ESG

HONG KONG: Sino Group has officially launched the ‘Supplier Climate Alliance’, a pioneering initiative aimed at promoting sustainability and climate resilience across its supply chain. As one of the first locally-driven programmes of its kind, the Alliance is designed to raise climate awareness among suppliers, foster cross-sector collaboration, and encourage carbon management and greenhouse gas disclosure practices within the broader business community. Launched on 28 May 2025, the initiative is spearheaded by Sino Group in partnership with SGS Hong Kong Limited, which serves as a Strategic Partner to support the professional verification of carbon data. The Alliance also includes contributions from Knowledge Partners such as the Centre for Civil Society and Governance of The University of Hong Kong, Ernst & Young, the SME Sustainability Society, and the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong. Together, these organisations will provide technical expertise, share insights on carbon reduction strategies, and help suppliers improve their sustainability reporting capabilities. The launch event featured a thematic panel discussion and brought together over 50 supplier representatives from various sectors, signalling the strong interest among local businesses in adopting sustainable practices. Notable attendees included Arthur Lee, Commissioner for Climate Change at the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the HKSAR Government; Paul Chow, Group General Counsel and Group Chief Sustainability Officer at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; Miranda Kwan, Director of Business Assurance at SGS Hong Kong Limited; and Cindy Chow, Chief Financial Officer and Associate Director (Finance) at Sino Group. In his address, Arthur Lee praised the initiative for aligning with Hong Kong’s broader climate goals. He emphasised that early green transformation would not only enable companies to contribute positively to society but also allow them to gain a competitive edge in the future low-carbon economy. He expressed hope that more suppliers would join the movement and contribute to Hong Kong’s path towards carbon neutrality by 2050 and the national “3060 Dual Carbon Targets”. Cindy Chow echoed these sentiments, underlining the importance of collaboration in addressing climate change. She noted that while Sino Group remains committed to enhancing its own climate resilience, it recognises the need to work closely with suppliers and partners to collectively build a more sustainable city. Chow thanked government agencies and business leaders for their continued support and called for a unified effort in implementing meaningful carbon reduction actions. To that end, the Supplier Climate Alliance will offer participating suppliers a range of learning and development opportunities. These include knowledge exchange sessions, professional training on carbon data collection, and workshops focused on best practices in emissions management. Experiential activities such as ‘Farm Together’ urban farming workshops, snorkelling sessions focused on coral restoration, and visits to innovation hubs like Sino Inno Lab and The Spark are also planned. These programmes aim to deepen participants’ understanding of climate issues and inspire them to integrate sustainability into their business operations. As of the launch, approximately 40 suppliers have joined the Alliance, with over half having signed the Carbon Management Pledge. This commitment aligns with Sino Group’s ‘Sustainability Vision 2030’ and underscores the importance of reducing Scope 3 emissions—those indirectly generated across the value chain. Through this pledge, suppliers commit to enhancing climate-related disclosures and adopting more rigorous carbon management standards. SGS Hong Kong, which plays a key role in verifying carbon data under the Alliance, also acknowledged Sino Group’s early leadership in sustainable procurement. Miranda Kwan highlighted that Sino Group was among the first local developers to achieve ISO 20400:2017 certification for sustainable procurement practices—an international standard that integrates environmental and social responsibility into supply chain management. Beyond the Supplier Climate Alliance, Sino Group continues to embed sustainability across its operations and community outreach efforts. Its recent ‘Sino Sustainability Month’ saw over 200 employees participate in various educational and hands-on activities, including ESG trend seminars, eco-factory visits, and food waste upcycling workshops. These events further reinforce the Group’s commitment to creating lasting environmental impact by engaging stakeholders at all levels. As businesses around the world look to align with ESG standards and national climate targets, Sino Group’s Supplier Climate Alliance sets a precedent for inclusive, collaborative climate action. By empowering its supply chain partners with tools, knowledge, and accountability mechanisms, Sino Group is building not only a greener future for Hong Kong, but also a more resilient and responsible business ecosystem.

