Sustainability Reporting Workshop - A Practical Approach - 16 January 2013

Stakeholders such as consumers, investors, communities and employees have become increasingly more sophisticated and demanding in their expectations of corporate accountability and transparency. As more Singaporean organisations take their disclosure beyond traditional financial reporting, this trend to communicate environmental, social and governance issues has been greatly enhanced with the publication of the Guide to Sustainability Reporting for Listed Companies, by Singapore Exchange (SGX) published in 2011.

More firms starting to issue sustainability reports

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With increasing global attention being paid to issues of environmental protection and social responsibility, companies are beginning to issue sustainability reports.

According to estimates, the number is picking up and will involve some 3,000 companies worldwide this year.

Such reports allow investors to look beyond a company's standard financial reporting to their management of environmental and social matters.

In Europe, some analysts estimate that 17 per cent of investments are in sustainable-related funds, and in the US, they make up around 11 per cent.

Comparatively, the numbers in Asia are small. But experts say there are signs of growing investor interest in such funds.

Sharad Somani, executive director, Global Infrastructure & Projects, KPMG, said: "There are a lot of funds now which are socially responsible investors ...