Corporate Governance and the Blue Economy: A Qualitative Analysis of Select Indian Public-Listed Companies in Pursuit of SDG 14

Sustainable business practices are integral to the company’s vision and values. Corporate governance can play a pivotal role in helping a corporation to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Companies in various sectors like shipping and logistics, Chemical and petrochemicals, FMCG, and oil and gas have a significant deprecating environmental impact. To mitigate the negative impact, the companies must invest in environmentally responsible activities. This study focuses on SDG-14 which emphasizes the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, marine resources, sea, and other water bodies. By evaluating the sustainable practices undertaken by companies that negatively impact marine resources, this study evaluates the degree of importance the companies give to water resources to which they cause the maximum harm. This is achieved through the publicly available literature and disclosure documents of four prominent sectors with the highest market valuation. Additionally, this research tries to identify operational strategies being adopted to align with global climate issues. Through qualitative analysis, this investigation aims to provide readers with insights into how closely these industries align their strategies with sustainability goals.