Schneider Electric: 98% of PH companies have sustainability targets, 22% to invest $1M+ in sustainability in the next 2 years

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● Improving digitalization and enhancing supply chain sustainability identified as the two biggest areas of planned investment

● 98% of PH companies have established sustainability targets, with 22% planning to invest at least USD 1M or more into sustainability in the next 2 years

● In Asia, sustainability is a high priority for 60% of business leaders, and nearly half have established comprehensive strategies and targets

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced findings from its annual Green Impact Gap survey. It underscores Asia Pacific’s sustainability journey. According to the survey, 98% of PH companies have established sustainability targets, 22% plan to invest at least USD 1M or more towards their sustainability agenda in the next 2 years. Additionally, the primary focus for this investment includes prioritizing digitalization as a key driver of their sustainability strategies.

Schneider Electric spoke to 4,500 leaders across nine countries to gather perspectives of business leaders in the Asia Pacific region. The markets include Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. The survey was conducted with the market research company, Milieu Insight.

Digitalisation at the Forefront of Sustainability Efforts in Asia

Digitalization is emerging as a critical component of Asian organizations' sustainability journeys. With 93% of companies currently leveraging digital tools, the survey found that technology is at the center of efforts to meet sustainability goals. The most common applications of digitalisation for sustainability are paperless operations (35%), followed by risk and opportunity management (33%) and supply chain digitisation (31%). For the Philippines, digitalization methods implemented include going paperless (42%) and limiting travel to/from office (39%).

“Digitalization is now becoming a priority for local businesses. While there are still challenges on our digital infrastructures that hinder digital inclusion and economic development, we are seeing significant shifts in terms of prioritization. Businesses now understand that digitalization will help drive operational resiliency and address achieve their sustainability agenda,” said Ireen Catane, Country President of Schneider Electric Philippines.

Sustainability: A Top Business Imperative

The survey also underscores the growing importance of sustainability in Asian companies, with 60% of business leaders now considering it a high priority. This is particularly strong in Thailand (83%), Vietnam (73%), and Indonesia (71%).

In the Philippines, while 98% have sustainability goals, only 52% of companies have implemented comprehensive sustainability strategies. Business leaders cite regulatory or economic uncertainty and internal company resourcing as key barriers to progress. When asked about their familiarity with the Philippines’ Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (RA 11285), results show that the local business leaders are only “very to moderately familiar” with the policy. Most business leaders also expressed that they are moderately confident (44%) in meeting the terms of the policy.

Despite progress, the survey also reveals a persistent ‘Green Impact Gap’ in Asia—a misalignment between regional companies' declared sustainability goals and the tangible actions taken to achieve them.

Navigating the Path to Net Zero

A notable difference between companies that have implemented sustainability strategies and other organizations lies in their commitment to supply chain sustainability. Nearly half (49%) of companies that have implemented strategies in Asia have identified supply chain sustainability as a key investment focus for the next two years, compared to around a third (34%) of other companies. This distinction translates into significantly higher rates of collaboration with suppliers to ensure sustainable sourcing practices and reduce environmental impact throughout the supply chain.

Survey results show that 41% of Asian firms that are implementing sustainability strategies plan to invest $1 million or more in the next two years, compared to 31% of other organizations. These efforts include navigating emerging standards and regulations.

The results also reveal that energy supply and demand volatility (56%) and fluctuating energy prices (51%) are the top energy risks for Philippine companies. In response, the companies are taking steps by adopting technologies such as energy/resource efficiency measures (49%) and digitalization of systems/operations (47%) to address these challenges and meet their energy goals.

“There is a substantial opportunity to accelerate progress and close the gap between ambition and action. This involves reassessing organizational priorities and strategically allocating resources to achieve resilience through digital transformation. We believe that sustainability drives business growth, value creation, and should be at the heart of every firm's business strategy,” Catane added.

Schneider Electric is a global powerhouse in electrification, automation, and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructures, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings and intuitive homes. It was recognized by Time Magazine as the “World’s Most Sustainable Company” in 2024 and is part of Dow Jones’ Sustainability World Index for 13 years in a row.

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Go Green in the City 2017 pushes for women empowerment

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Schneider Electric celebrates diversity and gender equality in the latest edition of the GGitC

Schneider Electric officially launched 2017’s Go Green in the City, at the Ascott Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. The global competition aims to inspire business and engineering students to develop their minds for green and sustainable projects. For this year’s competition, Schneider Electric made a specific move to improve diversity, calling for all-female groups to join and have the chance at winning the Women in Business Award.

