach was adopted.This type of research is suitable for exploring complex and poorly studied phenomena, allowing a deep and detailed understanding of the perceptions and practices of managers in relation to the theme.
The sample selected for this study was composed of 15 managers of Brazilian companies of different sectors and sizes.The choice of this diverse sample aims to capture perspectives and practices related to sustainability and socio-environmental management, thus enriching the analysis of the collected data.
The data collection was carried out through in-depth individual interviews, which allowed to explore the experiences, opinions and perceptions of managers in a detailed and contextualized manner.Each interview was conducted in a flexible manner, using a previously elaborated script of questions that allowed for the investigation of new questions during the course of the study.
The roadmap was designed to address key aspects related to the implementation of sustainable practices, challenges faced, strategies adopted and impacts observed within organizations.During the interviews, managers were encouraged to provide answers on how their companies deal with socio-environmental issues and how they perceive the importance of sustainability in their corporate strategies.Responses were recorded and transcribed for further analysis upon agreement of the respondents.
To analyze the collected data, the technique of discourse analysis was used.This methodological approach allows an in-depth analysis of the content of the interviewees' messages, identifying patterns, recurring themes, contradictions and nuances in the perceptions and practices related to sustainability and socio-environmental management.Speech analysis is not limited to the explicit content of responses, but also considers the social, cultural and organizational context in which sustainable practices are developed and implemented.

RESULTS AND DATA ANALYSIS
The results of the survey revealed a variety of perceptions among the managers interviewed about the implementation and impacts of sustainability and socio-environmental management in their organizations.The analysis of the discourse allowed for the identification of recurring patterns and themes that reflect the strategies adopted and the challenges faced by companies in the Brazilian context.
One of the managers interviewed, E1, highlighted that "sustainability has become a strategic priority for our company in recent years.In addition to complying with environmental regulations, we seek to integrate practices that promote energy efficiency and waste reduction into our production processes.This not only makes us more competitive in the market, but it also strengthens our commitment to social and environmental responsibility." Complementarily, the E5 and E7 respondents respectively emphasized that 'today, there is no way to talk about management without involving sustainability.A company that does not think about sustainability, does not survive in the market" and "sustainability today should be part of all the management.We, as agents ative in the production process, have to rethink our actions to guarantee the survival of the next generations."Sustainability emerges as a growing strategic priority for surveyed organizations.In addition to complying with environmental regulations, companies are integrating practices that aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste in their production processes.These initiatives are perceived not only as regulatory requirements, but also as strategies to increase competitiveness in the market and strengthen commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
It also appears that socio-environmental management was highlighted as essential to align business operations with sustainable principles.This involves not only mitigating adverse environmental impacts, but also engaging with local communities, promoting safe and ethical working conditions, and developing responsible supply chains.
The integration of these aspects not only meets legal and regulatory obligations, but also strengthens the company's reputation and its social license to operate.Managers recognize that sustainability is not only an option, but an imperative necessity for survival in the current market.Companies that do not incorporate sustainable practices risk falling behind, losing business opportunities and facing growing challenges related to public acceptance and access to global markets.However, the E5 respondent emphasized the challenges faced in implementing sustainable practices: "Adapting to environmental requirements has been a complex process for our organization.We invest in clean technologies, but we still face difficulties in raising employee awareness and integrating sustainable practices across the supply chain." Reflecting this challenge, respondent 4 highlighted that "one of the difficulties is the legal aspects.Often, it's all too bureaucratic and it makes things a little harder within the company." The challenges highlighted in research reveal significant obstacles faced by many organizations in implementing sustainable practices.One of the main points mentioned is the complexity of the process of adaptation to environmental requirements.Despite investments in clean technologies, many companies still struggle to properly raise their employees' awareness of the importance of sustainability and integrate these practices throughout the supply chain.
Employee awareness is crucial as they play a key role in running day-to-day operations.
Without an in-depth understanding of sustainable practices and the impact of their actions on the environment, it is difficult to ensure the effectiveness of the company's sustainable initiatives.In addition, integrating these practices along the supply chain presents additional challenges, given the diversity of trading partners and their own environmental policies and commitments.
Therefore, overcoming these challenges requires not only continuous investments in sustainable technologies and strategies, but also targeted efforts to educate, engage and align all involved in operations and the supply chain with the organization's sustainability objectives.This integrated and educational approach is essential to ensure that sustainable practices are not only implemented, but also effectively maintained and improved over time.
