Nine in 10 large firms view social sustainability as vital

Smaller firms cited limited resources and competing business priorities as key challenges to scaling impact.

Nine in 10 large companies and eight in 10 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore now consider social sustainability essential to their long-term business success, according to the Singapore Business Federation (SBF).

Despite the broad consensus, the research noted that many companies are still early in their implementation. Whilst 95% of respondents had adopted at least one social sustainability initiative in the past year, smaller firms cited limited resources and competing business priorities as key challenges to scaling impact.

Corporate volunteering emerged as one growing area of engagement. 40% of companies reported involvement in volunteering initiatives, with participation highest among firms with annual revenues exceeding $100m. In contrast, only 13% of micro-businesses had taken part.

The studies also flagged a need for more structured ecosystem support, including practical tools, training, and impact measurement frameworks.