Business Partners collaborate to promote Supply Chain Sustainable Development

With an aim to develop practical solutions to Hong Kong’s sustainability issues with business partners, Link Asset Management Limited (“Link”) organised a major supply chain sustainability conference today, named Connection 2015. Supported by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI), the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the conference attracted near 200 attendees, with representatives from service providers, contractors, tenants and industry associations.

Link seeks to champion the integration of sustainability into its business strategy and operations, and extend its best practices to the real estate supply chain. George Hongchoy, Chief Executive Officer of Link shared in his welcome speech, “Many thought that ‘sustainable development’ means care for the environment or community engagement only. However, setting sustainability as a core corporate value and practice not only benefits the community but also promotes long-term business development. At Link, we continue to strengthen our sustainability culture via partnership and practical solutions devised with all our supply chain partners, including our service providers, contractors, tenants and industry associations.”

Link has established a track record of developing strong relationships with its stakeholders including tenants, government authorities, NGOs, local communities and service providers. By considering the entire real estate supply chain, not only do we provide our stakeholders with the opportunity to better understand Link, but it also allows Link to find innovative and impactful ways to “link people to a brighter future”.

Keynote speaker Professor Daniel Cheng, Chairman of FHKI, said, “Hong Kong is facing many of the global sustainability challenges, such as climate change and urban population boom, but these issues have also created new business opportunities in local technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Environmental sustainability, responsible procurement practices, and community contribution of the property management industry will play a critical role in transforming Hong Kong into a smart city. Link’s efforts in engaging its supply chain partners are commendable.”

Sustainable business development relies on close cooperation with all supply chain partners. Will Myles, Managing Director for RICS in Asia Pacific, introduced property working group sustainability toolkit issued by the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and encouraged businesses to reference the principles.

Link was the first Hong Kong real estate investment trust to participate in UNGC and was the first corporation in Hong Kong to join a steering group convened by UNGC and RICS to support a two-year project to develop a global best practice sustainability toolkit for the land, real estate and construction sector.

Ir Colin Chung, HKGBC Director and Vice Chairman of Industry Standards Committee, said Hong Kong has room for reducing energy consumption in many areas, such as promoting green leasing. By establishing a win-win solution for tenants and property managers, companies save energy and reduce costs. Guest speakers from Starbucks, Brunswick Group, Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited, Fuji Xerox (HK) Limited and Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency gave speeches on ethical sourcing, energy management and promotion of corporate sustainable development. Link also conducted an online survey during the conference to solicit the better understanding of industry partners’ needs and their thoughts on sustainable development.

Dr Calvin Lee Kwan, General Manager, Sustainability of Link said in the concluding speech, “Establishing close partnerships help overcome sustainability-related challenges including logistics, efficiency and business model enhancement. Higher value is therefore created for our community.”