KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 – Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines brought their leading sustainability performers together on one stage, as 40 companies were recognised as best-in-class ESG performers from a field of 428 entries at the Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards 2026.

Collectively, they received 52 awards across 12 categories spanning the environment, workplace practices, community engagement, supply chains and business transformation.

Each company had first won Gold in its national awards: Malaysia’s ESG Positive Impact Awards, Indonesia’s Lestari Awards or the Philippines’ Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards.

Their regional recognition reflects a shared effort by the three markets to raise sustainability standards and bring proven ESG practices before a wider Southeast Asian audience.

Officiated by Dato’ Sri Arthur Joseph Kurup, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, the gala ceremony was held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) Convention Centre.

The regional competition was organised by the Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium (A-EPIC), a collaboration between three media organisations: Star Media Group (SMG), which organises the ESG Positive Impact Awards; Kompas Gramedia Group (KG Media), which presents the Lestari Awards, and the Inquirer Group of Companies, which presents the Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards.

Also attending the gala were Her Excellency Maria Angela Ponce, Ambassador of the Philippines to Malaysia, and Madam Aziza Rahmaniar, Trade Commissioner of the Republic of Indonesia, who was there representing His Excellency Raden Dato’ Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Malaysia, alongside senior representatives from the three media organisations.

Dato’ Sri Arthur Joseph Kurup, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, said in his speech, “As our environments are closely interconnected, the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation do not stop at national borders.

“Our rainforests and marine ecosystems, which form part of our shared natural heritage, connect not only our countries but also our communities and livelihoods. Protecting these valuable resources is therefore a shared regional responsibility that requires stronger policy coordination and meaningful cross-border collaboration.”

Beyond recognising individual companies, the awards bring together business responses to challenges shared across the three markets: managing waste and energy use, protecting workers, strengthening supply chains and improving relations with local communities. The regional platform gives these approaches wider visibility and creates opportunities for businesses to learn from peers facing similar operating challenges.

The categories featured at the awards were:

• Waste Management

• Renewable Energy

• Biodiversity Conservation

• Energy Efficiency

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Human Rights and Labour Standards

• Good Health and Well-being

• Innovative Partnerships

• Relations with Local Communities

• Talent Management

• Supply Chain Management

• Transformation

SMG Group Chief Executive Officer Chan Seng Fatt said the awards recognise businesses turning sustainability commitments into meaningful action.

He shared that globally, the International Sustainability Standards Board’s standards are providing a common baseline for sustainability-related financial disclosures, with jurisdictions, including those in Southeast Asia, moving towards their adoption or use. This greater alignment is welcome, but implementation pathways differ, leaving businesses operating across borders with the practical challenge of navigating varying requirements

“Our economies are connected through trade, investment and supply chains, while businesses operate with different levels of resources and readiness. Through this collaboration, we aim to connect businesses across our three markets and create space for practical conversations that lead to better decisions and stronger partnerships,” he said.

Philippine Daily Inquirer chief operating officer Rudyard Arbolado said the awards will not only serve as a milestone but a challenge. “Recognition is important because it validates the ESG initiatives that the winners invested in and the cultural shift that companies put into genuine sustainability. The true value of the awards – anchored by A-EPIC – is that it sets a higher regional benchmark.

“When winners see how their peers in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are innovating in renewable energy, circular economy, talent management, and community empowerment, we hope it inspires them to ask the question: ‘What more can we do to sustain sustainability?’ We want these recognitions to push organisations to treat ESG not as a compliance checklist or a CSR project, but as a core driver of long-term business resilience and social equity.”

KG Media chief executive officer Andy Budiman said the partnership between SMG, KG Media and PDI goes beyond corporate collaboration. “It is a shared commitment to building a more resilient, agile media landscape across Southeast Asia. By pooling our journalistic strengths, influences and reach, we can amplify the stories that truly matter, from climate action to social equity and good governance.

“For KG Media, driving the regional ESG agenda means using our platforms not just to report on change, but to actively champion sustainable practices, hold industries accountable, and empower our communities to shape a more responsible future.”

As Southeast Asia continues to navigate its sustainability transition, the consortium aims to strengthen connections between businesses across its three markets and promote solutions that reflect the region’s economic, environmental and social realities.

The awards serve as both a recognition of progress and a platform for collective learning, reinforcing the role businesses can play in building a more sustainable and inclusive regional economy.