The SEA model enhances the ESG vision, proposing the deep integration of human well-being, economic prosperity and environmental responsibility, where mental health and well-being are indicators of business success.
Today, when we talk about corporate success, the rules are no longer the same. For a long time in history, the main goal of companies was to maximize profit and optimize costs, neglecting the social and environmental impacts generated in the process. However, the current market demands a reassessment of this priority.
This change has gained momentum with the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), which has transformed the social and environmental responsibility into a strategic pillar. ESG was an important initial step for companies to consider broader risks and opportunities.
However, for an organization to go beyond legal compliance (compliance) and achieve a realsustainability long term, it is essential to adopt a vision that is even more complete and integrated: a Socio-economic and Environmental Sustainability (SEA).
The SEA approach represents the evolution of this thinking, recognizing that the health and stability of a company depend directly on the human and natural ecosystems where it operates.
Integrating the dimensions Socio-economic (which unites the Social and the Economic) and the Environmental at the heart of strategic planning is not an optional differentiator, but the new basis for competitiveness and relevance in the global market.
For Jorge Pinheiro Machado, president of R20 (Regions of Climate Action), in his speech at the 5th São Paulo Development Forum, the need for this balance is non-negotiable:
“In today's world and in the future, there will be no development that does not comply with the rules of sustainability. To achieve this model, it is essential that the actions of society, governments and companies take into account the socio-economic-environmental balance. Without this tripod, there is no sustainability, and without sustainability, there is no development. It has become mandatory to think about development in a sustainable way and to ensure that sustainability does not bring about processes fake or greenwashing, but one that really takes into account the socio-economic-environmental balance”.
The socio-economic dimension: the non-negotiable value of human capital
The Socio-economic pillar of the SEA establishes a direct bridge between financial prosperity, the well-being of society and, crucially, the health and the development of human capital. This involves ensuring equity, a social inclusion and the development of communities, as well as seeking the economic growth and efficiency in the production and distribution of wealth.
In this context, the mental health of employees emerges as an unquestionable socio-economic indicator. Treating psychological well-being as an optional benefit or a one-off marketing initiative is a costly weakness. After all, the mental health at work is an epidemic that directly affects the productivity and competitiveness in business.
Data The Ministry of Health's recent report “Mental Health in Data - Issue 13” of February 2025 illustrates the urgency of public policies and, consequently, corporate actions based on data and evidence.
In the business environment, improvisation cannot be sustained. The accelerated increase in sick leave due to psychosocial issues reinforces how the work environment can be responsible for generating stress, anxiety e burnout.
Real prevention of illness requires precise diagnosis and structured risk factors within each organizational culture. For the CEO of PlurieBR, Laura Salles, the key is the data intelligence:
“The discourse that ‘we take care of people’ cannot be sustained without robust metrics. This approach goes beyond a simple climate survey, demanding the collection of qualitative and quantitative data on well-being, workload, interpersonal relations e sense of belonging, among other actions”.
Integrating the environmental dimension
The environmental dimension of SEA focuses on conservation of natural resourcesat environmental protectionat biodiversityat waste and pollution management, and in the climate change mitigation. A company that adopts the SEA recognizes that environmental responsibility is linked to its economic health.
Good environmental practices, The use of energy efficiency, such as reducing energy consumption and efficient waste management, often results in cost optimization and greater operational efficiency, which translates into sustainable economic growth.
In addition transparency and ecological responsibility have a direct impact on brand reputation and attracting talent, These are crucial elements of the socio-economic pillar.
Investment in sustainability, in all its aspects, demonstrates a real commitment which impacts attracting and retaining talent. A competitive advantage of tomorrow will be that of those who invested in their human capital today.
The roadmap to action: data, structure and genuine leadership
The shift in companies towards a proactive and structured approach, aligned with the SEA, This requires an effort that transcends good intentions: it demands knowledge, investment in technology and, above all, a deep cultural change.
PlurieBR works to fill this gap, offering solutions based on concrete data and transforming insights in strategies that really promote healthy environments in a structured way. The CEO of PlurieBR, Laura Salles, says that it is not enough to offer isolated benefits:
“To build a trulysafe and healthy, companies need a roadmap. It is essential to use data to identify the main triggers of stress e anxiety specific to each team”.
Companies must establish solid pillars to move forward on the issue, including:
- Diagnosis: Implement regular organizational climate surveys with a focus on performance indicators. mental health.
- Continuous monitoring: Establishing metrics such as the rate of absences due to psychosocial causes and turnover by area.
- Targeted interventions: Develop specific programs based on the data collected, such as leadership training and support groups.
- Impact assessment: Regularly measure the effectiveness of the actions implemented through objective indicators.
Investment in data, technology and, above all, in active listening is what will differentiate companies that perform exceptionally well from those that simply do the minimum. The attitude of leaders and managers must speak a lunique and humanized language.
Advancing on the path of SEA means building a solid business, based on mutual respect and trust, which generates benefits for long term for everyone.
"By investing in psychological well-being, the company not only fulfills its responsibility, but also reaps the rewards of a more engaged, creative and productive team. In a market that is constantly evolving, a genuine and measurable commitment to the well-being is the inevitable path to lasting success for companies,” concludes PlurieBR's CEO.