SBF: 9 in 10 Businesses Embrace Social Sustainability, But More Can Be Done to Deliver Impact

The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) has unveiled the findings of its inaugural Social Sustainability and Corporate Volunteering studies that show an overwhelming majority of Singapore businesses see social sustainability as essential to long-term success, with nine in 10 large companies and eight in 10 SMEs recognising its role in shaping business value. Unveiled at a launch event attended by over 120 business leaders, sustainability professionals, and policymakers, the findings signal growing momentum behind corporate volunteering and call for stronger ecosystem support to help companies scale their social impact.

Commissioned by SBF and conducted by KPMG in Q2 2025, the study surveyed over 430 companies, with SMEs comprising 87% of the respondents. It examined the current state of social sustainability in Singapore’s business landscape, including the prevalence of corporate volunteering, and the key barriers and drivers influencing companies’ engagement in socially impactful initiatives.

Social Sustainability Gains Momentum, but Gaps Remain

The Social Sustainability study found that, while many businesses are still in the early stages of embedding social sustainability into core strategy, 95% had already implemented at least one social sustainability initiative in the past year, in areas like employee training, health and safety, and progressive wages—signalling clear momentum.

This trend aligns with Singapore’s Forward SG agenda to foster shared responsibility and inclusive progress, as well as global frameworks such as the UN Global Compact, which call on businesses to manage their societal impact through sustainable, people-centric practices.

However, SMEs cited competing priorities and limited resources as key challenges. Respondents expressed a clear need for more structured support, including practical tools, training, and clearer guidance, to help deepen their efforts. The study suggests that strategic integration of social sustainability efforts with business operations and strategy is key to long-term success, enabling businesses to move beyond ad hoc initiatives and deliver sustained, meaningful social impact.

Corporate Volunteering: A Strategy to Strengthen Employee Engagement and Community Service

The accompanying Corporate Volunteering (CV) Study found that 40% of businesses had engaged in CV initiatives. Participation was highest among large companies (with revenue above SGD 100 million) at 60%, compared with only 13% of micro-businesses (revenue below SGD 1 million).

Corporate volunteering is increasingly recognised as a meaningful way to strengthen employee engagement, and stronger community ties. On average, companies typically contribute about 40 hours of volunteering per year, though some large organisations recorded over 1,000 hours annually, which is equivalent to more than 125 full workdays of community service.

Common barriers to CV include inadequate resources, while participating companies identified the need for impact measurement tools to better track and scale efforts. The studies recommend capability-building initiatives, improved access to volunteering opportunities, and incentives to help businesses start or expand their CV efforts.

Policy and Ecosystem Support Needed for Purpose-Driven, Sustainable Change

The research underscores the importance of policy and ecosystem support, including recognition schemes, clearer frameworks, and collaborative platforms. The challenges faced by businesses often reflect broader systemic issues such as short-term project design, lack of co-creation with community partners, and limited alignment between volunteering initiatives and local needs.

The studies highlight the need for stronger policy and ecosystem support to move beyond ad hoc or transactional approaches. Clearer frameworks, recognition schemes for long-term impact, and collaborative platforms can help address these shortcomings. By building intentional, equitable partnerships, and embedding community voice into programme design, companies can shift from performative efforts to purpose-driven, sustainable change.

Recognising these barriers, SBF has developed VolunteerInc., a new corporate volunteering programme piloted to work with ecosystem partners this year. VolunteerInc. aims to mobilise businesses at all stages of their volunteering journey by offering tailored support, including access to volunteering opportunities, skills training, and frameworks for impact measurement, while helping companies align volunteering with their mission and overcome common challenges to achieve meaningful impact. (More details on VolunteerInc. in Annex C.)

Kok Ping Soon, Chief Executive Officer of SBF, said: “The findings reflect a powerful shift in how businesses view their role in society. Social sustainability is no longer a side initiative but a driver of business resilience, employee engagement, and long-term competitiveness. But intent alone isn’t enough. We’re calling on businesses to embed social impact into strategy, and we’re backing them with the tools, partnerships, and programmes to succeed.”

Jean Tan, Chief Executive Officer of SBF Foundation and Chief Social Sustainability Officer of SBF, said: “No single business can achieve social impact at scale alone. It takes a connected ecosystem where governments, corporates, and community partners come together with shared purpose. Corporate volunteering is one way businesses are stepping up, not just with dollars, but with time and talent. With the right frameworks, shared learning, and support, we can activate more companies to build inclusive workplaces, engaged employees, and resilient communities.”