Employees want purpose: The business case for sustainability

Sustainability is no longer only a matter of compliance. Across Asia-Pacific, a growing number of companies see responsible business practice as a source of differentiation: a way to win and keep clients, manage cost and risk, and stand out to the talent they want to hire. A survey done by HSBC found that 99% of all Singapore-based businesses see sustainability as a commercial opportunity, with 80% planning to ramp up sustainability efforts over the next three years (HSBC Sustainability Pulse Survey, 2025).

Yet sustainability is rarely a straightforward proposition for businesses. It means weighing cost against commitment, navigating suppliers and customers with different priorities, and building internal support for changes that may not deliver short-term returns. Much of this work falls to middle and senior managers, who set priorities, allocate resources and shape how their teams operate.

At the same time, sustainability can affect how employees view their jobs. Do employees seek purpose in their work, and does it shape where they choose to work and how long they stay? If so, organisations that embed sustainability and social responsibility may be better placed to attract, engage and retain people who share their values.

So what does a credible business case for sustainability look like in Singapore today? What can leaders do to embed it into strategy and operations, and bring their people along? And what role can employees play?

This webinar brings together Singapore businesses that are embedding sustainability into how they operate and contribute to society. Their leaders will share why they have prioritised sustainability, the challenges they have faced along the way, and how it has strengthened their competitiveness, client relationships and ability to attract and retain talent.  

Ultimately, the session seeks to equip managers and business leaders with the insights to turn sustainability into business value, and to build organisations where purpose-driven people want to work and grow.

Topics include:

• The business case, beyond compliance: Where sustainability creates value, from cost savings and risk management to market access, client relationships and differentiation
• Navigating the trade-offs: Weighing cost against commitment, aligning suppliers and customers, and building internal support for changes without guaranteed short-term returns
• Leading from within: How managers can build buy-in, empower their teams and embed sustainability into everyday decisions and processes
• Purpose as a talent advantage: How businesses with a clear sense of purpose attract, engage and retain like-minded talent
• A two-way street: How leaders can make room for employee ideas, and how employees can contribute to their organisation’s sustainability direction

‍This event is free to attend. A short survey is included as part of registration.