Investments in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives have proven to be a key channel for value creation for companies. For example, a recent study by CDP finds that companies taking environmental actions can see a return approximately seven times greater than their investments, underscoring a close correlation between ESG and corporate value.

While geopolitics may cast a shadow on corporates' ESG efforts, those that overcome the uncertainty are more likely to find themselves in a more advantageous position due to their continuous commitment to ESG principles.

For listed companies, two teams stand out in the formulation, implementation, and communication of ESG strategies: the sustainability team and the investor relations (IR) team. A concerted collaboration between these two teams can help convey the company’s ESG attitudes and results to investors, thereby increasing transparency and trust in the capital markets.

The sustainability team lays the groundwork for credible ESG action. They begin by conducting materiality assessments to identify the issues most relevant to the company’s operations and stakeholders’ expectations. The evaluation of a company’s nature-related impacts, as guided by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), along with the phasing in of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)’s climate reporting requirements, is placing more pressure on the capabilities of in-house sustainability teams. Sustainability teams that stay up to date with global ESG trends, comply with local ESG regulations, and effectively utilize internal resources can set the course for their companies to fulfil their ESG commitments, ultimately driving success.

The IR team, on the other hand, serves as the bridge between a company’s internal stakeholders and external audiences, ensuring that the corporate sustainability message is effectively communicated in the capital market. Through quarterly earnings calls, roadshows, one-on-one meetings, and even social media threads, they integrate sustainability metrics into financial reports, transforming technical sustainability data into a compelling equity story that engages investors. An outstanding IR team also serves as a conduit for feedback from the capital markets, bringing investor insights back into the company's ESG strategy-making processes and helping strengthen the overall approach.

While the daily responsibilities of the sustainability and IR teams may differ, their strategic focus remains closely aligned: both teams aim to promote transparency, build trust, and form long-term relationships with communities, regulators, equity analysts, and investors. Together, they ensure that a company’s achievements in sustainability are clearly understood and valued by the market.

This year, Asset Benchmark Research (ABR) has witnessed a number of outstanding sustainability and IR teams from multiple industries across the Asia-Pacific region striving to advance their companies’ sustainability missions. We also appreciate their efforts in maintaining a strong stance on ESG initiatives in a market that is increasingly challenging. Their commitment to upholding the ESG philosophy signals the region’s unwavering dedication to sustainability and sustainable development.

Considering the key importance of such teams, we at ABR are pleased to reveal the winners in the best sustainability and IR team categories as part of our annual Corporate Sustainability Leadership Awards 2025.

For the full list of best investor relations teams/best sustainability teams, please go here.

To learn more about these awards, please go here.

For more information about the awards ceremony on November 6, 2025 in Singapore, please contact us at celebrate@theasset.com