Singapore, 9 March 2026 - The fourth Sustainability Impact (SI) Awards, jointly presented by The Business Times (BT) and UOB, is open for nominations from now till 29 May 2026.
Launched in 2023, the SI Awards recognise leaders and companies that serve as pillars of inspiration in sustainability development, through their contributions to the environment and society. The Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore Business School is the Knowledge Partner for the Awards.
This year, the Awards also aim to recognise and celebrate enterprises that act as catalysts in advancing sustainability by enabling other organisations to strengthen their sustainability practices, highlighting collaborative leadership and ecosystem-building efforts that multiply impact.
Ms Chen Huifen, Editor of The Business Times, said, “With active participation seen in the Sustainability Impact Awards over the past three years, it is important for us to further showcase businesses which had influenced others in advancing sustainability this year. As we continue to recognise our sustainability leaders, we hope that the Awards will also inspire more enterprises to join the sustainability journey.”
Mr Eric Lim, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, UOB, said, “Meaningful, scalable impact happens when businesses and individuals come together to collaborate, innovate and uplift the broader ecosystem. UOB is proud to continue supporting the Sustainability Impact Awards, to honour outstanding enterprises and individuals with strong purpose, leadership and partnerships that shape a more resilient and sustainable future for all.”
Professor Lawrence Loh, Director, NUS Centre for Governance and Sustainability, said, “As we mark our fourth year serving as Knowledge Partner for the Sustainability Impact Awards, we look forward to more individuals and organisations submitting their stories and evidence of how they have enabled sustainability impact. Sustainability is an interconnected landscape, like a garden which thrives when everyone tends to it. Going forward, the Awards will recognise enterprises that excel in sustainability and spearhead others on this journey. Through assessing and showcasing best practices, we can cultivate a blooming impact.”
The Awards will be assessed by a panel of judges, chaired by Dr Amy Khor, former Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, including:
- Ms Chen Huifen, Editor of BT;
- Ms Eliza Tan, Senior Vice President, and Head, IPO Admissions and Sustainable Development Office, SGX RegCo;
- Mr Geoffrey Yeo, Assistant Managing Director, Capabilities, Urban Systems & Solutions, Enterprise Singapore;
- Professor Lawrence Loh, Director of NUS Centre for Governance and Sustainability;
- Ms Melissa Kwee, Director, Pontiac Land Group; and
- Mr Tan Swee Yiow, President, Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore.
Dr Amy Khor, Chairman of the Judging Panel, said, “Even as countries grapple with geopolitical tensions, trade barriers and economic uncertainties, the realities of climate change do not pause — and may in fact intensify if global climate action loses momentum. The Sustainability Impact Awards serve as a powerful reminder that individuals and enterprises in Singapore have both the agency and responsibility to lead, innovate and act decisively in mitigating and adapting to climate risks. I encourage organisations of all sizes and passionate changemakers to step forward, share their journeys, and inspire others through their commitment to creating lasting environmental and social impact.”
As an extension of the SI Awards, a series of Sustainability Impact Dialogues will be held to spotlight emerging sustainability trends, share best practices, and foster cross-sector collaboration.
Interested individuals and businesses can submit their applications via the Awards website by downloading the application form. The judging criteria can be found in the Annex.
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ANNEX
About the Sustainability Impact Awards
The inaugural Sustainability Impact Awards was officially launched on 1 February 2023, and the Awards is jointly presented by The Business Times (BT) and UOB to recognise and celebrate the people and businesses that have made a significant positive impact on the environment and societal well-being through their sustainability initiatives. The Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS) at the National University of Singapore Business School is Knowledge Partner for the Awards.
Award Categories and Assessment Criteria
INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY
Awards
- Impact Leader of the Year
- Impact Leader Excellence Award
Eligibility
- Individuals should be based in Singapore.
- Individuals from entities with a clear enterprise purpose, including business enterprises, social enterprises, GLCs, charities and NGOs, are welcomed to participate.
- Individuals should meet the Terms and Conditions stated in the Nomination Declaration form.
