EcoWorld and Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of EcoWorld’s vision of Creating Tomorrow and Beyond. As a property developer that is conscious of the environmental, economic and social challenges in our industry, we are committed to driving sustainable development on the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) fronts both in our operations and in the communities we serve. We pledge to continuously work towards enhancing our efforts (both short-term and long-term) in growing the business sustainably and creating value for our stakeholders while minimising our impact on the environment and acting responsibly towards the communities in which we operate.

 

Sustainability Governance – Three-Tier Structure

The EcoWorld Board of Directors is the ultimate authority over the Group’s sustainability strategy and governance, reviewing and approving all sustainability-related policies and initiatives.

The Sustainability Committee shall assist the Board in the implementation of sustainability goals and initiatives, and report its progress to the Board four times a year. Board-level leadership and accountability for sustainability is enhanced through the requirement of at least three Directors to be on the Sustainability Committee namely:

• The President & Chief Executive Officer as Chairman of the Sustainability Committee
• The Deputy Chief Executive Officer as the Executive Director with primary responsibility for the implementation of sustainability goals and initiatives, including climate change and health and safety
• An Independent Director to provide an impartial view and enhance the Board’s independent oversight on sustainability matters.

Other members of the Sustainability Committee shall comprise key senior management personnel covering all disciplines and regions of operations, to ensure that material ESG risks are identified, assessed and managed appropriately and that sustainability considerations are integrated into the Group’s strategic decision-making.

The Sustainability Committee shall be supported by the Economic & Governance Council, Green & Operations Council and Social Council in the execution of ESG-related plans and initiatives. Members of the respective councils are appointed by the Sustainability Committee, and are responsible for the implementation of ESG initiatives, and for the collation of relevant data for monitoring and analysis purposes.

Sustainability Approach & Implementation

Overall Direction

In setting EcoWorld’s sustainability strategy and focus areas, we are informed by EcoWorld’s Vision, Mission and Brand Core Values which are reproduced in this policy for easy reference:

Vision – Creating Tomorrow and Beyond

The EcoWorld brand is about the pursuit of better, greater ways to complete people’s living experience. We want to be thought leaders and innovators – a non-traditional business with positive economic, social and environmental impact. We push boundaries in our vision of Creating Tomorrow & Beyond.

Our Mission and Brand Core Values translate this Vision into action — defining how we create places and communities with lasting positive impact

Mission Statement

We are place-makers, we lead in creating communities where people connect, live well, and succeed together.

Brand Core Values

1.  Team EcoWorld
   We collaborate with colleagues, partners and communities – knowing our greatest impact comes from building together.
2. Commit and Deliver
   We take responsibility for results – delivering with pride, accountability and clarity.
3. Stay Hungry, Keep Learning
   We stay curious, challenge limits and continuously learn to stay ahead in a changing world.
4. Move with Purpose
   We focus on what matters most and act with urgency to create real impact.
5. Shape with Care
   We design and decide with empathy – balancing human needs, sustainability and longterm value

We believe in 2 x 2 x 5 x5 = 100%. Energy, focus & passion in everything we do.

The United Nations defines sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Our vision, mission and brand core values reflect our commitment towards achieving the UN’s sustainable development agenda.

We are also guided by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed by the United Nations as a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. We are committed to taking positive steps towards greater achievement of the goals most relevant in the context of our operations in the hopes that our efforts will count towards the global achievement of the SDGs.

Identifying Our Material Sustainability Matters

We believe in the spirit of openness and transparency in communication with our stakeholders (including but not limited to employees, customers, investors, regulators, contractors & suppliers, media and non-governmental organisations). Frequent and robust engagement with stakeholders via various methods of communication will allow us to keep abreast of their needs and expectations, and identify the areas that matter most to them.