LAHENDONG: As the country with the second-largest geothermal reserves in the world after the United States, Indonesia holds immense potential in the renewable energy space. But beyond clean electricity, geothermal energy offers another powerful possibility—sustainable agriculture. PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE) (IDX: PGEO), in collaboration with Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has harnessed this potential to develop the Katrili booster—an eco-friendly agricultural solution made from silica, a geothermal by-product. This innovation is not just a scientific breakthrough but a meaningful step toward strengthening food security and empowering local farming communities. “We are committed to creating real, lasting benefits for communities around our operations,” said Novi Purwono, General Manager of PGE’s Lahendong Area. “In Lahendong, farming is a major source of livelihood. When we saw the potential of geothermal by-products in agriculture, we knew we had a chance to make a bigger impact.” From By-Product to Breakthrough The origins of Katrili can be traced back to 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. While visiting PGE’s Geothermal Working Area (WKP) in Lahendong, Ir. Pri Utami, M.Sc., Ph.D., IPM—a geothermal expert from UGM—took samples of geothermal production residue for testing. She discovered that the silica-rich substance bore similarities to volcanic ash, long used to enrich soil. “I saw something promising in the material,” said Pri Utami. “Silica was the primary component, but there were also other valuable minerals. That’s when the idea of converting it into a plant booster began to take shape.” Pri teamed up with Dr.rer.nat. Ronny Martien, a nanotechnology expert from UGM’s Faculty of Pharmacy, to refine the material into a form suitable for agriculture. With rigorous research and development, they created the Katrili booster, a product designed to nourish plants while reducing reliance on conventional chemical inputs. Empowering Farmers through Knowledge and Access Introducing a new product to farmers required more than just innovation—it demanded education. UGM and PGE adopted a participatory, voluntary approach, training farmers on how to use the booster effectively. “Katrili works differently from typical boosters or fertilisers. Like medicine, it has to be used properly to show results,” explained Dr. Ngadisih, a soil and water conservation expert from UGM’s Faculty of Agricultural Technology. Beyond Lahendong, Katrili has also been introduced in other regions across Java, including Wonosobo and Magelang, through UGM’s Community Service Program (KKN). The booster combines silica with chitosan, a compound derived from shrimp and crab shell waste—an abundant resource in Indonesia. Together, they strengthen plant cell walls, boost resistance to pests, and improve water retention. Results on the Ground Two farmers from Tonsewer Village, Minahasa—Rommie and Danni—began using Katrili in 2024 on their tomato crops. They quickly noticed a difference. “The fruits were larger, ripened more evenly, and had fewer problems with rot. The plants also coped better with unpredictable weather, especially when used alongside regular fertilisers,” shared Danni. For Rommie, the experience carries a deeper meaning. “The Katrili booster was developed using materials from our own homeland. That makes us proud. We hope this programme continues to grow so more farmers can benefit.” The name “Katrili” itself is inspired by a traditional Minahasan dance that symbolises harmony and gratitude—values reflected in the programme’s impact. A Community Celebration To celebrate this success and further promote sustainable farming, PGE and UGM will host the Panen Raya Katrili (Katrili Harvest Festival) on Monday, 26 May in Lahendong. The event will feature local farming groups from the Minahasa Protestant Church Synod (KGPM) and the Evangelical Christian Church in Minahasa (GMIM). Visitors will enjoy a community harvest, traditional cuisine, and a performance of the Katrili dance.

HONG KONG SAR:  BlueOnion, an award-winning sustainability analytics platform has collaborated with Morningstar Sustainalytics, one of the world’s leading independent sustainability and corporate governance research, ratings and analytics firm to empower banks and asset managers to analyse and visualize sustainability data. This collaboration addresses the growing challenges of greenwashing in sustainable investment products. With the surge in ESG assets and heightened regulatory scrutiny—such as the recent circular issued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on the Sale and Distribution of Sustainable Investment Products, the synergistic interplay between BlueOnion’s analytics and Morningstar Sustainalytics’ data will enhance the financial sector’s efforts in meeting compliance requirements in a transparent and fuss free manner. Together, the BlueOnion SFDR product and Morningstar Sustainalytics’ data expand coverage to 300,000 mutual funds, ETFs, and 93,000 bond funds, offering broader insights for sustainable investing. The platform standardizes sustainability product measurement, aligns with the EU SFDR, and empowers organizations to analyze ESG performance, assess carbon emissions, avoid controversies, and address climate change—all while meeting regulatory and investor expectations with transparency and confidence. “Proper due diligence is essential for banks to meet regulatory compliance and for asset managers to build portfolios aligned with global sustainability standards. This process depends on robust data, analytics, and clear visualization. BlueOnion’s advanced analytics and visualization capabilities, together with our robust data, bridges a gap in the fixed income asset class and the small to mid-cap coverage. As a turnkey solution, it helps our banking and fund clients save time and costs,” said Nick Cheung, Managing Director of Enterprise Products, Greater China, Morningstar.This collaboration allows clients to seamlessly integrate Morningstar Sustainalytics’ data with BlueOnion’s existing data and analytics solution on sustainability, offering clients an intuitive solution to tackle challenges in regulatory compliance and sustainability-focused investment strategies. “We are excited to collaborate with Morningstar to deliver a transformative, turnkey solution that empowers banks and asset managers on their sustainability journey. By combining Morningstar’s unparalleled global fund data and analytics expertise with BlueOnion’s innovative platform, we provide deeper insights into funds pursuing sustainability integration, transition, and impact through EU taxonomy-related activities. Together, we are elevating industry standards in ESG research, data quality, and transparency, driving meaningful impact and innovation,” said Elsa Pau, Group CEO of BlueOnion. This collaboration exemplifies BlueOnion and Morningstar Sustainalytics’s commitment to supporting financial institutions in combating greenwashing, achieving compliance, and advancing the global ESG agenda. Together, they enable clients to uncover actionable insights and drive meaningful progress in sustainable investing. ent processes while ensuring compliance with evolving sustainability regulations. Learn more at www.sustainalytics.com.