11 winners among the largest number of candidates for the 2024 Sustainability Impact Awards

Eleven people and companies were recognized for their leadership in advancing sustainability at the 2024 Sustainability Impact (SI) Awards, jointly organized by The Business Times (BT) and UOB. In its second year, the awards ceremony was held at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, where President Tharman Shanmugaratnam was the guest of honour.

The awards honor and recognize individuals and companies whose sustainability efforts have had a substantial impact on both the environment and society. This year there has been a 20% increase in the number of applications received.

City Developments Limited was named Impact Business of the Year in the Large Business category for its training and thought leadership work in the fight against climate change. The property developer has created, together with the Singapore Sustainable Energy Association, a sustainability academy that has hosted more than 1,000 promotional events and reached 34,500 in-person visitors. Three other large companies – Keppel Ltd, Sentosa Development Corporation and UOL Group-Pan Pacific Hotels Group (UOL-PPHG) – also received the Impact Enterprise Excellence Award for their sustainability initiatives.

Among small and medium enterprises (SMEs), BlueAcres Pte Ltd stood out for its unique combination of environmental and social impact. The company enables people with moderate autism to gain agricultural knowledge, allowing them to become part of society while alleviating labor shortages on Singapore farms. Three other SMEs – Edible Garden City, Ground-Up Initiative and Seven Clean Seas – also received the Impact Business Excellence Award for their various sustainability initiatives.

The Geely E5 receives the Platinum Award from MUSE Design

In the individual category, City Developments Limited Chief Sustainability Officer Esther An was named Impact Leader of the Year for pioneering sustainability advocacy. He chairs the Advisory Committee on Sustainability Reports, which contributes to developing national regulations on the subject. She is the only Singaporean representative on the board of the Global Reporting Initiative, an independent international standards organization that helps companies and organizations take responsibility for their impact.

Two other sustainability champions, Cheng Hsing Yao and Jeffrey Sim, earned the Individual Excellence Award. Cheng Hsing Yao, CEO of GuocoLand Group and Director of Discover Tanjong Pagar, was recognized for his contribution to Singapore’s urban landscape. Jeffrey Sim, CEO of SBS Transit Group, was awarded for his incorporation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into the transport company’s operations.

Chen Huifen, editor of BT, said: “In today’s changing business landscape, sustainability is no longer optional, but imperative. With the Sustainability Impact Awards, we not only recognize achievements in sustainability, but we also challenge ourselves and others to push the boundaries of what is possible in sustainable innovation. By honoring these exemplary efforts, we hope to inspire others to take meaningful action toward a more responsible future.”

City Developments Limited was named Impact Company of the Year in the Large Business category for its training and thought leadership work in the fight against climate change

Mr Wee Ee Cheong, Vice President and CEO of UOB, said: “UOB is committed to being a catalyst for change in our collective drive to build a sustainable future. As a responsible financial manager, we collaborate with ecosystem partners to deliver innovative solutions that help our clients on their path to sustainability. By extending our efforts to the wider community, we hope the Sustainability Impact Awards will inspire more people and businesses to create a positive and lasting impact.”

The Center for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore Business School is the knowledge partner of the SI Awards.