Assessment Criteria
The following framework and criteria will be used to measure Sustainability Impact:
| Core Attributes |
| Significance: - Individuals should demonstrate the significance of the actual environmental and/or social outcome resulting from the implementation of the projects/initiatives/programmes he/she led. - Significance in fulfilling the need for the community should be highlighted and articulated. The need could come from the individual’s enterprise or the society. - Indirect impact that results in improving profitability need not necessarily be included. Leadership: - Individuals must demonstrate his/her leadership in effectively implementing the projects/initiatives/programmes. - Individuals who have implemented pioneering projects/initiatives/programmes and have influenced a large scale of stakeholders will be awarded bonus points. |
| Essential Attributes |
| Advocacy: - Individuals should demonstrate how he/she has advocated to create change as well as how he/she engaged and motivated internal and external stakeholders. For example, how did he/she influence business strategies/decisions/public policy/employees’ behaviours/policy makers etc. Scope: - Individuals must demonstrate how the projects/initiatives/programmes he/she led positively affected the local community in Singapore. Individuals who have extended impact beyond Singapore to reach a larger scope will be awarded bonus points, based on how large the impact is. Duration: - Duration of the impact refers to the period that relevant stakeholders experienced the outcome. This award values both short- and long-term impact. Depth: - Depth of the impact refers to the degree of change in the outcome level experienced by relevant stakeholders. Examples could be the degree of improving the lives of local communities, or the degree of improving energy efficiency etc. |
| Good Governance (Prerequisite) |
| Governing Leadership: - Individuals should show how he/she upholds a strong mission and vision of his/her enterprise, ensuring leaders of every level are committed to fairness, transparency, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Engagement of Stakeholders: - Individuals should demonstrate his/her practices regarding stakeholder engagement. This includes but is not limited to practices to enhance participation of internal stakeholders and actions to engage external stakeholders. Compliance: - Individuals should demonstrate that he/she does not have any outstanding charges. |
| Evaluation |
| - Individuals will be evaluated based on the social and/or environmental outcome attributed to his/her efforts instead of the size or the impact of his/her enterprise. - The Individual category will honour individuals who have shown singular excellence in environmental or social aspects as well as individuals who have shown excellence in both aspects. |
ENTERPRISE CATEGORY
Awards
| Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) - Impact Enterprise of the Year - Impact Enterprise Excellence Award | Large Enterprise - Impact Enterprise of the Year - Impact Enterprise Excellence Award |
Eligibility
- Enterprises should be registered and based in Singapore.
- The Enterprise category is further subdivided into awards for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Large Enterprises.
- According to Enterprise Singapore, SMEs refer to enterprises which have revenue of up to S$100 million or maximum employment size of 200 employees.
- Large Enterprises have revenue larger than S$100 million or employment size of more than 200 employees.
- Enterprises with a clear enterprise purpose, including businesses, social enterprises, GLCs, charities and NGOs, are welcomed to participate.
- Enterprises should meet the Terms and Conditions stated in the Nomination Declaration form.
Assessment Criteria
The following framework and criteria will be used to measure Sustainability Impact:
| Core Attributes |
| Significance: - Enterprises should demonstrate the significance of the actual environmental and/or social impact resulting from the implementation of the projects/initiatives/programmes. - Significance in fulfilling the need for the community should be highlighted and articulated. The need could come from his/her organisation or the society. Leadership: - Enterprises must demonstrate leadership in carrying out the projects/initiatives/programmes. - Enterprises which have carried out pioneering projects/initiatives/programmes and have influenced other entities such as businesses, media or academic institutions would be awarded bonus points. |
| Essential Attributes |
| Scale: - Enterprises should demonstrate the scale of the impact, including but not limited to the groups of stakeholders affected, the scale of people reached, the scale of people experiencing the outcome etc. Scope: - Enterprises should demonstrate their contributions to Singapore's national priorities/national strategies/national development plans. Enterprises which extend impact beyond Singapore to reach a larger scope will be awarded bonus points, based on how large the impact is. Duration: - Duration of the impact refers to the period that relevant stakeholders experienced the outcome. This award values both short- and long-term impact. Depth: - Depth of the impact refers to the degree of change in the outcome level experienced by relevant stakeholders. Examples could be the degree of improving the lives of local communities, or the degree of improving energy efficiency etc. |
| Bonus Points |
| Synergy: - Enterprises which promote sustainability while collaborating with other entities and actors will be awarded bonus points. Examples include but are not limited to engaging suppliers to promote a green supply chain or engaging consumers to adopt a green lifestyle. Innovation: - Enterprises would be awarded bonus points if the creativeness and originality of the projects/initiatives/programmes are proven. |
| Prerequisites |
| Environmental Practices - Targets: Enterprises should demonstrate their targets/visions/statements regarding environmental protection. Environmental protection includes but is not limited to waste management, energy conservation, climate actions etc. - Strategies: Enterprises should illustrate the strategies and practices to achieve the above-mentioned targets/visions/statements. Social Practices - Well-being of Employees: Enterprises should demonstrate their practices in improving the well-being of employees. These practices include but are not limited to training and education for employees, occupational health and safety practices, diversity, and inclusion practices etc. Good Governance Practices - Governing Leadership: Enterprises should show their commitment to values that are conducive to the success of the enterprise, employees, and stakeholders at large which include but are not limited to fairness, transparency, diversity, equity, and inclusion. - Engagement of Stakeholders: Enterprises should demonstrate practices regarding stakeholder engagement. This includes but is not limited to policies/regulations that ensure the rights of stakeholders, avenues for stakeholders to participate etc. - Transparency and Disclosure: Enterprises should demonstrate the contents of disclosure and their medium for communication. Contents of disclosure include but are not limited to enterprises’ financial disclosure, ownership structure, voting rights, remuneration policy, related party transactions, risk factors, issues regarding stakeholders, governance structure and policies. |
| Evaluation |
| - Enterprises will be evaluated based on the social and/or environmental outcomes attributed to its efforts. - The Enterprise category honours enterprises that have shown excellence in environmental or social aspects as well as enterprises that have shown excellence in both aspects. |