Hong Kong – Regional broadcaster, Channel NewsAsia, in partnership with CSR Asia and Sustainalytics, launched the Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking for Asia’s top businesses at the CSR Summit in Hong Kong.
The first of its kind in Asia, the ranking identifies leading firms in corporate sustainability across ten key Asian economies. The index lists the Top 100 companies with the highest sustainability performance. It also highlights the overall Top 20 companies, and the Top three businesses per economy. Territories covered are China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
Channel NewsAsia 2014 Sustainability Ranking
India’s Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has emerged at the top of the ranking for its focus on water conservation. Rainwater harvesting systems are installed across the buildings it owns, allowing for rapid replenishment of the surrounding groundwater supply. All new offices are also designed in accordance with the LEED Rating System. By 2020, TCS aims to be 100 percent groundwater neutral. City Developments Limited in Singapore is ranked second, followed by Unilever Indonesia Tbk PT.
Debra Soon, Managing Director of Channel NewsAsia, said, “This is the Asian century, and businesses in the region need to be spot on with their processes to be more effective on the global field. This partnership to launch the Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking as a credible and robust instrument will help throw the spotlight on businesses that have excelled in corporate sustainability and spur others to re-examine their positions. This project is yet another initiative that the channel has been forging to facilitate the understanding of Asia’s business climates and cultures through regional events and activities.”
Ranking Criteria
Companies included in the Sustainability Ranking are selected based on research provided by Sustainalytics, an award-winning, global sustainable investment research firm. For the past ten years, Sustainalytics has worked with a variety of international publications to produce robust corporate sustainability ratings and rankings.
Sustainalytics’ analytical framework broadly addresses three themes: environment, social, and governance. Between 75 and 120 indicators were used to assess each company.
Loic Dujardin, Director of Research at Sustainalytics, said, “Consumers and investors are growing increasingly savvy and they do not just want to buy a product or service, they want to know a lot more about the companies they deal with, like their culture on ethics and responsibility. The Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking provides invaluable insights into corporate practices and in the long run promotes responsible investing in the region.”
Why a Sustainability Ranking?
Globally, investors and consumers have grown more aware of the need for sustainable development, and they are demanding that companies step up to meet this need. Many of the world’s leading organisations have already embedded sustainability principles into their business models, from environment protection, to supply chain management and transparent governance. “The Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking provides businesses and their stakeholders with a benchmark to measure performance. Companies not ranked should be asking themselves how business models can be adapted to meet both the expectations of investors and consumers, as well as benefit from the opportunities presented by the drive to a sustainable future,” said Dr. Richard Welford, Chairman of CSR Asia.
The Launch
The Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking is unveiled at the CSR Asia Summit, one of the largest CSR conferences in the region. At the event, a panel discussion will provide an in-depth overview of the Sustainability Ranking, and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the ranking and industry-related practices.
CSR Asia and Sustainalytics will be on hand to provide support and advice on sustainable practices and how to get a firm’s performance benchmarked against other companies included in the Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking.
