KUALA LUMPUR: Beyond recognising outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, the Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards 2026 serves as a platform for fostering regional collaboration.
Organised by the Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium, comprising Malaysia’s Star Media Group Bhd, Indonesia’s Media Group of Kompas Gramedia (KG Media) and the Philippines’ Inquirer Group of Companies (IGC), the event saw 40 companies from the three countries take home 52 awards on Wednesday.
Some participants shared that the awards and networking opportunities enabled companies to share knowledge and advance the ESG agenda across South-East Asia.
Energy Development Corporation corporate communications head Frances Ariola, from the Philippines, said collaboration is important because no one organisation can do it on its own.
“The more organisations collaborate across regions, the more we can exchange best practices and learn from each other.
“That is why the Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards is very important. It is a platform for us to share what we have learned so that others won’t have to fail the way we did when we first started,” she said.
The company won gold in Biodiversity Conservation and silver in Renewable Energy, both in the large companies category.
Also from the Philippines, Jollibee global sustainability assistant vice-president Elise D. Veloso said the regional platform signalled to the community that sustainability and ESG are important.
The fast food company was the gold winner in Waste Management and Energy Efficiency in the large companies tier.
Alliance Bank Malaysia chief sustainability officer Roy Heong identified partnerships as a key factor behind the bank’s gold award in Sustainable Supply Chain.
“It has all to do with the partnerships that we have forged, both locally and regionally, with those who have offered their supply chains for us to work together,” he said.
The Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards feature 12 categories for both large companies as well as small and medium enterprises (SME) and mid-tier companies.
To qualify for the regional stage, the finalists had to first secure gold in their respective national awards – SMG’s ESG Positive Impact Awards, KG Media’s Lestari Awards and IGC’s ESG Edge Impact Awards.
This year, a networking session was held before the gala dinner for the finalists to exchange ideas and build connections.
For many, the accolades serve as a meaningful recognition of their sustainability efforts, while providing the confidence to further strengthen their ESG commitments in the years ahead.
YTY Industry Sdn Bhd, which won gold in Human Rights and Labour Standards for the large companies tier, said the recognition served as motivation for the company to continue advancing its ESG goals while upholding high standards of excellence.
“This award and the support from the Star Media Group encourage us to pursue these goals in a sustainable and consistent manner.
“We hope to elevate our standards and that of others in the industry,” its chairman and chief executive officer Vikram Hora said.
PT Triputra Agro Persada Tbk deputy director Widyantoko Sumarlin said the award had reinforced the company’s commitment and encouraged it to intensify its efforts towards achieving its carbon neutrality goals. The company took home gold in Renewable Energy under the large companies category.
Hurricane Geo Inspection Survey Sdn Bhd executive director Alffi Syahrin said winning gold in Good Health and Wellbeing (SME and mid-tier) was an acknowledgement of its efforts and a motivation to further improve its ESG initiatives.
“This is not a final achievement, but a new baseline for us to focus on enhancement in the field of well-being,” he said.
