ROLE OF ACCOUNTING IN ENVIRONMENTAL TOOLS IN SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF COMPANIES

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the importance of environmental accounting for achieving corporate profitability using sustainable tools. The research was exploratory and descriptive in nature and was conducted through a narrative review of the literature, using academic and regulatory sources. It is clear that environmental accounting is no longer just a financial recording system, but has become a strategic tool for sustainable management, providing important data on the impact of business activities on the environment. Environmental accounting allows companies to measure, control and disclose the impact of their operations on the environment, promoting legal compliance, transparency and consistency with social and environmental governance practices. The study also discusses the historical evolution of environmental accounting, its main regulatory instruments (such as CPC 25 and 29) and the role of the social balance sheet. It is concluded that, although it faces challenges such as high initial costs, environmental accounting represents a competitive advantage by integrating sustainability and financial performance, strengthening the corporate image and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).