Sandpiper Communications: ESG in APAC Overplayed
Amid an accelerated financial pivot towards sustainability, the majority of corporate reputation managers in Asia believe there is an excessive promotion of related achievements compared to tangible deliverables, according to a recent survey.
94 percent of respondents have a growing focus on ESG performance, according to the survey by public relations firm Sandpiper Communications, with a desire especially to communicate environmental (54 percent) and social (84 percent) achievements.
92 percent of the surveyed reputation managers belied that strong and differentiated sustainability and ESG positioning improved commercial performance with 74 percent claiming they faced internal pressure to over-promote related achievements.
Do the Results Match?
Despite the boastful behavior, respondents were less impressed by their employer’s actual performance with just half believing they had achieved effective positioning. Environmental and performance and disclosure were seen as insufficient by 56 percent and 46 percent of respondents, respectively.
Ultimately, respondents in Asia Pacific believed that real improvements in corporate sustainability should be led at the top by CEOs (48 percent) or board of directors (26 percent).
«With COVID-19 increasing the focus on the sustainability and ESG performance of public and private entities globally, it is an opportunity for
positive change,» said Emma Smith, CEO of Sandpiper Communications. «Our research shows more needs to be done to ensure that progress made in this area is meaningful, transparent and goes beyond green-washing.»
Global Goals
General sustainability aside, the report also underlined a lack of focus on specific global objectives. 16 percent and 10 percent of respondents claiming to be ‘highly active’ in communicating their firm’s commitment towards the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Climate Agreement, respectively.
«A lack of focus around how companies are contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement is concerning and must be made a priority,” Smith stressed.
