The Hong Kong Productivity Council on Wednesday said small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to be more aware of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards used to evaluate a company's sustainability.

The council's chief technology officer, Dr Lawrence Cheung, said some SMEs neglect the social and governance aspects of ESG.

"Even for the environmental side, a lot of them may not know what kind of standards are available around internationally," he said.

"So a lot of them may just feel that they can just put some simple environmental measures and that would achieve a certain level of ESG."

Cheung said the council will hold personnel training courses as most SMEs lack the expertise to introduce ESG measures.

"Particularly a lot of exporters which are SMEs, more and more their buyers are demanding some sort of ESG elements in their operations," he said.

A new AI tool will also be introduced to help SMEs assess their ESG measures and compare their efforts with others in the industry.

"If they have some ESG elements particularly on the governance side, it actually gives them a lot more confidence in the eyes of investors, customers as well as the buyers," Cheung said.

Source: RTHK

（大公文匯全媒體記者 葉紫翎 報道）香港生產力促進局(生產力局)於2024年1月推出「ESG一站通」（ESG One)平台，響應特區政府2050年碳中和目標，為中小企業提供可持續發展解決方案。與此同時，生產力局全新成立的「資源循環技術研究中心」，與「ESG一站通」雙軌並行，攜手業界打造ESG生態圈，推動香港經濟的低碳發展。

生產力局首席技術總監張梓昌今日（11日）表示，平台推出半年已吸引逾1200間企業，其中中小企佔比高達95%，並獲約190間機構支持。

張梓昌分析指出，經過一段時間的運作，發現中小企缺乏專業知識不熟悉ESG概念，部分亦不理解國際標要求。他又指，有企業缺乏内部專才或團隊規劃策略，未能夠善用科技提升ESG表現，亦有中小企在數收集和資金方面有困難。

對此，他提出六點以全方位支持中小企的ESG轉型。六大核心支柱分別為ESG評估與藍圖規劃、數位信任與管治、專業ESG諮詢、綠色科技探索、資助計劃及人才培訓與商務機遇。

生產力局綠色生活與創新部總經理蔡劍虹進一步分享平台數據指出，在約1200間參與自我評估的中小企中，橫跨18個行業的企業於「商業道德」、「勞工權益」及「客戶責任」三大範疇表現突出。

其中，「商業道德」中有超93%企業制定反貪腐政策，77%建立舉報人保護機制；「勞工實踐」中有91%企業設有勞動保障政策，84%提供基本員工醫療支援；「客戶責任」中亦有95%建立投訴處理系統，82%實施透明產品保固條款。

生產力局今年在「ESG一站通」平台下成立了「資源循環技術研究中心」，設有「綠色材料開發實驗室」和「循環創新實驗室」。該中心專注於材料創新及循環技術的開發，旨在推動環境保護和循環經濟，為業界提供技術支援，協助實踐ESG目標。與此同時，生產力局預計在今年第三季度將引入AI技術，為企業新增「ESG AI基準分析工具」，幫助企業更好地收集、管理和比較ESG數據及表現。

中心將為企業提供綠色餐具測試服務，分析餐具的主要成分，確保即棄餐具符合法律要求。此外，中心還研發了氫燃料電池汽車的熱管理系統及新型儲能材料，並研發了提取電動車電池中高純度金屬的技術，使本港具備再造新電池的能力。

資料來源: 大公文匯

ESG（環境、社會及管治）依然是目前企業相當看重的一環，但對於資源有限的中小企來說，要做好仍有一定難度。香港生產力促進局（生產力局）最新亦指出，發現仍有不少中小企缺乏專業知識、不熟悉ESG概念，甚至不理解國際標準要求。

生產力局於2024年1月推出「ESG一站通」（ESG One），為中小企提供免費ESG線上自我評估、績效卡報告、ESG專家分析、專業諮詢、技術支援及資源共享，助企業應對可持續發展挑戰，實現綠色轉型及提升品牌價值。機構就從中發現，現時香港中小企在推動ESG方面，仍有不少痛點需要面對，包括：

1）缺乏專業知識、科技與資源，不熟悉ESG概念，加上ESG規範持續更新，難以理解國際標準如GRI、ISO 14064、SBTi、ISSB等要求；同時缺乏科技專才或方案，規劃以機械、自動化設備及人工智能等改善企業ESG表現。

2）數據收集與報告困難：規劃ESG需要大量數據支持，如碳排放、回收量、供應鏈、網絡安全等數據，中小企缺乏系統性記錄與分析能力。但缺乏第三方審核經驗，難以製作具公信力的報告。

