SINGAPORE, 9 June 2026 –
A Shift from Obligation to Opportunity Amidst Rising Green Procurement
For Singapore, net zero by 2050 is not just a climate goal, but a national imperative to safeguard economic competitiveness, energy security, and long-term resilience. As geopolitical tensions and rising costs reshape the business landscape, resilience has become a boardroom priority.
Singapore’s policy direction reinforces this shift. Initiatives such as the SG Green Plan 2030, increased focus on climate disclosures, green procurement, and targeted grants signal a clear message: Sustainability is now a business necessity across companies of all sizes.
The latest Technical Reference 149:2026 framework, launched by Enterprise Singapore through the Singapore Standards Council, offers guidance and a structured, sector-agnostic framework for businesses seeking to progress in environmental sustainability and build competitiveness in green procurement. To get there, Singapore businesses can adopt ESG solution providers and resources already available in the market.
“The launch of the TR 149:2026 framework comes amid rising expectations for green procurement practices. The government and large enterprises (Queen Bees) are increasingly looking to procure from businesses with stronger sustainability credentials, while many SMEs are keen to advance their sustainability efforts but continue to face constraints in areas such as resources and technical expertise,” said Benjamin Soh, Founder and Managing Director at ESGpedia.
“What businesses are recognising today is that sustainability does not come at the expense of cost or growth. When leveraged strategically, it unlocks new opportunities, heightens business competitiveness in securing tenders and deals, and strengthens resilience.”
This shift is already playing out on the ground. ESGpedia – a Singapore headquartered environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data and technology platform – has experience in serving over 800 Singapore businesses. Today, it is witnessing how sustainability is delivering tangible returns for businesses, across project bidding, operational efficiency, and market positioning, increasingly supported by digital tools that strengthen data management and reporting capabilities.
Turning ESG into a Competitive Advantage with Sustainability Reporting
For built environment businesses such as Northcroft Lim Consultants Pte Ltd and LAUD Architects, sustainability reporting has evolved from a compliance requirement into a differentiator in securing project tenders.
Since 2024, Singapore has progressively introduced more sustainability considerations into the Government’s tender evaluation process, starting with construction and ICT tenders, and MICE tenders from 2025.
Sr Yvonne Tho, Managing Director at Northcroft Lim Consultants, noted that growing expectations from multinational clients, institutional developers, and request for proposal (RFP) submissions for structured ESG disclosures have driven the firm to strengthen its reporting capabilities through digital tools.
This includes ESG reporting, carbon accounting, and, in some industries, Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), which are increasingly used as evaluation criteria.
“ESGpedia enabled us to consolidate our sustainability data into our first Sustainability Report within a recognised framework,” said Ms Tho. “This has streamlined RFP and ESG questionnaire responses while strengthening our competitiveness.”
Similarly, LAUD Architects sought to move from fragmented sustainability initiatives towards a more integrated, data-driven approach and credibly showcase its efforts to increase its attractiveness in public-sector tenders.
“While ESG is primarily driven by compliance and long-term value creation, leveraging a digital platform like ESGpedia has improved our operational efficiency by reducing and streamlining manual reporting efforts,” said Karen Wong, Associate Director at LAUD Architects.
“More importantly, this enables our teams to focus on core project delivery and design, supporting a more structured and scalable approach to sustainability and increasing productivity.”
Across the sector, the automation of carbon accounting and ESG reporting facilitated by ESG platforms have helped firms seamlessly generate audit-ready ESG reports to respond more efficiently while aligning with evolving requirements.
This shift extends across the broader construction ecosystem. LBD Engineering, for instance, has adopted ESGpedia to generate its FY2024 Sustainability Report more efficiently, reducing time required for Sustainability Report preparation by 50-60%, while improving both the speed and accuracy of carbon calculations and disclosures.
This also enabled the construction company, which specialises in public housing and institutional building projects, to sharpen its competitive edge in project tenders with strengthened ESG reporting and sustainability capabilities.
Having established its baseline emissions in its first year of reporting, LBD Engineering managed to identify its carbon hotspots, including diesel consumption as a key contributor.
This prompted the company to tap into the Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) for the construction sector to support on-the-ground decarbonisation efforts.
By replacing traditional diesel generators with electric alternatives, LBD Engineering has successfully reduced emissions by 15-25%, while offsetting initial investment costs by up to 70% for qualifying equipment.
The EEG grant, aligned with Singapore’s Green Building Masterplan, has helped offset upfront investment costs, enabling the firm to adopt more energy-efficient equipment and accelerate its transition towards low-carbon construction practices.
“LBD Engineering has strengthened our position in tender submissions, leveraging digital platforms like ESGpedia. We observed a noticeable improvement in our competitiveness – an estimated 10-15% increase in tender success rates where ESG factors are weighed, especially for public sector projects where sustainability is a key evaluation criterion,” shared Wong Wei Chern, General Manager at LBD Engineering.
