ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS CAUSED BY COMPANIES: LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Environmental impacts are negative changes in the environment that result from anthropic activities, such as infrastructure construction, natural resources preservation, water sources reduction, erosion, species extinction, fuel, greenhouse effect worsening and habitats destruction. These effects may have devastating consequences on the ecosystem and affect animal and plant life. They also cause financial losses and damage to company's reputation, driving investors evasion due to their aversion to invest in no ESG organizations.This study sought to analyze companies’ environmental engagement, and show how dangerous some actions, or their absence, can be. We did a bibliographic research of three environmental

disasters involving large companies, which are: Córrego do Feijão mine dam rupture, in Brumadinho/MG, involving Vale, which caused 272 deaths and waste spread into Paraopeba river basin; Campos/RJ Basin oil spill, involving Chevron oil company, causing water contamination and marine animals death; and JBS’ methane gas emissions which causes greenhouse effect and irreparable damage to the environment. Cases selection considered methodological criteria afterward described and cases repercussion in the academic community, who produced a relevant number of studies, herein analysed, making possible to assert that environmental practices must occur in accordance to legislation in order to promote environment preservation as well as environmental standards compliance. We expect to sensitize other companies to act to reduce or eliminate such impacts, aiming to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development.