2 Singapore firms hit Top 10 of most sustainable organisations globally

According to the 2016 Corporate Knights’ Global 100 index, info-communications provider Starhub was ranked eighth while real estate company City Developments Limited came in tenth.

Channel NewsAsia 21 Jan 16;

SINGAPORE: Two companies in the Republic have emerged among the top ten most sustainable corporations in the world.

According to the 2016 Corporate Knights’ Global 100 index that was released on Thursday (Jan 21), info-communications provider Starhub was ranked eighth while real estate company City Developments Limited (CDL) came in tenth.

According to the Corporate Knights website, “the companies comprising the 2016 Top 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World are those tackling these sustainability problems head on”.

Before entering the top 10 in 2016, Starhub was ranked 24th in 2015 and 29th in 2014. It first appeared in the top 100 in 2013 at rank 66.

Said Chief Executive Officer of StarHub, Tan Tong Hai: “I am very happy that our efforts to create a sustainable future and to deliver long term value for our stakeholders are recognised.

“It has always been important to us to do what is right for the business, community and the environment. Our efforts are ongoing, and we will continue to work hard in our sustainability efforts.”

Meanwhile, CDL is the first and only Singapore company to be listed on the ranking for seven consecutive years. It first appeared at 81st place on the list in 2010, and moved up to 34th place in 2015.

Said CDL Chief Executive Officer Grant Kelley: “We are focused on sustainable development and have helped to green Singapore with more than 80 Green Mark buildings.

"Our efforts have created stronger brand equity and product differentiation. They have also given us a first-mover advantage as environmental regulations have been mandated progressively for the property sector.”

Two other Singaporean companies - Keppel Corporation and CapitaLand - made the top 100 of the list, at 55th and 93rd respectively.

Singapore was the only Southeast Asian country represented. In Asia, only Japan, South Korea and China joined Singapore in having representatives on the list. The top Japanese company was 80th-ranked Takeda Pharmaceutical (ranked 80th), while the best performing South Korean company was Shinhan Financial Group at 18th.

China's only representative, Lenovo, took 68th place. Germany's BMW was ranked the top overall in the world, with France's Dassault Systemes at second place and Outotec from Finland in third.

Corporate Knights is a Toronto-based media and investment advisory company. Its Corporate Knights’ Global 100 is released annually.

The top 10:

BMW - Germany
Dassault Systemes - France
Outotec - Finland
Commonwealth Bank of America - Australia
adidas - Germany
Enagas - Spain
Danske Bank - Denmark
Starhub - Singapore
Reckitt Benckiser Group - UK
City Developments - Singapore
- CNA/xk