“We are now able to submit more credible and structured Sustainability Reports, which has improved our performance in tenders. Our credibility with clients, consultants, and regulators has also improved, as we can provide clear and reliable sustainability data.”
As energy prices continue to rise amid conflict in the Middle East, businesses which have capitalised on such resources to build sustainability capabilities also find themselves more resilient to climate risks and external shocks.
In the retail appliance and manufacturing space, companies such as SPIN Fans are taking a market-facing approach to sustainability.
Through a structured approach to carbon accounting and sustainability reporting, SPIN Fans has embedded ESG into its core operations, moving from manual processes to a data-driven digital workflow.
The impact is reflected by significant outcomes. SPIN Fans achieved an 88% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing its 2028 target of a 70% reduction ahead of schedule.
This was driven primarily by the full transition of its fleet from petrol to electric vehicles.
“Internally, better data visibility supported decisive actions, including the completion of our fleet electrification programme, where we saw 66% in cost savings,” said Darran Ong, AI & Sustainability Manager at SPIN Fans.
Beyond operations, sustainability has strengthened SPIN Fans’ market positioning and investor confidence. The company has supported over 10,000 households in adopting hybrid cooling solutions and contributed to more than 100 built environment projects, while gaining industry recognition including the ESBN Green Deal Badge in Gold, awarded by the United Nations ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN)[1], and the Best Sustainable Practices award at the Singapore Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Award (SIMEA) 2026.
SPIN Fans has witnessed increased competitiveness and ease in meeting tender and industry award requirements. “The most immediate business value since adopting ESGpedia has been improved credibility and readiness when sustainability requirements come up in partner discussions, proposals, and recognition/validation processes, because our emissions and sustainability performance are clearly tracked and reportable,” said Jerald Tew, Founder of SPIN Fans.
“This supports our roadmap, including integrating post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials into 10% of product lines by 2026 and progressing towards a Low/Zero Carbon Certification for one product line.”
Meanwhile, in the logistics sector, Pacific Logistics Group (PLG) is approaching sustainability as a forward-looking strategy to strengthen resilience and long-term competitiveness.
Since adopting ESGpedia, PLG has established a foundational ESG framework and roadmap, and advanced in its supplier enablement, positioning the company to meet evolving requirements and enhance credibility with stakeholders.
“We see sustainability as key to staying competitive in a rapidly evolving market,” said Jack Lim, General Manager (Compliance), at PLG. “By strengthening our ESG data capabilities, improving carbon tracking, and engaging our suppliers, we are building our foundation to meet rising expectations and position ourselves as a reliable logistics partner.”
As PLG advances its ESG maturity, the focus remains on improving data transparency and embedding sustainability into operations, ensuring readiness for future regulatory and market demands.
Across sectors, a common thread is emerging: companies that can produce timely, decision-grade ESG data are better positioned to compete, turning reporting into a strategic advantage rather than an administrative burden.
Singapore Businesses Expanding Global Market Access through ESG
For businesses with global value chains, ESG is no longer a secondary consideration, but a prerequisite for international market access and supplier selection.
“Sustainability Reporting is more than just Scope 1 and 2 emissions – the companies we have supported have not only established a strong foundation, but have also progressed well beyond minimum requirements, securing international business opportunities and credentials,” shared Mr Soh.
For companies like Ghim Li Group, sustainability reporting is necessary in helping the global textile and apparel manufacturer maintain its standing with global brands and department stores. Today, Ghim Li supplies more than 65 million pieces of apparel annually to an impressive list of clients, including US retail giants, major department stores, specialty stores, and mass merchants[2].
“Sustainability is a core requirement from global buyers, and we are seeing it embedded more deeply into procurement decisions alongside cost, quality, and delivery,” said Felicia Gan, Chief Executive Officer of Ghim Li.
Operating across manufacturing facilities and supply partners in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Malaysia, the Group faces multi-jurisdictional reporting requirements.
“Navigating different reporting requirements and sustainability standards was complex, and maintaining data consistency across sites was a challenge,” Ms Gan explained.
To address this, Ghim Li has adopted ESGpedia and sustainability advisory support to streamline data management and ESG reporting in accordance with the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS).
“We use ESGpedia to manage sustainability data, carbon accounting, and reporting workflows,” Ms Gan said. “It helps streamline data collection from internal teams and suppliers, supports Scope 1 to 3 emissions visibility, and strengthens our ability to meet sustainability and carbon disclosure requirements requested by customers – supporting successful participation in customer audits, vendor assessments, and ESG-linked business opportunities.”
