EFFICIENCY OF IT COMPANIES’ ACTIVITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF IMPLEMENTING CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRINCIPLES

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive study of the functioning of IT companies in the context of economic transformation based on the principles of the circular economy. Particular attention is paid to the evolving role of the IT sector as a key driver of digitalization and a tool for ensuring efficient resource utilization. It is substantiated that traditional approaches to evaluating enterprise performance, which are primarily based on financial indicators, do not fully capture environmental aspects and the long-term sustainability of business models. The expediency of integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into the performance evaluation system of IT companies is justified. An improved methodological approach to assessing economic and environmental efficiency is proposed, which combines financial indicators with measures of resource efficiency, energy intensity, carbon footprint, and the level of digital optimization of business processes. It is established that the implementation of digital technologies, including cloud solutions, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence, contributes to cost reduction, minimizes environmental impact, and enhances the adaptability of enterprises to changes in the external environment. It is proven that IT companies act not only as resource consumers but also as active providers of innovative solutions that facilitate the transition to closed-loop production and consumption systems. The practical significance of the obtained results lies in the possibility of applying the proposed approach to the development of sustainable strategies for IT companies, increasing their investment attractiveness and competitiveness in the context of global environmental challenges.