Taiwan and Thailand continue to outperform others at ASRA
Singapore, 29 April 2020: Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) of Thailand emerged as the biggest winner by receiving an award in six categories at the 5th Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (ASRA), the most prestigious awards for reporting. CP Group’s sustainability report was also adjudged Asia’s Report of the Year.
Two other companies in the CP Group, Charoen Pokphand Foods and C.P. Intertrade also collected four awards between them taking the total tally for the Group to 10 awards out of the overall 55 awards presented for 2019 ASRA.
Singapore’s City Developments Limited (CDL) won three Gold medals, the highest by a single company. CDL earned Gold for Asia’s Best Integrated Report, Asia’s Best Sustainability Report (Digital) and Asia’s Best Carbon Disclosure.
Companies from Thailand and Taiwan continued their winning streak at ASRA by cornering 13 and ten awards respectively.
The winners were selected from 461 entries received from 16 countries in Asia. The 2019 ASRA saw 80 shortlisted companies from 13 countries competing in the finals across 19 awards categories.
In a live broadcast from Singapore, more than 200 senior business leaders and sustainability professionals from 15 countries attended the exclusive awards ceremony hosted virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Attendees also included dignitaries from academia, embassies, trade associations and advocacy organisations.
The Swedish Ambassador H.E. Niclas Kvarnström, the Swedish Ambassador, Singapore was the Guest of Honour at the awards ceremony hosted virtually this year due to Covid-19 pandemic.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Kvarnström said, “The current times highlight the importance of transparency for solving global problems. Businesses that show investors and customers that they are sustainable and responsible also show that they are leaders.”
The awards ceremony started with the opening address by Ms Alexandra McKenzie, Chargé d’Affaires of the British High Commission to Singapore. Ms McKenzie said, “As the incoming co-Presidency for the UN Climate Talks (COP26), the UK continues to press for much greater ambition around the world;  to reduce GHG emissions,  build resilience, and to drive collaboration in order to overcome the climate crisis. We understand that transparency, disclosure and data are integral to accelerating the transition to low carbon economies, which is why the British High Commission is proud to have been an active supporter of ASRA for so many years.”
As institutional investors are getting more serious about a company’s sustainability performance, sustainability reporting has become an essential tool for communicating how the reporting organisation manages its material economic, environmental and social impacts, risks and opportunities to build a sustainable business.
Rajesh Chhabara, managing director of CSRWorks International and the founder of ASRA, said: “The unprecedented global pandemic caused by Covid-19 is a stark reminder that businesses, governments and societies need to work together to build mutual resilience. Adopting responsible environmental, social, and governance practices has become ever more essential to ensure corporate sustainability.”
Mr Chhabara said, “Companies winning at ASRA have demonstrated their leadership in sustainability reporting, transparency and their commitment to creating long-term value for stakeholders.”
ASRA, the most prestigious recognition for sustainability reporting, has continuously raised the bar for quality and authenticity of reporting introducing a healthy competition among companies in Asia.
An independent judging panel determined gold, Silver and Bronze winners for 2019.  ASRA follows a rigorous multi-tier evaluation process. Evaluation of entries involves three rounds of assessments to select the very best in each award category. In addition to assessing the report quality, comprehensive due diligence is carried out to consider finalists’ reputation among their stakeholders as part of the judging process.
CSRWorks International, a Singapore-based firm focussed on sustainability consulting, training and thought leadership, has created non-profit Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards to inspire all companies to adopt sustainability reporting.