Abstract:

This study examined the impact of changes in fixed asset expenditures for environmental protection on the return on assets of food enterprises and their selected sectors (meat, bakery, and fruits and vegetables) in Poland from 2011 to 2021. The study employed dynamic panel models. It revealed that investment expenditures in water and sewage management significantly impacted the profitability of food enterprises, including those in the meat, bakery, and fruit and vegetable sectors. An increase in expenditures on water and sewage management was associated with increased profitability in the meat sector and decreased profitability in the bakery and fruit and vegetable sectors. Additionally, the study demonstrated the varying impact of changes in waste management expenditure value on return on assets in food industry enterprises and their subsectors. An increase in investment expenditures in waste management was associated with an increase in the return on assets of enterprises in the food industry and the bakery sector.