- Governance is the most comprehensively reported indicator
The 160 companies with sustainability communication provide the most information regarding the governance aspects of their business. This suggests the consistently strong stance that companies have towards checks and balances on the operations of the company.
However, most of these companies lacked adequate disclosures on the Board’s responsibility for sustainability issues, demonstrating that sustainability concerns are still not perceived as integral to business operations. With the adoption of the revised 2012 Code of Corporate Governance, more companies may be encouraged to incorporate sustainability issues in their business strategy formation.
- Environmental indicators the least reported
In spite of a growing public awareness on climate change, disclosures on the environmental aspects of businesses were found to be inadequate across the board for the 160 companies with sustainability communication. In particular, disclosures pertaining to compliance, penalties and remedies for environmental impacts were insufficiently addressed. While a significant number of companies undertake measures to reduce carbon emissions and engage in resource conservation, many have yet to embrace the concept of environmental sustainability by integrating relevant ‘green’ practices into the business operations and strategy formulation.
This joint study on the state of sustainability reporting among companies listed on the mainboard of SGX was launched in mid-2013, and is a follow-up to a similar study conducted by Singapore Compact in 2011, which provided the first-ever perspective on the sustainability reporting landscape in Singapore.
Check the following link to read/download the Full Report – “Accountability for a Sustainable Future – Sustainability Reporting in Singapore among Singapore Exchange Mainboard Listed Companies 2013”:
http://www.csrsingapore.org/c/resources/publications
Source: NUS Business School.