Beyond reporting, these capabilities are supporting tangible outcomes with direct impact on businesses’ bottom lines, including emissions reduction and access to preferential financing.
“Since 2017, the Group has reduced 33,135.1 tCO₂e through energy efficiency initiatives,” Ms Gan shared. “We are currently undertaking the installation of a solar energy system expected to deliver an estimated 15 to 20% reduction in electricity consumption.”
“Through a simplified ESG reporting process on the ESGpedia platform, Ghim Li was able to attain sustainability-linked financing, unlocking access to green capital and demonstrating our ability to meet requirements stipulated by financial institutions and global stakeholders.”
For Teo Garments, a certified B Corporation, early efforts reflected common SME challenges: navigating multiple reporting standards and establishing carbon accounting processes.
The shift to digital tools helped streamline these processes, reducing manual effort and improving alignment with reporting frameworks.
Through the LowCarbonSG Programme, powered by ESGpedia in partnership with the UN Global Compact Network Singapore, Teo Garments also leveraged the Digital Carbon and Emissions Recording Tool (CERT) to efficiently track and report emissions, while aligning with nationally recognised frameworks.
“We saved at least 600 manhours through our partnership with ESGpedia, completing our sustainability reporting three months earlier than expected. These hours have been redirected to other productive areas of our business,” shared Aria Cui, Compliance and Sustainability Executive at Teo Garments.
Digital Tools and Public-Private Partnerships help Firms Scale ESG Amid Cost Pressures
As sustainability expectations mature, a growing ecosystem of digital solutions is helping businesses move beyond baseline compliance.
While government frameworks provide direction, companies are increasingly turning to ESG technology platforms and advisory partners to operationalise ESG reporting in a scalable and decision-useful manner.
Sustainability is a journey. As evidenced by the TR 149:2026, companies typically start with basic carbon reporting as a foundation, but advancing beyond the TR 149:2026 Essential level is critical to meeting rising tender requirements. Comprehensive reporting encompasses materiality assessments, transition planning, and broader climate disclosures, to provide a holistic picture of a company’s environmental footprint. Businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of advancing along this journey to excel in today’s green economy.
“The TR 149 Essential tier is an obvious first step for all Singapore businesses, taking only around 10 minutes to complete. What is important is progressing to the TR 149 framework’s higher levels of Bronze, Silver and Gold, to truly expand your organisation’s access to green procurement and financing opportunities. This is where ESGpedia comes in as a well-placed solution provider, building on our experience serving more than 800 companies in Singapore in achieving real business tender outcomes, with up to 50% grant support for SMEs,” shared Mr Soh.
Public-private initiatives are essential in strengthening the nation’s sustainability ecosystem and resources. The Council for a Competitive Climate Transition (C3T) [3], launched at the Singapore Business Federation Post-COP30 Dialogue, aim to better align policy with business realities and link climate action more directly to enterprise value through procurement and financing levers.
Initiatives such as the Singapore Emissions Factors Registry, LowCarbonSG, and the Digital CERT Tool, alongside funding support through programmes such as the Productivity Solutions Grant and Energy Efficiency Grant, contribute to Singapore’s sustainability ecosystem, equipping businesses with the tools, resources, and technological support needed to grow while advancing their sustainability goals.
Solution providers such as ESGpedia are among those supporting these initiatives and are integrated with broader public-private partnership efforts aimed at advancing sustainability reporting capabilities amongst Singapore businesses, by digitalising ESG data management, automating emissions calculations, and improving consistency across reporting frameworks.
ESG as the New Competitive Baseline
As ESG becomes embedded across procurement, financing, and market expectations, it is increasingly reinforcing its importance alongside traditional business fundamentals such as cost, quality, and delivery.
The latest TR 149:2026 framework further clarifies the requirements Singapore businesses are expected to meet, underscoring the growing pressure on companies to keep pace with evolving sustainability demands or risk falling behind.
“Early adopters are already seeing real business outcomes,” Mr Soh shared. “With public sector procurement aiming to consider green criteria in all evaluations where applicable by 2028, companies that have invested in robust ESG management processes and clear transition strategies stand higher chance in winning more business and tenders.”
At a broader level, ESG is becoming central to Singapore’s national competitiveness. As geopolitical uncertainty and climate risks reshape global markets, the ability of businesses to adapt and to demonstrate credible, data-backed sustainability performance will play a defining role in strengthening economic resilience and sustaining growth in the years to come.
[1] The ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN) Asia-Pacific Green Deal digital platform is powered by ESGpedia.
[2] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/how-felicia-gan-is-weaving-change-in-the-global-garment-empire-her-mother-built
[3] https://www.sbf.org.sg/newsroom/media/press-releases/detail/singapore-launches-new-public-private-partnership-to-strengthen-business-competitiveness-in-the-climate-transition