 

Our Commitments

In the pursuit of sustainable development, EcoWorld commits to take responsible actions in the following areas in a timely manner:

Good Governance and Good Business Practices

We uphold integrity, good governance and ethical behaviour in all our business practices in order to maintain the trust of our stakeholders and our social license to operate. We are committed to providing quality products and services to all our customers and residents in our developments. We strive to conduct our business responsibly, causing minimal disruption to the communities around our developments. We pledge to conduct our business in accordance with applicable laws and regulations by which we are bound. In the event of shortcomings, we will take the necessary and appropriate remedial actions as soon as we are able to and within reasonable timelines.

 

Displaying Exemplary Labour Practices & Protecting Human Rights

We will provide a safe, healthy and equal opportunity working environment for our employees and we positively engage with our supply chain partners to encourage and incentivise them to do the same. We are committed to ensuring that the appropriate labour standards will be applied and that our employees will receive fair salaries / wages for fair working hours. Our employees shall receive equal access to training and development programmes as well as opportunities for career growth. We will put in place (and continuously improve) health and safety procedures and measures to ensure the safety of all who are present at our business premises.

We will strive to uphold the human rights of our employees and our communities. We stand strongly against practices such as child labour and forced labour. Discrimination (in respect of race, religion, gender, age, disabilities, nationality, etc.), bullying and harassment will also not be tolerated.

 

Addressing Climate Change & Protecting Biodiversity and the Environment

We are committed to operating responsibly and safeguarding the environment. We acknowledge the negative impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation resulting in global warming and recognise our role in addressing them. With this in mind, we will assess and control our greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and waste production, monitor and conserve the use of energy, water and resources, and encourage recycling and reuse. We will also manage our dependencies and impacts on nature and ecosystems — including land, water and biodiversity. We further recognise the physical risks posed by a changing climate — including extreme weather events, flooding and rising temperatures — and are committed to assessing the climate resilience of our developments and operations, incorporating mitigation and adaptation measures where appropriate.

Through our Sustainable Procurement Policy, we seek to work with supply chain partners who consider environmental issues in their everyday business and encourage them to provide solutions, materials and goods that are sustainable and eco-friendly. In our assessment and selection of supply chain partners — including contractors, consultants, suppliers, vendors, product manufacturers and product distributors, we consider their environmental, social and governance practices in our contracting and procurement decisions. We actively partner with them to progressively reduce the environmental burden across our entire supply chain.

Through our collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, continuous education and awareness on climate change metrics backed by unwavering commitment from our senior leadership, we intend to work towards a Net Zero Carbon future.

 

Supporting the Community

We acknowledge the role we play as good corporate citizens in being responsible towards the communities around us. We are committed to engaging with the communities in and around our developments and supporting them by providing the infrastructure necessary for economic and social development and opportunities for employment. Through the Eco World Foundation, we are also committed to providing equal access to education for children from underprivileged backgrounds in the hopes of eventually elevating the financial and social status of the families under our care.

 

Our Implementation Methods

The following are the procedures EcoWorld shall undertake to ensure that our chosen sustainability strategies are carried out effectively:

• Conducting awareness and training programmes to ensure that our employees, business associates and the community are well informed on matters relating to sustainability and to obtain their buy-in and cooperation in sustainability initiatives.
• Developing guidelines for the implementation of sustainability initiatives and templates to enable efficient and effective collection of data for monitoring purposes.
• Monitoring the implementation status of sustainability-related programmes and assessing their effectiveness and impacts.
• Accurate and timely reporting on the implementation status of sustainability activities to the Sustainability Committee and Board of Directors.
• Annual sustainability reports to be prepared based on the principles of comparability, clarity, accuracy, timeliness and reliability for the purpose of public disclosure.

To measure our sustainability performance and track progress, we have formulated specific key performance indicators (KPIs) based on our sustainability aspirations as well as operational goals and targets. As we advance on our sustainability journey, we aim to further improve on our efforts in contributing to the establishment of a sustainable society. Accordingly, this Sustainability Policy is subject to ongoing review and revisions where necessary to reflect the Group’s commitment to continuous improvement.