It is also worth noting that many managers recognize the importance of the social pillar of sustainability.Manager E10 mentioned that "in addition to environmental initiatives, we invest in training and development programs for our employees to ensure fair and safe working conditions.This not only strengthens our commitment to social responsibility, but also improves staff motivation and productivity." Respondents E11 and E13 respectively highlighted that "we seek to value our customers and suppliers by raising their awareness of sustainability throughout our production process" and "we develop projects aimed at our local community, thereby valuing sustainability in its integrity: in the environmental, economic and social aspects." It is noted that many managers recognize the importance of the social pillar of sustainability in their organizations, as revealed by the survey reports.Several companies are implementing significant initiatives to promote fair and safe working conditions for their employees.An example of this is investment in training and development programs, aimed not only at strengthening commitment to social responsibility, but also at improving staff motivation and productivity.
In addition, there is a clear emphasis on extending the principles of sustainability beyond the boundaries of the organization.This includes initiatives to raise awareness among customers, suppliers and the local community about the importance of sustainable practices at all stages of the production process.Such efforts aim not only to value external stakeholders, but also to develop projects that integrate the environmental, economic and social pillars in a comprehensive manner.
These approaches not only strengthen corporate social responsibility, but also help build strong and lasting relationships with all stakeholders.By prioritizing the social pillar of sustainability, organizations not only meet their ethical and legal responsibilities, but also take a leading role as agents of positive change within their communities and sectors of activity.
Regarding the perceived impacts, E3 noted that "the adoption of sustainable practices has resulted in a significant improvement in our corporate image.Customers and investors are increasingly valuing companies that demonstrate a real commitment to environmental and social sustainability."Moreover, E7 highlighted that "our integrated approach to sustainability has also brought us financial gains.We reduced our operating costs through energy efficiency and resource optimization measures, which translated into higher profitability." The analysis of the perceived impacts by managers reveals two main consequences of implementing sustainable practices in the interviewed organizations: improvement in the corporate image and tangible financial gains.
First, the improvement in corporate image was highlighted as a significant benefit.
Companies that adopt sustainable practices are perceived by customers and investors as more ethical, responsible and committed to environmental and social issues.This not only strengthens the company's reputation, but can also increase its attractiveness in today's competitive market, where sustainability becomes a valued differentiator by conscious consumers and corporate stakeholders.
In addition, the implementation of sustainable strategies has also brought observable financial gains.Reducing operational costs through measures such as energy efficiency and resource optimization not only helps the company meet environmental goals, but also results in higher financial profitability.This demonstrates that investing in sustainability is not only an ethical obligation but also an intelligent strategic decision that can improve the operational efficiency and financial competitiveness of the organization.
The results show that sustainability and socio-environmental management not only help with regulatory compliance and corporate image improvement, but also promote operational efficiency and employee engagement.However, implementation challenges and the need for continued awareness were highlighted as critical areas for the advancement of sustainable practices in Brazilian organizations.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
The research revealed that sustainability and socio-environmental management are fundamental for Brazilian organizations, not only as a response to growing environmental challenges, but also as a strategy to promote operational efficiency, improve corporate image and ensure regulatory compliance.The results indicate that companies are increasingly integrating sustainable practices not only as an ethical imperative, but also as a competitive advantage in today's market, where consumers and investors increasingly value social and environmental responsibility.
The analysis of the data highlighted that the implementation of sustainable practices has resulted in significant benefits, such as improved corporate image and tangible financial gains.
Companies that embrace energy efficiency, waste reduction and community engagement strategies not only strengthen their reputation, but also reduce operating costs and improve their profitability.This demonstrates that sustainability is not only an additional cost, but an optimization opportunity that can boost competitiveness and longevity in the market.
However, the challenges identified in the research, such as complexity in adapting to environmental requirements, limited employee awareness, and the integration of sustainable practices across the supply chain, underline the need for continuous and integrated efforts.
Education and employee engagement, along with the alignment of business partners and suppliers, emerge as critical areas for advancing sustainable initiatives.
In short, the results reinforce the importance of sustainability as a guiding principle for business operations that not only seek profit but also commit to environmental and social wellbeing.Companies that can effectively integrate sustainable practices not only fulfill their ethical and legal responsibilities, but also strategically position themselves to face future challenges and seize emerging opportunities in an increasingly aware and demanding global market.