Everbright Water Receives Singapore Corporate Sustainability Award
Singapore and Hong Kong, 10 November 2023 – China Everbright Water Limited (“Everbright Water” or the “Company”; stock codes: U9E.SG and 1857.HK) (中國光大水務有限公司) is proud to receive the Singapore Corporate Sustainability Award under the Mid-Cap Category at the Securities Investors Association (Singapore) (SIAS) Investors’ Choice Awards 2023. Notably, Everbright Water had received an award from SIAS in 2019. Receiving an award again by SIAS represents the recognition from Singapore capital markets and investors on the Company’s corporate governance strategies and achievements, particularly in the area of sustainable development.
SIAS Investors’ Choice Awards 2023 aim to recognise companies and individuals with outstanding performance in Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) and corporate governance practices. In total, 12 individuals and 46 corporates received awards across 7 categories at the Investors' Choice Awards 2023. In particular, this year, SIAS introduced a new category, which is the Singapore Corporate Sustainability Award (SCSA) aimed at recognising companies for their comprehensive performance in ESG aspects of sustainability disclosures and reporting. The selection criteria used in determining the SCSA include strategy and governance, targets and metrics, environment and climate, materiality and stakeholders, and social and organisation. The SCSA scoring is also aligned with the latest sustainability reporting requirements by Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited, which now includes climate-related disclosures as the main component. After a stringent assessment by the selection committee members based on the quantitative and qualitative inputs, Everbright Water is one of the 10 companies to receive this prestigious award.
Focusing on water environment management, Everbright Water consistently discloses its progress and efforts in promoting sustainable development in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standards framework. In addition, the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs) have been deeply integrated into the Company’s relevant development strategies, daily operations and management practices. In response to the growing global concern on climate change, carbon emission reduction and related environmental issues in recent years, Everbright Water has actively practised the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and continuously improved its ESG disclosure by publicly disclosing information on carbon emissions, carbon intensity, carbon management strategies and climate-related risks.
In terms of operations management, Everbright Water actively explores its own business characteristics and needs based on the sustainable development concepts and directions. For example, since 2021, the Company has been launching an “in-plant solar energy” programme to focus on “Cost Reduction and Efficiency Enhancement”. By installing solar energy facilities at its waste water treatment project sites in Zibo City of Shandong Province and Tianjin Municipality, among others, Everbright Water has successfully reduced costs and increased efficiencies. These solar energy facilities generate green electricity to supplement a portion of the project sites’ energy demand, thereby reducing costs on purchasing electricity. As at 30 June 2023, Everbright Water had 5 “in-plant solar energy” facilities under operation, with a total installed capacity of approximately 9 MWp, which were expected to generate approximately 5.1 million kWh of green electricity for the projects annually; in addition, 9 sets of such facilities were in the preparatory and planning stages, with an expected total installed capacity of over 10 MWp. Following the widely application of “in-plant solar energy” programme, the overall green energy usage rate of Everbright Water’s operating projects will continue to increase. This will further enhance the effectiveness of energy saving and reduce the energy consumption and usage, allowing the Company to accumulate valuable experience in building green and low-carbon factories. Separately, Everbright Water has been active in promoting the environmental protection-related scientific education and publicity for many years with its operating projects carrying out various types of open-day activities. To date, the Company has opened more than 30 water projects for public visits, deepening the public’s understanding and awareness of water environment protection, sustainable community development and related issues. Furthermore, Everbright Water collaborates with local authorities and communities to improve local sustainable development.
Being one of the winners for the SCSA represents Everbright Water’s commitment to drive its corporate pursuit of “Creating Better Investment Value and Undertaking More Social Responsibility”, and its determination to achieve sustainable and high-quality development in ESG dimensions through innovative approaches in different areas, such as concepts, business, technology and management. As the year 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of Everbright Water’s establishment, this award definitely brings double joys to the Company. This demonstrates the Company’s determination, perseverance and confidence in entering into the field of water environment over the past two decades. This award further boosts confidence and lays a solid foundation for the Company to continue to explore and build a sustainable development model that meets its own characteristics and needs, and promotes a win-win situation for the government, enterprises and the people.
