Rethinking Sustainability Actions for SMEs

This roundtable workshop zooms in on one of the key catalysts for accelerated actions in sustainability: SMEs (small-and-medium enterprises).

Accounting for more than 98% of the total number of enterprises and over 44% of total employment in Hong Kong as well as a large portion of economies all over the world, SMEs’ transition towards sustainability will drive a sea change and accelerate the advancement of UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SMEs (and all companies) incorporating sustainability in their business operations can build strong competitive advantages, land partnerships with corporations with robust sustainability programs, and benefit from operational cost savings over time. Moreover, since SMEs are prevalent in global supply chains, more SMEs integrating sustainability measures in their business operations means increased sustainability in the supply chains for corporations worldwide. However, at times of slow economic growth, SMEs often struggle to secure the necessary resources to integrate sustainability in their business operations.

In this roundtable workshop, we invite industry leaders and subject experts to delve into the challenges facing SMEs when implementing sustainability initiatives and the solutions that can help SMEs stay informed, agile, and proactive in accelerating such endeavors. Participants will gain a better understanding of the tools and resources available to integrate meaningful sustainability initiatives in business operations to accelerate sustainable development throughout the business ecosystem.

Learnings

– Challenges and solutions related to SMEs’ sustainability strategy and actions
– Tools and resources available to integrate and communicate meaningful sustainability initiatives in business operations
– Actionable ideas to incorporate sustainability into business settings

Post-Event Actions

– Effective integration and communication of meaningful sustainability initiatives in business operations
– Broad cross-sector collaboration to accelerate sustainability initiatives