Economic Efficiency of Natural Resource Use in the Context of ESG Integration and the Circular Economy Transition
Mukhiyayeva D. Alibekova A. Sembiyeva L. Shmygol N. Zhumatayeva B. Khamitova D.
December 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
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2025#14Issue 12
The global shift towards sustainable development and low-carbon growth has intensified the need for efficient management of natural resources. This study proposes an integrated economic assessment framework to evaluate how ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) integration and circular economy strategies influence resource productivity and long-term economic performance. The research focuses on the water–energy–land nexus as a critical driver of global economic systems. Using a combination of multi-criteria decision analysis (AHP/TOPSIS), material flow analysis (MFA), life-cycle assessment (LCA), and panel econometric modeling on a broad dataset of countries (2018–2023), we examine the relationship between resource efficiency, ESG adoption, and economic competitiveness. The results indicate that circular business models and strong ESG practices significantly reduce resource intensity, enhance total factor productivity, and strengthen economic resilience. Scenario modeling demonstrates that transitioning from linear to circular resource flows can yield substantial economic and ecological benefits, including a ~1–3% rise in GDP and a ~15–20% drop in resource intensity under a high-circularity scenario. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and businesses, emphasizing that sustainable resource governance is not only an environmental necessity but also a key driver of global economic transformation.
circular economy , economic modeling , ESG , governance , LCA , MFA , productivity , resource efficiency , sustainable development , water–energy–land nexus
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Faculty of Economics, L. N. Gumilyov, Eurasian National University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
The Institute of Organization of Production Systems, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, 00-001, Poland
School of Tourism, International University of Tourizm and Hospitality, Turkistan, 161200, Kazakhstan
Faculty of Economics
The Institute of Organization of Production Systems
School of Tourism
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