Schneider Electric’s Go Green in the City (GGitC) is an annual global competition that started in 2011. It is a global business case challenge that hopes to discover intelligent energy management ideas that will help in creating its vision of sustainable smarter cities. Through this competition, Schneider Electric grants students an opportunity to practice what they are learning in their classrooms and even contribute to the development of a better, safer, and more efficient future. GGitC pushes the envelope this year and works harder to promote diversity among its ranks and in the business and engineering industries by calling out to all-female groups to participate.

The 2017 edition of GGitC presents a new award called the Women in Business Award which will be given to an all-female group that qualifies in the top 100 semi-finalists of the competition. The recipients of this award will have the opportunity to win the top prize by being one of the Top 12 finalists in the global leg. They will also receive social media exposure, a chance to be guided and coached by Schneider Electric representatives, and $500 for each member of the team.

The Philippines has always been a strong contender of the competition. In the last four years, we’ve placed consistently in the top ranks along with China, Germany, and India. In 2013, two Filipino students took home the grand prize in the global championship held in Paris, France. Qualifying for the second time in the global leg, Filipino students secured the second runner-up spot in 2015. For 2014 and 2016, the Philippines took home the second and first runner-up in the regional leg of the competition, respectively.

“With the Philippines’ consistent performance in the previous competitions, we are confident that Filipino students can once again bring honor to our country because of their drive and passion for producing sustainable green projects. The impact of climate change to our developing country plays a part in shaping these students to become great contributors not only to Schneider Electric, but to the future,” shared Schneider Electric Human Resources Country Head for the Philippines Tes Portillo.

“Go Green in the City is Schneider Electric’s way of showcasing the creativity and curiosity of today’s young talents and using their projects as steps forward into achieving our goal of having greener and smarter cities all over the world,” shared Schneider Electric Philippines Country Manager for Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding Rochelle Bulan. “For 2017, we are leveling up the challenge by enticing all-female groups to prove and empower women that they, too, are capable of becoming successful in the male-dominated fields of business and engineering.”

The deadline for submission of entries is on May 12, 2017. The top three country finalists will be announced on June 9, 2017 and will be representing their home countries in the regional leg of the competition. Announcement of the regional semi-finalists will be on July 11, 2017 and the grand winner of each region -- North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Greater China, and Asia Pacific -- will be competing in the global leg.

The Top 12 finalists, composed of 8 regional winners, 3 wildcard finalists, and the all-female group, will be announced on August 7, 2017 and will be flying to Paris, France for the grand finals and awarding ceremony on October 9 to 13, 2017.

To know more about the competition, visit http://www.gogreeninthecity.co m.

Wind-powered Guimaras to sustain energy for 48,000 households

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In an effort to give greater emphasis on the use of more sustainable energy sources in the Philippines, Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation, through its subsidiary Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corporation (TAREC), completed a 54-megawatt wind farm in the Visayan province of Guimaras. 

The San Lorenzo Wind Farm, named after the town in which it is located, is projected to generate over 120 GWh of electricity annually, which can sustain the energy demands of 48,000 households.

“The Visayas is currently experiencing a surge in infrastructure and economic progress, which will eventually lead to higher energy demands,” TAREC reps said. “The wind farm is more than capable of answering this demand. It will be a key contributor in producing renewable energy in the region,” TAREC continued.

Aside from the energy that it yields, TAREC representatives also envision the project to become a tourist attraction in the area. “The wind turbines emanate a sense of majesty and architectural beauty that will makes it a perfect photo backdrop for visitors,” TAREC said.

The project was built prioritizing reliability, efficiency and durability. Key components of the facility -the ring main units for the wind turbine generators, the vacuum circuit breakers for the main switchgear and the protection relays for the protection panels of the substations, along with the training to operate these systems were part of the end-to-end solution provided by Schneider Electric. These components were designed and installed to protect the wind farm from many system faults, ensuring reliable production all-year round. 

TAREC expressed confidence in their choice of design and components as Schneider Electric’s products and services are known to be one of the most reliable in the world. Schneider’s years of experience in the industry made them the brand of choice for most energy projects, especially renewable energy facilities such as wind farms.

“We look forward to the advancements this infrastructure will bring to Guimaras. So far, we’re happy that we have used advanced solutions from Schneider Electric to power this wind farm,” stated TAREC. 

The San Lorenzo Wind Farm consists of 27 wind turbines, each generating 2 MW of energy. The project is expected to contribute to the global effort of reducing greenhouse gas emission in the atmosphere estimated at 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide over a 20-year project lifespan.

For more information on the services and components used in the San Lorenzo Wind Farm, please visit http://www.schneider-electric.com.ph.

About Schneider Electric

As a global specialist in energy management and automation with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Non-residential & Residential Buildings, Industries & Machines Manufacturers, Utilities & Infrastructure and Data Centers & Networks. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group's 170,000 employees achieved revenues of 25 billion euros in 2014, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy.