More to do for SG businesses on sustainability adoption

The views come from a HSBC survey, ‘Navigator: Now, next and how for business, which involved seeking the views of more than 8,500 companies in 34 markets including 100 Singapore businesses. The survey sought to explore business understanding of ESG practices within their own business and their supply chain, as well as green finance. 

Singaporean businesses showing green shoots around ESG practices

HSBC’s Navigator survey reveals that Singapore businesses see the importance of ESG, but adoption is lagging intent.

The findings show that amongst Singapore firms:

• 88% agree that sustainable practices will enhance growth and profitability in the near term¹ (87% globally).
• Yet only 64% have environmental policies in place (compared to global average of 74%).
• 71% have social policies in place (74% global average).
• 79% have governance policies in place (79% globally).

The findings around governance within ESG – which is focused on the monitoring and reporting of a business’ sustainability measures – show that corporates in Singapore are responding positively to the Republic’s efforts to raise sustainability on the corporate agenda.

Measures include the Singapore Exchange mandating listed companies to produce sustainability reports on a “comply or explain” basis. Since its 2016 inception, there has been a 76% year-on-year increase in corporates reporting their sustainability practices.²

Alan Turner, Managing Director and Head of Commercial Banking, HSBC Singapore, said:
“The HSBC survey shows that Singapore firms are making steady headway on the sustainability front, and should be applauded for their high level of disclosure. Having increased their transparency through reporting, now comes the pressure for businesses to up their game in developing meaningful environmental and social policies so to enjoy the business benefits.”

Building sustainability in supply chains – watch out for the blind spot

Whilst Singapore firms begin to get their own sustainability house in order, the next order of business will be to improve the sustainability practices of their supply chains - which HSBC’s survey reveals is a blind spot currently.

Whilst businesses in Singapore are monitoring their supply chains for environmental and ethical standards to some extent, only 8% monitor it fully, compared to the global average of 15%.

This reveals an emerging risk for Singapore businesses.

As sustainability moves up the agenda in Singapore, the region’s supply chains will need to react to retain their competiveness.

More than 4,500 companies base their head office in Singapore and draw upon suppliers from other neighbouring markets³. Changing weather patterns have meant that 50% of all natural disasters across the world are happening in developing Asia⁴, with Lloyd’s estimating that USD22.5 billion of GDP is at risk from flooding in South East Asian cities alone.⁵ This is putting pressure on businesses to adopt ESG practices.

Yet according to an HSBC commissioned report in September 2018, Asian companies are trailing global peers in adopting ESG strategies and risk falling off multinational corporations supply chains.⁶ Just 24% of Asian respondents have an ESG strategy compared to 48% of corporates globally and 87% of European and UK companies.⁷

So while Singapore-based firms may have strong ESG reporting policies within their own operation, the survey highlights the inherent risk of not being on top of downstream suppliers, especially given separate research indicates 80-90% or more of a business’s environmental impact is located in its supply chain⁸.

Commenting on the need for businesses to address sustainability standards within their supply chains, Mr Turner said: “Companies are under increasing scrutiny from consumers, investors and governments to improve their sustainability credentials. For large multinational firms, this is also filtering through to their expectations on suppliers, many of whom are based in Singapore. Directionally, we can see where ESG is heading within supply chains so it makes sense for Singapore corporates to begin the journey with their own suppliers across the region.”

Misperceptions behind slower sustainable financing adoption in Singapore

While a high proportion of Singapore businesses are aware of sustainable financing, HSBC’s survey reveals there’s a disinclination to use it based on the hurdle levels and pricing.

The report shows that 64% of businesses in Singapore are aware of green financing but do not use it, larger than the global average (58% globally). 28% of Singapore firms use sustainable financing, in line with businesses globally.

The top perceived barriers to usage of sustainable finance are tight qualification criteria (44%), perceptions around green financing being more expensive than traditional finance (43%) and increased risk (35%).

Businesses also flagged that it is hard to get buy-in from Finance departments (26%).

Commenting on the use of sustainable financing by businesses, Mr. Turner said: “We know that Singapore businesses are pragmatic in that they will take the green financing path if it makes financial and commercial sense. Clearly this is not the current sentiment. Yet in reality we are starting to see some instances of better pricing for green loans than conventional loans as well as different types of green financing coming online, all of which have varying degrees of criteria. What these points illustrate is there are perception challenges around green financing amongst Singaporean businesses which need to be addressed.

“Whether a corporate accesses green financing doesn’t really change the fundamental point that the issues around changing weather patterns and depletion of finite natural resources are not going away and will have an impact on just about every business. Seen through this lens, sustainability needs to be embedded into the risk management framework and operations of any business. Green financing will then be a simple causality of having the right business practices in place.”

Note to editors

HSBC Navigator: Now, next and how for business
HSBC’s Navigator report comprises a global survey gauging business sentiment and expectations on trade activity and business growth from 8,650 decision-makers in 34 markets. Research was conducted by Kantar TNS for HSBC between August and September 2018. HSBC’s Navigator helps businesses capitalise on new opportunities and make informed decisions for the future by understanding the outlook for international trade and sustainability.

The full report can be found here: https://www.business.hsbc.com/trade-navigator

HSBC CMB Sustainability Survey
HSBC CMB sustainability survey of 1,980 sustainability decision makers across 13 markets (100 in Singapore). The survey was conducted by TNS Kantar from June to September 2018.

The full report can be found here: https://www.business.hsbc.com/trade-navigator/sustainability

¹ Near term deemed to be < 3 years.

² Sustainability Report in ASEAN Countries

³ Singapore Economic Development Board: The case for centralization in Asia

⁴ Earth Report 2018

⁵ ‘City Risk Index 2015-2025’, Lloyd’s of London, 2015. http://www.lloyds.com/cityriskindex/ (accessed 16 March 2015).

⁶ HSBC News Release: Are ASEAN supply chains vulnerable to lag in adoption of ESG?

⁷ Sustainable Financing and ESG Reporting, East and Partners, September 2018

⁸ Carbon Disclosure Project