On 2 July, SPARK’s second Asia Regional Live Session brought together SMEs across the region to explore how to turn sustainability ambition into actionable strategy.
The session featured Sue Meng Chan, Deputy Director, Sustainability and Capability Building at UN Global Compact Network Singapore, who provided a deep dive into materiality, stakeholder engagement, and the foundational role of governance in strategy development.
Marissa Kostoglou, Sustainability Manager at Calix Limited, shared a real-world case example from Australia, highlighting how Calix is integrating sustainability into core business functions—from emissions reduction to employee engagement—despite budget and resource constraints.
The Q&A session addressed challenges around prioritization, tracking SDG contributions, and embedding sustainability even in the absence of local mandates.
The session equipped SMEs with practical steps to define material issues, engage stakeholders meaningfully, and build sustainability strategies tailored to their operations and context.
If you’re an SME looking to turn sustainability ambition into real business impact, UNGC SPARK can help you get there. This global learning platform and support community equips small and medium-sized enterprises with practical tools, expert-led content, and a network of peers and leaders. With SPARK, you can strengthen your credibility, build resilience, earn recognised certifications and position your company as a preferred sustainable supplier — all while learning at your own pace, in your language and on your schedule.
Discover how SPARK can accelerate your sustainability journey. Join today.
Sustainability has become a critical component of business operations globally, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential players in this transformation. In Asia, SMEs form the backbone of the economy—representing the majority of businesses and providing vital employment opportunities.
Despite their importance, SMEs often face unique challenges in adopting sustainable practices. These include limited financial and human resources, lack of technical expertise, and fragmented access to information on best practices.
Today, integrating sustainability into core business strategies is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Embracing sustainability helps businesses build resilience, access new markets, enhance competitiveness, and unlock long-term growth. For SMEs in Asia, sustainability represents more than just regulatory compliance; it is a strategic investment in future success.
To support SMEs on this journey, the SPARK initiative, led by the UN Global Compact, offers knowledge, tools, and peer support tailored to the unique challenges faced by small businesses in the region. SPARK 2025 builds on the success of previous programs, with a focus on practical, real-world solutions for sustainability integration.
We recently held our first Regional Live session for the SPARK Programme, titled “Building the Business Case for Sustainability.”
This session went beyond the basics to demonstrate how sustainability can create real business value—boosting profitability, increasing resilience, and opening up new market opportunities. Actionable strategies and success stories were shared by industry experts from UN Global Compact Network Indonesia and UN Global Compact Network Singapore.
● Aparna Bhatnagar Saxena – CEO, TORAJAMELO (member of UN Global Compact Network Indonesia)
Aparna shared how TORAJAMELO, an ethical lifestyle brand, integrates environmental, social, and cultural sustainability into its work with indigenous communities in Indonesia. Through initiatives like AHANA, she promotes conscious consumerism and advocates for sustainability rooted in values and community impact. In the Q&A, Aparna emphasized the importance of authentic leadership, starting small, and staying grounded in empathy. She acknowledged the challenges of balancing purpose with profitability, encouraging SMEs to see sustainability as a continuous journey rather than a fixed goal.
● Nichol Ng – CEO, FoodXervices Inc (member of UN Global Compact Network Singapore)
Nichol presented how her company leverages technology—such as IoT sensors and solar panels—to achieve measurable environmental impact and cost savings. Initially driven by ESG compliance needs from clients, her team embraced sustainability as a long-term strategy. She also highlighted Xcelerate Academy, which trains F&B and wholesale SMEs in sustainability and digitalization. In the Q&A, Nichol emphasized the power of data, employee engagement, and partnerships. She encouraged SMEs to be open to learning, external audits, and collaboration—underscoring that collective progress in sustainability is more powerful than competition.
The session brought together over 100 participants from SMEs across seven countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Philippines And Australia
Celebrating the 2024/25 SDG Ambition Accelerator: A Milestone Year for Global Impact
The 2024/25 cohort marks a significant milestone for the SDG Ambition Accelerator, representing the fifth global cycle of the program. Since its inception in 2020, the initiative has seen participation from more than 2,700 companies worldwide, all committed to embedding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their core strategies and operations. This year alone, over 580 companies across 120 countries joined the programme, reaffirming the business community’s growing dedication to sustainability.
Elevating Business Ambition for People and Planet
SDG Ambition challenges companies to go beyond incremental change and take transformative action to address the world’s most pressing issues. While climate action remains a central focus, we are witnessing a notable expansion of priorities. Companies are increasingly setting bold targets in areas such as gender equality, decent work and labor standards, circularity, and sustainable finance—reflecting a maturing understanding of what it truly means to advance the SDGs.
A Strong ASEAN Presence
The Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS) is proud to have been part of all five ASEAN tracks of SDG Ambition. The 2024/25 ASEAN cohort ran from February to May 2025 and included 32 participating companies across four country networks: Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Participating Companies from Singapore The following companies from Singapore demonstrated leadership in sustainability and joined the 2024/25 SDG Ambition Accelerator to set ambitious targets and advance the integration of the SDGs into their operations:
● Singapore Airlines Limited
● Pacific International Lines
● Quest Ventures
● YTL Singapore Pte Ltd
Their commitment showcases how Singapore-based companies are stepping up to drive meaningful change on a global scale.
Learning Across Cohorts: Alumni in Action
A special highlight this year was a session featuring Alsco Uniforms Singapore, an SDG Ambition 2023/24 alumnus. The team shared valuable insights and learnings with the current
cohort, offering real-world examples of how participation in SDG Ambition has helped shape their sustainability journey.
With each new cohort, SDG Ambition continues to be a catalyst for corporate action, innovation, and leadership. We look forward to supporting more companies as they chart their course toward a more sustainable future for all.
Participant Reflections from the 2024/25 SDG Ambition Accelerator
💬 “Encouraged us to relook into our strategy.”
💬 “It has helped us check on our progress towards our goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
💬 “Increased awareness amongst management about the business importance of focusing on sustainability.”
