Congratulations to all entrants for the Shared Value Awards 2025! The impressive quality and number of submissions highlight the unwavering commitment of purpose-driven businesses in the face of mounting market pressure and ESG backlash.
We are excited to announce the finalists who stand out in this tight competition by addressing social and environmental issues with profitable solutions. We are particularly eager to follow the applications from our Hong Kong network: Barclays, bbase Design Group, EcoMatcher Limited, Ethical Supply Chain Program, MTR Corporation, Nan Fung Group, Social Ventures Hong Kong x Standard Chartered, Sustainable Office Solutions, Swire Properties, and Urban Spring.
Advancing Equity
- Consep – Breaking down barriers in manufacturing! Consep’s Young Starters program: 14 of 18 participants are female in a male-dominated industry, 70% retention to permanent roles, 5 apprenticeships secured.
- The LOTE Agency x AusNet – Energy equity innovation! LOTE Agency and AusNet partnership moves beyond translation to inclusive service design for 50%+ of Victorians born overseas or with overseas-born parents.
Climate and Nature Solutions
- EcoMatcher Limited – Transparent tree planting at scale! EcoMatcher’s platform facilitated 4+ million trees to date across 15 countries with unique IDs and satellite tracking. 50,000+ users, a profitable model supporting indigenous reforestation.
- MTR Corporation – Green railway revolution! MTR’s RailGreen concept transforms stations and railway infrastructures with natural lighting and ventilation design, application of renewable energy, Eco-brick Planters upcycled from spoil ballast, and bird nest boxes.
- Sustainable Office Solutions – Circular economy in action! Sustainable Office Solutions achieved, on average, 96% landfill diversion across 233 projects since 2021, avoiding 8.4M kg CO². Clients can save HK$100K-300K commercial waste disposal fee from the project.
- Swire Properties – Landlord-tenant sustainability partnerships are driving real change! Swire Properties collaborates with over 250 tenant companies through its bespoke tenant engagement programmes – the Green Performance Pledge for offices, the Green Kitchen Initiative for F&B outlets, and the Green Retail Partnership for retail shops. In 2024, Scope 3 emissions intensity from commercial tenants dropped by 54%, compared against the 2018 baseline, far exceeding the target of a 25% reduction by 2030.
- Urban Spring – Smart hydration for sustainability! Urban Spring’s 800+ IoT water stations prevented 22M+ plastic bottles from landfills, saving 36M kg CO². B Corp certified with 89.3 score
Enhancing the Community
- Barclays – Massive employment impact! Barclays LifeSkills supported 500,000 people into jobs over a decade through charity partnerships. 42,000 placements in 2024 alone, targeting underserved groups.
- The Energy Charter – Australian energy industry collaboration creating life-saving resources! Power outage planning tools co-developed with 200+ people, including dedicated lived experience panels. 40,000 users have accessed the platforms so far.
- Infoxchange – Breaking down barriers in homelessness support! Infoxchange’s Find My Way Portal reduces trauma and fragmentation for vulnerable Australians. Co-designed with lived experience.
- Launceston Central – Small Tasmanian organisation turned a vacant shopfront into ‘The Lounge’ – a cosy community living room for winter. 9,200+ visitors, 25+ local groups involved, and world-class satisfaction scores.
- Nan Fung Group – SEWIT Consultancy, a member of Nan Fung Group, is the first landlord in Hong Kong to offer integrated social impact measurement services. With the “Seven Steps to SEWITise” framework and a self-developed financial proxy databank, they empower organisations to make smarter, faster, and evidence-based impact decisions, setting new standards for transparent and meaningful social value.
- WEO Water – Climate tech meets community wisdom! WEO AI-powered platform combines satellite data with local knowledge for hyperlocal climate risk mapping. 40+ community members contributing data in Dargo, Victoria.
Partnerships for Purpose
- AIA Australia – Breaking barriers between business and university! AIA Australia’s equal partnership model translates research to services in under 6 months. World-first menopause recovery program.
- Barclays – Supporting high-growth ventures at scale! The Unreasonable Impact programme co-created by Barclays and Unreasonable Group has so far backed 362 companies employing 31,000+ people, raising US$14B funding.
- Ethical Supply Chain Program – Childcare revolution in manufacturing! Family-Friendly Factory program reduced worker turnover from 26% to 2.3%, saving factories US$621K. 93% of workers say it keeps them employed.
- Social Ventures Hong Kong x Standard Chartered – Co-convened by Social Ventures Hong Kong and Standard Chartered Bank, EmpowHER2B empowers 450+ HK female carers in career and entrepreneurial pursuits. By super-connecting them to 40+ diverse organisations, the platform unlocks shared value through facilitating 130+ return-to-work opportunities.
- South East Community Links – Transforming public safety with compassion! Community Connectors at Dandenong train station, Australia, contributed to reducing crime by 79% while helping 7,112 people. 280 situations of self-harm/violence prevented.
- Swire Properties – Landlord-tenant sustainability partnerships are driving real change! Swire Properties curates a comprehensive tenant engagement platform, including the Green Performance Pledge for offices, Green Kitchen Initiative for F&B outlets and Green Retail Partnership for retail shops. Case in point – in 2024, the 129 office tenants enrolled collectively saved HK$1M in tenant electricity cost.
- Transurban – Closing the licensing gap! The Transurban-KARI partnership helped 232 First Nations youth gain licences with culturally sensitive instruction. 155 gained employment, creating $855K social value.
Shared Value Innovation
- AIA Australia – Life and Health insurance, transformed! AIA Vitality’s behavioural program strengthened its customer retention results while supporting its 130k + members with 16% lower mortality, $22.2M in premium savings, and inspired them to take more than 81+ billion steps annually.
- ANZ Banking Group – Banking innovation for scam protection! ANZ’s partnership with Brotherhood of St Laurence provides facilitated referrals to scam education workshops for at-risk customers. 1000+ coaches trained.
- bbase Design Group – A leading driver of the sustainable revolution in eyewear, bbase’s expertise has driven a 63% client shift to responsible materials and tracking emissions annually and 154% increase in digital twins. With a passion for the next generation bbase mentors 200+ students through their incubbase programme. Innovation for eyewear and the future!
- Nan Fung Group – SEWIT Consultancy, a member of Nan Fung Group, is the first landlord in Hong Kong to offer integrated social impact measurement services. With the “Seven Steps to SEWITise” framework and a self-developed financial proxy databank, they empower organisations to make smarter, faster, and evidence-based impact decisions, setting new standards for transparent and meaningful social value.
Winners Announcement: Stay tuned!
The Awards winners will be revealed on 31st July in our newsletter and LinkedIn page, and live from the Shared Value Apac Summit in Melbourne. If you’d like to join this 2-day conference, secure your tickets now. You’ll be connecting with leaders who remain unshakeable in their commitment to turning today’s headwinds into tomorrow’s advantages.
The Shared Value Awards are a collaboration between Shared Value Project and Shared Value Initiative Hong Kong.
