Asean CSR

Sustainable consumption and production is highlighted as a component of the ‘Sustainable’ elementSustainable consumption and production is highlighted as a component of the ‘Sustainable’ elementand characteristics in the ‘ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint 2025’ (ASEAN Secretariat,2016). The ASCC blueprint forms one of the four pillars identified in ‘The ASEAN 2025: Forging AheadTogether’ work plan endorsed by ASEAN Leaders at their 27th Summit in 2015. This study identifiedcarbon footprint for consumer goods, energy efficiency and recycling as key contributors to managingthe environment and scarce resources for a sustainable future.

This report reveals that while some progress is made, much remains to be done. It is clear that thecomplexities and difficulties in implementing, executing and monitoring a coherent set of guidelines,policies and laws are not easy. The establishment of ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) provides a goodindication that it is possible to manage complex issues and problems and provides a reference forsimilar task force such as this to be established for the efforts in reducing carbon footprint andincreasing recycling efforts for a sustainable future.

Click here to view the full report

A joint study on Sustainability Reporting in Singapore by the ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School’s Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO) was conducted to understand the sustainability reporting practices among the five ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

During the period under review, unprecedented developments in some countries, suggesting a turning point in current sustainability reporting landscape, was witnessed.

The study finds an overall disclosure rate of 59.2% for all five ASEAN countries, with Malaysia taking the lead.

Click here to access the report.

A joint study on Sustainability Reporting in Singapore by the ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School’s Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO) found that recent changes to Singapore Exchange (SGX) reporting requirements and increasing stakeholder awareness have brought about a new focus on sustainability disclosures.

This study seeks to understand how these changes have impacted the companies in Singapore. Five key insights around the uptake and maturity of sustainability disclosures have been identified.

In addition, the study found a 3% increase in percentage points in the level of disclosure since 2016, with 61.5% of companies adopting recognised frameworks.

Click here to access the report.

Top ASEAN listed companies show improvement in the 2018 Business Integrity Disclosure in ASEAN study

A joint study on Corporate Disclosure on Business Integrity in ASEAN by the ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School’s Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO) found that corporate disclosure of anti-corruption practices by top ASEAN listed companies has improved over the last two years.

However, there are still concerns over a lack of safeguards and practices regarding external relationships with agents and suppliers dealing with the organisations.

The study looked at the 50 largest companies by market capitalisation in each of the five countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – and assessed their level of public disclosure related to their anti-corruption efforts. The results were compared to a baseline study that was conducted 2016.

Access the full report below.

A study by National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School’s Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO) and ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) revealed that majority of Singapore companies are still not communicating sustainability.

186 out of a total of 502 mainboard listed companies communicate their sustainability practices, with an average level of disclosure of 43.6 points, an increase from 160 companies in 2013.

Of the 186 companies that had communicated sustainability, 24 adapted the GRI framework, an increase from 19 in 2013. Of these 186 companies, 24 companies made materiality disclosures, largely related to areas under the social indicator. 

26 blue chip companies on the Straits Times Index (STI) were found to disclose information pertaining to their sustainability practices in a more comprehensive manner than their non-STI counterparts, with a score of 56.8 against 41.4 in 2013. The study also found that the 17 Government-linked Companies (GLCs) performed better in their level of sustainability disclosure than non-GLCs, with a score of 51.9 against 43.3 respectively.

Only 12.9 percent of companies disclosed information about their climate change efforts and even fewer companies disclosed information on biodiversity management efforts.

SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING BY REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs)

27 out of a total of 33 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) on the SGX communicated their sustainability practices, compared to 21 REITs out of 29 in 2013. The overall level of disclosure increased to 43.6%, from 42.4% in 2013. 

Click the picture below to access the report.

Singapore companies lag behind ASEAN counterparts in sustainability reporting regulation

A study by National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School’s Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO) and ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) revealed that companies see the relevance in sustainability but majority struggle to identify its key impact, risks and opportunities.

Based on indicatiors such as governance, economic, environmental and social, Thailand outperformed with a score of 56.8%, followed by Singapore (48.8%), Indonesia (48.4%) and Malaysia (47.7%). The study also revealed that government-linked companies and state-owned enterprises fared better on their quality of disclosures. 

Click the picture below to access the report.

Only half of top ASEAN listed companies publicaly disclose their commitment to anti-corruption

A joint research by ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) and National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School’s Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO) revealed that on average, only 54 per cent of the top listed companies in five ASEAN countries have a publicly disclosed commitment to anti-corruption.

Some key findings:

• Companies scored an average of 45 per cent in their overall level of disclosure across the five ASEAN countries;
• 96 per cent of companies expressed a commitment to comply with relevant laws and regulations in their country;
• Only 14 per cent of the companies disclosed that their anti-corruption policy explicitly applies to third parties acting on behalf of the company;
• On average, 59 per cent of the companies had a policy covering gifts, hospitality and expenses
• Only 19 per cent of the companies disclosed that they explicitly prohibit facilitation payments;
• Only 31 per cent of companies disclosed policy covering political contributions.

Please click on the following image to access the full report.

Published in 2011, this groundbreaking research study by SIngapore Compact provided the first overview of the non-financial reporting landscape in Singapore as at end 2010 and involved 562 mainboard-listed companies on the Singapore Exchange.

To download this file, click HERE.

A first-ever look on the state of sustainability reporting among Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) by Singapore Compact and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, this 2014 study is affiliated to the study on the state of sustainbility reportinng by companies listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange, released in July 2014.

For a quick summary of the key findings, please refer to this infographic.

More information on the methodology can be downloaded here.

Click here for a table that compares the difference between a REIT and a property trust.