How does a company differentiate itself in a highly competitive business environment - especially if it is one whose activities span more than 20 countries?

In the case of property giant CapitaLand, its strategy lies in corporate sustainability.

The group announced yesterday the publication of the Sustainability Report 2009, its first such report providing comprehensive details of the group's corporate governance, environmental, human capital development and philanthropic initiatives.

The report said that the group's sustainable achievements last year included CapitaLand being the only Singapore real estate company to be listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index 2009.

CapitaLand was also awarded - for the ninth year running - the Most Transparent Company award in the property category by the Securities Investors Association Singapore.

Among its notable corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts was the donation of over $5 million to children's charities all over Asia since November 2005.

This was done through the group's philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, which was set up by the group to help underprivileged children and boost staff volunteerism.

The foundation's commitment to philanthropy was recognised by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) Singapore, which presented the group with the Corporate Citizen Award for Philanthropy last year.

'Since inception, corporate sustainability has been part and parcel of how we operate,' said Liew Mun Leong, president and CEO of CapitaLand group. 'This has helped to differentiate us in a highly competitive business environment.'

Other sustainability achievements of the group last year include its consideration for the environment, through which it saved some $8.88 million by reducing the energy and water usage of over 130 of its properties worldwide.

'We remain committed to be a good corporate citizen and to building a greener future, not just for this generation, but for generations to come,' said Mr Liew.

Source : The Business Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Reprinted with permission.