Sustainable metaverse ecosystems: from ESG compliance to multilayer network scalability

This study examines the emerging sustainability of metaverse ecosystems, which\r\ncombine multiple virtual and augmented reality spaces where users interact. ESG\r\ncriteria, which align with the Sustainable Development Goals and promote economic\r\nand financial sustainability, represent best practice standards for screening and backing\r\nviable projects. The research focus begins with the historical ESG scoring of metaverseprone\r\nBigTechs, demonstrating that they are more sustainable than traditional firms,\r\nas evidenced by the increase in the probability of payment between traditional clients\r\nand suppliers. Multilayer networks are then introduced, incorporating the scalability\r\nfeatures of new nodes (avatars) and links that make the metaverse economically\r\nsustainable. The strongest ESG issues concern the social and governance component:\r\naccess to the metaverse is hardened by authoritarian regimes, or ludopathies\r\nmay be exacerbated by 3D dependence, detaching addicted surfers from the real\r\nworld. Our findings show that integrating multilayer network theory with ESG metrics\r\nnot only promotes economic sustainability but also supports governance innovations\r\nthat drive digital inclusivity. By integrating ESG metrics with multilayer network theory,\r\nthis research enhances economic sustainability and reveals governance innovations\r\nthat foster digital inclusivity, strengthening the metaverse’s long-term viability.