Few listed companies producing 'truly balanced' sustainability reports: EY

Singapore

TOO few listed companies in Singapore are doing proper sustainability reporting and many of those that do produce reports choose to focus solely on the positives, a study by auditor EY has shown.

Out of the 50 biggest primary listings by market cap on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), only a paltry three have produced sustainability reports that can be considered "truly balanced", EY said, adding that some firms provide robust disclosures while others reveal only "limited information".

This comes as the SGX mulls the implementation of a "comply or explain" requirement for sustainability reporting by financial year 2017, said K Sadashiv, EY's Singapore and South-east Asia leader for climate change and sustainability services in a briefing at the firm's office on Wednesday. He added that some firms were still printing sustainability reports in hard copy, a habit best b…