By Wasana Nadeeshani Sellahewa
Singapore (Commonwealth Union)_ Companies, whether deliberately or unconsciously, exaggerate their sustainability credentials and overcommit to sustainability targets. This is known as greenwashing, and the government has begun to confront it through legislation, securities restrictions, and consumer protection legislation.
According to Choy Sauw Kook, director-general of quality and excellence at Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), before making sustainability pledges, firms must improve their core understanding of sustainability and capacity to incorporate green aims into their operations. This is where the Enterprise Sustainability Programme (ESP) of EnterpriseSG comes in. The ESP Sustainability Courses has benefitted business executives from over 140 businesses as of the end of September 2022.
“Businesses that are ready to start on sustainability activities may also use ESP to offset the expenses of sustainability competence development projects, such as the adoption of appropriate standards,” Choy told. According to her, new thematic courses for businesses to go deep into sustainability subjects are also being developed as part of EnterpriseSG’s course offerings. Decarbonisation and sustainable financing are two examples.
Choy announced the introduction of a series of sustainability playbooks in collaboration with industry and knowledge partners. “The series will include a foundational playbook (developed in collaboration with SkillsFuture Singapore and the Singapore Business Federation) to introduce key sustainability concepts, as well as sectoral and thematic playbooks that will provide more insights into sector-specific opportunities and key sustainability topics like decarbonisation and sustainability reporting,” she explained. This playbook also offers assistance to firms in defraying the expenses of implementing sustainability initiatives such as “adoption of sustainability standards, formulation of sustainability strategy, resource optimization, and production of sustainable products.”
Businesses may also utilize certification to increase confidence in their products and services, which will improve transparency and sustainability credentials. Businesses, for example, may consider adopting eco-labels to verify and convey the environmental performance of their products and services, according to Choy. Venturer Timberwork, a timber constructor, made this decision after obtaining a Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certification in order to notify its clients about the improved wood supply chain transparency. According to the PEFC website, a PEFC stamp indicates that the material used can be tracked from the forest to the supply chain and the finished product. It not only ensures that the material comes from a recognized forest, but it also safeguards the rights of employees. Venturer also collaborated with Double Helix Tracking Technologies, a Certification Body authorized by the Singapore Accreditation Council, to identify the timber used in Singapore and international building projects.
Accreditation ensures certificate integrity by ensuring the Certification Body’s processes are consistent and aligned with worldwide norms, establishing trust in stakeholders and providing unique services to consumers. Adopting standards, which give explicit rules and responsibilities for managing carbon emissions, waste, energy, and water consumption, is one of the “quickest and surest methods” for businesses to move to a greener future.
Choy also addressed sustainability requirements that can assist the industrial industry in moving to a reduced carbon future during the Industrial Transformation Asia Pacific 2022. Standards may help firms drive innovation and growth in the sustainability domain, from waste management to renewable energy, in addition to resource management and optimization. Adopting the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), for example, is a means to demonstrate compliance with sustainability criteria for biofuel, according to Choy. Biofuel, a more sustainable fuel source, can assist businesses in meeting the international shipping industry’s transition to lower-carbon fuel. According to Choy, Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services (EMF) embraced the ISCC, allowing it to transport and supply biofuels to its clients.
EMF has established itself as a significant oil trading and marine logistics organization, supplying marine fuel to ships controlled by multinational corporations (MNCs) from Europe, America, and Asia. In the biofuels arena, EnterpriseSG and the Singapore Standards Council published a preliminary national standard on marine biofuel requirements in October 2022.
