Sustainability has become a buzzword in the world of business. From mere corporate social responsibility, or CSR, where companies pay back to society through their charitable initiatives, now organisations focus on how to create a sustainable future for themselves and the community they are in, if not the world.
But sustainable business is apparently much more than just tracking and curbing carbon emission figures. Rather, sustainability has morphed into corporate commitments to create a healthier world in all perspectives, not just the environment but also other essential aspects of life including but not limited to the consumption of energy, money and finance, health, human rights and even culture.
In order to turn corporate missions towards sustainability into reality, firms around the world are therefore shifting their focus on sustainability from talk to action. And UOB Thailand is no exception.
To raise public awareness with regard to the importance of having a sustainable future, UOB Thailand is launching a 20-part series titled "Sustainable Future" which will explore and analyse what it takes to make the world more sustainable. Sustainable Future will come out every second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
As a financial institute well-positioned to forge a sustainable future, UOB has for many years been a significant driving force towards the promotion of sustainability. At the end of 2021, the bank reported total sustainable financing of US$17 billion (587.4 billion baht) as well as $9 billion worth of total assets under management in environmental, social and governance (ESB)-focused and responsible investments. Apart from its investment of $23.3 million on employee training and development, UOB also achieved carbon neutrality across its operations and successfully transformed office space of 290,000 square feet into high-performance workplaces. Furthermore, the company also reported monetary and in-kind contributions of over $6.1 million for the promotion of social development in art, children and education.
To coincide with International Women's Day (IWD) which falls annually on March 8, the first part of Sustainable Future will explore the subject of innovation and technology for gender equality which is the theme of IWD 2023. The theme aims to recognise and celebrate the contribution women and girls are making to technology and online education.
This first part will also explore the role of women in business, women entrepreneurship and how the gender landscape will look in Thailand in the next five to 10 years as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Then in coming episodes, the series will look further into multiple yet interrelated ingredients fundamental for creating a sustainable future including finance, environment, technology, health and wellness, EV and smart transport, renewable energy, farming and agriculture as well as art and culture.
Creating a sustainable future is not something any one company can achieve alone. Collaboration is therefore key towards success. We hope Sustainable Future will serve as an inspiration, a motivation -- a challenge even -- for all stakeholders to join hands to make the world a better, healthier place.
This article is part of a 20-part series that explores what it takes to create and secure a sustainable future. In collaboration with UOB. You can view the whole series here.
