From traditional to sustainable business models: an organizational transformation driven by ESG

Abstract

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are highly relevant for assessing organizational sustainability and generating long-term value. However, the literature still lacks an integrated synthesis explaining how the diverse ESG-boosting elements identified across studies converge into broader organizational drivers that support sustainable organizational transformation. This work proposes an integrated set of drivers of ESG development to support the transition from traditional to sustainable business models. A systematic literature review was conducted, employing Content Analysis to code and categorize the 52 selected articles published between 2021 and 2026, selected through a structured Scopus search adapted from the PRISMA protocol. Through an inductive, iterative process, 114 ESG-boosting elements initially identified in the literature were consolidated by semantic and functional affinity into 30 conceptually distinct Boosting Elements, which were subsequently clustered into six organizational drivers. This work delivers a set of interrelated drivers that operate as a coordinated, feedback-driven system: Regulatory and Financial drivers establish legitimacy criteria and economic incentives of external pressures, Organizational and Technological drivers reconfigure internal structures and innovation systems, the Relational driver anchors these changes in the value chain, and the Cognitive driver sustains the process through mindset and cultural internalization. A diagnostic tool linking each driver to objective questions and priority actions is also proposed. Identifying, benchmarking, and clustering ESG-enhancing elements into an integrated, comprehensive framework advances the current understanding of ESG-driven organizational change. It also illustrates how these mechanisms interact dynamically. In practice, the proposed drivers and diagnostic tool offer managers, stakeholders, regulators, and investors clear guidance for assessing ESG and supporting the shift to sustainable business models.