3）資金與成本壓力：ESG轉型涉及基本投資，例如節能設備、顧問服務或報告審核等，對資源有限的中小企構成壓力。雖然有政府資助計劃，但未能善用或不熟悉申請流程。

4）市場認知與曝光不足：即使中小企已積極實踐ESG，卻缺乏有效平台向市場展示成果，難以轉化為品牌價值或商業機會。

所以，生產力局便向企業提出「ESG發展6式」，由「知識」、「技術」、「資助」、及「人才」層面，協助企業「規劃」、「實踐」及「優化」ESG表現：

• ESG評估與藍圖規劃：透過ESG One的線上自我評估及專家評核報告，企業可識別優勢與改善空間，制定針對性的ESG策略。
• 網絡信任與管治：提供網絡安全諮詢與解決方案，幫助企業強化風險管理及提升治理能力。
• 專業ESG諮詢：依據國際標準（如 GRI、ISO 14064、SBTi 等），由專家提供碳/能源管理及可持續發展規劃指導。
• 綠色科技探索：結合「資源循環技術研究中心」，支持企業研發創新且具成本效益的環保技術，協助產品商品化。
• 資助計劃：鼓勵中小企申請及善用政府資助，如「回收基金」及 「發展品牌、升級轉型及拓展內銷市場的專項基金」 等，提供免費的「一對一諮詢」服務，助力業務升級轉型、應用智慧科技方案提高競 爭力，優化企業可持續發展，提升新質生產力。
• 人才培訓與商務機遇：聯繫商會及專家資源，提供最新的可持續發展趨勢與知識，並舉辦推廣活動促進跨界合作。

同時，生產力局也宣布成立全新「資源循環技術研究中心」，專注轉廢為材、節能減碳、研發綠色材料等領域，配合ESG One平台支援企業可持續發展，為中小企提供解決方案，推動香港企業發展ESG。

資料來源: 經濟日報

The "Innovative Green Future: Unlocking Sustainable IoT Solutions" seminar co-hosted by HKPC ESG One and ThinkESG brought together technology and ESG experts to explore how Internet of Things (IOT) technology can help various industries enhance productivity. The event covered a wide range of topics, including the latest trends in smart waste management, smart recycling, and renewable energy management.

"InnoPreneur Meetup in Viet Nam" presented by HKPC’s “ESG One” and DBS SME Banking has successfully concluded! Throughout the journey, participants were brought to the factories and offices of several successful local enterprises. With the visits and business exchanges, we gained valuable insights on how these companies effectively utilize green technology to drive high-quality productivity.

"ESG One LevelUp Workshop” – What’s Coming Next? Navigating ESG Regulaions Around the World" organized by HKPC - Hong Kong Productivity Council ESGOne and supported by amfori - Trade with Purpose, AsiaREC, CCM CSR Promotion Center and JCI APEX held in a satisfactory way! 
 

MeetUp event "Cyber Security for SMEs: Building a More Resilient Business" was successfully organised by Hong Kong Productivity Council , SME ReachOut and InnoPreneurNetwork, co-hosted by APEX JCI and The Chamber Of HK Computer Industry . Thanks all the CyberSecurity experts for sharing the latest trends in information security and the opportunities brought by digitalisation, as well as the latest updates on government funding schemes. 

HKPC has continually supported large, medium, and small enterprises. In co-hosting the “ESG Corporate Clinic” - second station on ESG focusing on the “S” enterprise development and social responsibility with JCI Apex, Roger Lee, Senior Consultant of HKPC Academy, served as the guest speaker introducing the New Industrialisation and Technology Training Program NITTP to enhance the understanding of NewIndustrialisation and advanced technology training of local employees.

The "Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen, Promotion and Sharing on AI, Cultural and Creative Industries Conference" co-organised by Qianhai Administration Bureau and Hong Kong Productivity Council has completed with remarkable success. It provides an important platform for the communication and cooperation between Qianhai and Hong Kong while showcasing the prospects of AI artificial intelligence and Cultural Creative industries. 

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Zhongguancun Qingchuang (Beijing) International Technology Co., Ltd. (Zhongguancun) today, pledging to leverage their respective advantages to carry out in-depth exchanges and cooperation to jointly promote Beijing-Hong Kong cooperation in innovation and technology (I&T) and enterprise development. The MOU signing ceremony took place at The 26th Beijing Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium - International Forum on Beijing-Hong Kong Scientific and Technological Innovation (the Symposium).

由生產力局「ESG一站通」、「中小企資援組」(SME ReachOut) 聯同香港電商物流協會及菜鳥網絡共同舉辦「引領電商物流轉型 攜手締造綠色未來」商聚考察團。日前帶領30多間中小企實地考察位於赤鱲角機場的「菜鳥智慧港」，親身體驗科技對物流業的正面影響。

(Hong Kong, 22 January 2024) HKPC held its flagship event of the year, “ForeSight 2024”, at the HKPC Building. The event was met with enthusiasm and saw a full house of nearly 400 guests, including Government officials, business leaders and media personnel. Under the theme of “ESG One – Driving ESG for Big & Small Businesses”, distinguished speakers led the “ForeSight Leaders Panel” to discuss the importance of sustainability and analyse the strategic deployment of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), aiming to inspire forward-thinking SME owners to realise the value of sustainability in 2024.