Communications

CLP placed at top of Asian Sustainability Rating
October 12, 2011
CLP Holdings been given received top ranking in the 2011 Asian Sustainability Rating (ASR) for its sustainable practices and proactive disclosure of environment, social and governance (ESG) issues.
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Green cosmetics all the rage
Mislabelling and false claims rife in Asian organic cosmetics
CleanBiz.Asia Staff
October 06, 2011
Research company Organic Monitor has warned that consumers in Asia are being mislead by cosmetic companies claiming their products are organic or natural. With no private standards as in Europe or the US, companies are trying to win market share of the fast-growing natural and organic markets by mislabelling and making false claims.
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Sustainable Development
Sustainable development: the great abstract
Ciara Shannon, Eden Ventures
September 12, 2011
Today you’ll hear sustainable development mentioned everywhere from promoting the latest app, at a shoe launch or painted in bold across bill boards (add to this list every time you hear the word “sustainable”).
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Apple as Dorian Grey
Smoking your own hubris is neither cool nor healthy
Fergus O'Rorke
September 05, 2011
Oscar Widle's novel, The Picture of Dorian Grey, tells of a beautiful and idealistic young man who sells his soul to ensure that his portrait will age rather than himself. He subsequently leads a life of debauchery, but the portrait serves as a disturbing reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with the sins displayed as a disfigurement of his form.
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Hotel industry moves to standardize carbon reporting
September 02, 2011
Many of the world's largest hotel chains have announced they will take part in a major initiative designed to deliver carbon footprinting and reporting standards for the global hospitality industry.
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Singapore's Neste Oil wins green award
August 29, 2011
Singapore's Neste Oil has been awarded the Frost and Sullivan's Asia Pacific Green Excellence Award for Product Innovation in Bioenergy. It was ranked as the best performer for its product profile and business commitment to sustainability and environmental accountability in the category of chemicals.
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Taiwan retailers in multi-company energy saving pact
August 22, 2011
Twenty chain drugstores and apparel companies signed a pledge to voluntarily cut their electricity use by 5 percent over three years at a meeting convened by the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Energy Wednesday.
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P&G brands
P&G extends supplier sustainability scorecard program
CleanBiz.Asia Staff
July 21, 2011
The world's largest consumer goods company Procter & Gamble Co (P&G) will extend its global "sustainability scorecard" to another 200 top suppliers as it bids to improve its environmental performance. The scorecard program was introduced in May 2010 to about 400 suppliers and agencies around the globe who had the biggest impact on the consumer giant's business.
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Singapore extols 9 firms for leadership in sustainability
July 14, 2011
The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) this week honoured nine companies for their leadership role in sustainability innovations and operations.
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China's biggest builder claims green credentials
July 12, 2011
China's largest building materials manufacturer is claiming it's living up to its social and corporate responsibilities by employing green and clean technology.
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Palm oil nursurey
Belgian ad ban a significant setback for Malaysian biofuel
CleanBiz.Asia Staff
July 07, 2011
It might be small but the Belgian advertising watchdog Jury d'Ethique Publicitaire could make life difficult for the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) across Europe.
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Singapore may mandate sustainability reporting, provides guide
June 28, 2011
The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has warned that mandatory company reports might have to encompass environmental, social and governance risk assessments in the future.
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The Great Bend of the Jinsha River
Three Gorges Corp first 'responsibility report' fails to assure
CleanBiz.Asia Staff
June 24, 2011
The China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) its touting its four hydroelectric projects on the lower reaches of the Jinsha River - the westernmost headwater stream of the Yangtze - which will be capable of producing twice as much power as the Three Gorges Dam.
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Fairtrade supermarket trolley
Bearing the standard
Joshua Wickerham
June 14, 2011
International voluntary sustainability standards - such as the Forest Stewardship Council, which certifies sustainably managed forests and forest products - are tools for verifying socially sound and eco-friendly goods and services that play an increasingly important role in global trade. However, they are still relatively new and underused in China.
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Yingli Solar sponsors 2014 World Cup
June 13, 2011
Chinese solar company Yingli Green Energy has become an official sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, prompted the perceived success of supporting last year's World Cup in South Africa.
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BASF launches Compost Asia Pledge
June 07, 2011
Chemical giant BASF launched the Compost Asia Pledge Facebook app on World Environment Day, with the aim to keep organic waste out of landfills and incinerators.
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Asia Consumer survey
Asian businesses missing the boat when it comes to green consumer concern
CleanBiz.Asia Staff
January 12, 2011
A number of surveys conducted in the region in the latter part of last year show a significant gap between consumer and business attitudes towards the environment and climate change. In particular, business seems to underestimate consumers' willingness to dip into their pockets to buy green products and may be missing out on a huge market opportunity.
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ESG on the move in Hong Kong and China
ESG on the move in Hong Kong and China
August 27, 2012
Coinciding with up on the announcement of the 2012 Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index constituents, research and advisory firm RepuTex released Asia On The Move, its annual review covering  the ESG performance of 636 Hong Kong and Chinese A-listed companies by market and research category.  CleanBiz Asia executive editor Fergus O’Rorke caught up with Reputex ESG research Martha Grossman and asked her about how she sees the corporate sustainability landscape changing.
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Integrated reporting - the Swire Pacific experience
Integrated reporting - the Swire Pacific experience
July 11, 2012
Sustainability reporting by publicly listed companies has, historically, been treated seperately from financial reporting to shareholders, giving rise to the perception that sustainability is not really a core focus for corporations. A few companies are, however, now going down the path of integrated reporting, including Hong Kong-based conglomerate Swire Pacific - one of the first to do so in the Asia. Philippe Lacamp, the Swire Group's sustainability director, spoke to CleanBiz Asia editor Fergus O'Rorke about the exerpience and where the company is going with its integrated reporting initiative.
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Asia's role in reshaping capitalism and saving the planet
Asia's role in reshaping capitalism and saving the planet
March 05, 2012
Having first developed in North America and Europe, consumer society and consumerim as now taken firm root in Asia, helping to fuel the continued growth of the gloabl economy. And a good thing too, many would say - but not Chandran Nair. In his book, "Consumptionomics - Asia's role in reshaping capitalis and saving the planet", the founder and chief executive of The Global Institute for Tomorrow argues passionately that Asia is following the wrong model of economic development.
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