PETALING JAYA: The first Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards (PIA) 2025 judging concluded on Oct 14, with 54 gold winners from Star Media Group’s (SMG) ESG Positive Impact Awards (Malaysia), the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s ESG Edge Impact Awards (Philippines) and KG Media’s Lestari Awards (Indonesia) presenting their winning entries to an international panel of judges.
At this regional stage, industry leaders demonstrated their commitment to sustainability by championing climate resilience, ethical business practices, social equity and corporate responsibility while driving meaningful transformation within their industries and communities.
The judging was divided into four panels that evaluated participants through virtual presentations.
Chief judge from Indonesia, who is also PT Gagas Inspirasi Nusantara co-founder and programme director, Ummu Azizah Mukarnawati, said organisations today often talk about ESG as if it is everything, when in fact their sustainability goals are paramount.
“ESG is one of the frameworks to achieve these sustainability goals, along with corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.
“During the judging process, we observed there is still a simplification of terminology related to ESG and sustainability, including (the) understanding DEI and equality, which are the foundations of sustainability philosophy.”
However, she believes organisations are increasingly aware of and taking concrete actions towards ESG within a sustainability framework.
“This is a positive trend, as organisations begin to pay attention to diversity, inclusion and equity, and are adhering to the principles of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to manage the impacts and risks of their operations.”
Philippine chief judge and the Institute of Corporate Directors chairman Pete Maniego highlighted finance as a major driver of sustainability adoption.
“As robust growth in green or transition finance and the push for the Asean Taxonomy are formalising sustainable capital allocation.
