Global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan recognized some of Asia Pacific’s most advanced companies in environmental performance at its annual Green Excellence Awards last week in Singapore.
At a banquet at the Shangri La Hotel, 13 firms from the energy, building, logistics, healthcare and chemical industries received awards for demonstrating long-term commitment to reducing negative environmental impacts.
“It is a privilege to celebrate the commitment and success of the award recipients in their efforts to care for the environment,” said Asia Pacific managing director for Frost & Sullivan Manoj Menon in a statement.
He added that the time had come to move beyond the perception that green issues affected only a handful of companies: “By mainstreaming sustainability, we can strengthen business performance more effectively.”
For the second year running, Frost & Sullivan analysed companies from throughout the region on social impact, market growth for green products and services, profit margins, stock price and overall industry impact. The company noted that the analysis would help drive green business growth by generating new strategies for environmental improvements.
An internal judging panel chose the winners out of a short-listed pool of companies after in-depth interviews and research.
Frost & Sullivan analysts said that Singapore property firm City Developments Limited (CDL) won the Green Builder of the Year award because it was a “trend setter in the increasingly fast-paced green buildings movement”. They added that the company’s constant education of its customers about the benefits of green buildings made it an “institution” in the industry.
CDL managing director Kwek Leng Joo noted that a study of 37 CDL buildings that were certified under Singapore’s green building certification scheme between 2008 and 2011 showed a savings of about S$19.7 million in electricity costs each year as a result of energy efficient design and features.
The developer has also implemented company-wide energy savings programmes well ahead of Singapore’s new legislation – to take effect next year – which will require owners of all commercial buildings with more than 15,000 square metres to hire an energy manager and provide annual reports on energy consumption.
“For over a decade now, CDL’s corporate strategy has been founded on a triple bottom line approach for continued growth and business excellence. We have established policies to conserve as we construct,” said Mr Kwek.
Paint and coatings manufacturer Jotun won an award for showing product leadership. The firm makes a protective coating for ships that keeps hulls cleaner and improves energy efficiency. The Norway-headquartered group also develops all of its products according to its five-point GreenSteps programme, which aims to reduce waste, harmful chemicals, carbon emissions and energy consumption.
Its products come at a time when the global shipping industry is struggling to limit its carbon emissions and reduce fuel costs.
The shipping industry is not alone. Frost & Sullivan’s Mr Menon said that industries now face a continual push for sustainability.
“Leading businesses recognize that sustainability is not just a checkbox in their annual CSR (corporate social responsibility) report but a core strategic issue,” he noted.
