Asia Pacific executives are now seeing ESG reporting as a cost rather than an opportunity, according to a recent report by Forvis Mazars.
The C-suite Barometer: outlook 2025 – Cutting through competition report reveals that the Asia Pacific region has seen a notable decline in sustainability reporting, with only 44% of companies publishing sustainability reports in 2025, compared to 73% in 2024.
Fifty-four percent of organisations surveyed in Asia-Pacific now integrate sustainability with financial reporting, a 14-point increase from 40% in 2024.
The report also finds that APAC businesses prioritise investments in specialists on responsible supply chain (44%) for their ESG reporting, exceeding the global average of 34%.
"The apparent contradiction between declining sustainability reporting and increasing integration of sustainability into financial disclosures reflects an important strategic evolution among APAC businesses," says Chester Liew, head of risk consulting & sustainability at Forvis Mazars Singapore.
"Companies in the region are now prioritising substantive actions—demonstrated by significant investments and deeper integration of sustainability into their core financial frameworks—over mere compliance-driven reporting."
Liew says this strategic shift signals that APAC organisations increasingly view sustainability as integral to business resilience, financial performance, and long-term stakeholder value.”
