Best Journal of Administration and Management
Vol 5 No 1 (2026): Best Journal of Administration and Management

ESG and Profitability in the Palm Oil Industry: A Literature Review

Alda Kartika (Universitas Medan Area)
Ahmad Rafiki (Universitas Medan Area)
M. Akbar Siregar (Universitas Medan Area)



Article Info

Publish Date
08 Oct 2026

Abstract

Profitability is a key indicator of performance for oil palm plantation companies, but long-term profitability is increasingly influenced by their ability to manage environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities. This article presents a narrative literature review to develop an ESG-based sustainability model and examine its relationship with profitability, primarily proxied by Return on Assets (ROA). The Environmental dimension covers emissions reduction, biodiversity protection, land management, waste and water management, and sustainable production. The Social dimension encompasses worker welfare, occupational safety, community relations, human rights, and smallholder inclusion. The Governance dimension includes board oversight, transparency, risk management, compliance, and stakeholder accountability. The synthesis indicates that sustainability standards and early adoption can influence palm oil company performance, although financial impacts vary because ESG implementation involves costs alongside benefits such as operational efficiency, market access, reputation, and risk reduction. The proposed model positions ESG as a multidimensional strategic capability that influences profitability through operational efficiency, risk reduction, legitimacy, market access, and stakeholder trust. This article provides a conceptual foundation for future empirical testing of oil palm plantation companies without claiming statistical results from company data.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

Bejam

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Economics, Econometrics & Finance Social Sciences

Description

Best Journal of Administration and Management is a periodical scientific journal published based on scientific journal principles aimed at publishing scientific works resulting from research, development and literature studies in the field of Administration and Management, and Scope this journal: ...