Sustainable HR Practices
Operations
Filter solutions by:
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Get inspired by our Buddies or contact them if you would like some advice
Do you want to list your solutions?
Learn more about our validation & rating process

Operations

As all departments, HR department has its role to play to reduce consumption, avoid waste or better manage it, decrease carbon footprint... Here are a few tips.

Automate HR processes, Eliminate all papers
Cost
LOW
Cost
MEDIUM
Cost
HIGH
EFFORT
low
EFFORT
medium
EFFORT
HIGH
IMPACT
low
IMPACT
MEDIUM
IMPACT
HIGH

HR operations can generate a lot of paper. Remember that e-signature on official documents is recognised in Singapore, ensuring you do not take a legal risk on important documents.

  • Opt for e-solutions whenever possible, like e-contracts, e-payslips, e-reimbursements to avoid unnecessary printing and life long storage (for both the company and the employees).
  • Promote self service rather than providing by default a lot of policies, documents, etc.. Store the documents your employees need to access to on a repository / intranet where they can easily consult them.

40%

is the percentage of the world’s industrial logging that goes toward the paper manufacturing process right now

(Brandon Gaille)

4 th

The paper and pulp industry is the 4th largest contributor of greenhouse gas in the world right now.

(Brandon Gaille)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Some options for e-contracts and digital signature:

Suppliers that provide solutions:
eSignature platform
Sleek

With SleekSign - free, unlimited use, legally binding eSignature platform - say bye to printing (and reprinting) of documents, and hello to digitalization.

Sleek is a SMEs’ all-in-one digital platform, helping you to register your company and manage your governance, accounting, and tax compliance online. Incorporate a company in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and the UK 100% remotely, file requests to your company secretary 24/7, start a business account and sign documents digitally with our eSignature tool SleekSign - all on our secure platform.

Remove paper with our company registration and corporate secretary services by doing digital and saving your documents to the cloud.

Let's multiply our impact together.

Adopt sustainable policy for travels and moves
Cost
LOW
Cost
MEDIUM
Cost
HIGH
EFFORT
low
EFFORT
medium
EFFORT
HIGH
IMPACT
low
IMPACT
MEDIUM
IMPACT
HIGH

In the new normal, define a travel policy with an hybrid approach: make business travels less frequent & favor longer stays. Continue using videoconference as much as possible.

Incentivize your employees to travel less by setting up objectives in terms of travels (example : max 2 regional flights per month...). Invest the savings made in other areas (brainstorm ideas with a sustainable give back outlook).

Measure and offset the travels' Carbon Footprint of your employees travelling abroad or relocating. Offset the CO2 emissions with some mechanisms (example : Plant a tree for each longhaul flight, or for each tradeshow you exhibit).

When relocating, favor to use recycled boxes for packing and shipping option (less emissions) than air freight.

24%

Transport accounts for around one-fifth of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions

(Our World in data)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Some travel carbon footprint calculators:

Suppliers that provide solutions:
Integrate transparent tree-planting into your business
Ecomatcher

EcoMatcher plants trees and complete forests with vetted foundations from around the world specialized in tree planting.

Through technology, EcoMatcher knows everything of every tree planted. You can virtually travel to every tree and learn more.

Companies use EcoMatcher’s digital platform and the trees for meaningful corporate gifting -, rewards -, loyalty -, employee engagement -, and transparent carbon offset - programs.

EcoMatcher is a certified B Corporation.

Technology empowering Regeneration
Handprint

We are on a mission to enable millions of businesses to go green in a simple, transparent and digital way.

Our Impact as a Service platform enables companies to make their growth good for the planet, by regenerating ecosystems as they sell their products. They integrate positive sustainability action (reforestation, ocean plastic clean-up, coral reef conservation) into their sales channels in a transparent way.

To contac handprint: https://handprint.tech/contact-us

Reforestation and ecological restoration organisation
Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden aims at reducing extreme poverty and restore healthy forests by employing local people to plant millions of trees every year. They work with local communities to restore forests on a massive scale, thereby creating jobs, protecting ecosystems and helping mitigate climate change.

A non-profit organization focused on global reforestation
One Tree Planted

One Tree Planted is a non-profit environmental charity on a mission of global reforestation. We make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees in North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific. Together we can restore forests, create habitat for biodiversity, and make a positive social impact around the world. We plant one tree with every dollar donated. One dollar. One tree. One planet.

Ocean Cleanup Organisation based in Singapore
Seven Clean Seas

Since 2018, Seven Cleans Seas has invested in ocean clean-up operations, remote island infrastructure and innovative technology.

Promote Sustainable Employees commutes
Cost
LOW
Cost
MEDIUM
Cost
HIGH
EFFORT
low
EFFORT
medium
EFFORT
HIGH
IMPACT
low
IMPACT
MEDIUM
IMPACT
HIGH
  • Use car less : offer incentives to employees coming by bike, public transports or walking.
  • Provide bicycle parkings, showers places.
  • If a car is necessary for meetings, rent a shared car or taxi.
  • Replace private car allowances with a packaged allowance for public transport, car sharing and ride hailing.
  • Raise awareness on commutes carbon footprint and teach staff how to track their daily carbon footprint based on their mobility choices, and how to offset their carbon emissions
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Suppliers that provide solutions:
24/7 carsharing solution in Singapore
BlueSG

BlueSG car-sharing service offers a smart, convenient, flexible and affordable mobility option to all Singaporeans, complementing public transport while reducing the need for car ownership. The service’s 100% electric fleet also provides a sustainable transport solution, eliminating direct carbon dioxide emissions as compared to traditional vehicles.

Implement sustainable practices with your outsourced services
Cost
LOW
Cost
MEDIUM
Cost
HIGH
EFFORT
low
EFFORT
medium
EFFORT
HIGH
IMPACT
low
IMPACT
MEDIUM
IMPACT
HIGH

Select socially responsible vendors for your outsourced essential services (cleaning, security and landscape).

If you do not have yet a sustainable procurement policy, see our sustainable procurement page on how to write one.

For services, prefer providers conscious of environmental and social challenges:

  • using water & energy efficient equipment
  • using eco-friendly cleaning products (see solutions Choose Green Cleaning Products in green office category)
  • training their employees on eco-friendly practices, natural resources' preservation & waste segregation
  • adopting clear human resources social engagements such as a safe work environment, inclusiveness and diversity policy, and real competencies development plans

87%

of those engaged as cleaners, labourers and related employees earn below $2,000 a month.

(SBF)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Suppliers that provide solutions:
Cleaning services social entreprise
Speco

Speco is a social enterprise that offers housekeeping and cleaning services to provide stable jobs to marginalised Singaporeans including ex-offenders, people with disabilities and single parents.

Speco uses its own Speco® product, an antimicrobial coating that sanitises and actively protects.

Non-toxic & environmentally-friendly cleaning services and products
Green Cleaners Asia

Green Cleaners Asia is an eco-friendly professional cleaning service in Singapore. Since 2009, they have been using non-toxic and environmentally friendly products - not polluting the environment or your indoor air.

A toxic free working environment contributes to improving productivity levels at work, reducing sick days and operational costs!

Their corporate clients include kindergartens, offices, gymnasiums and hotels. GCA actively raise awareness and encourage their customers to adopt a ‘greener’ lifestyle, across their social media platforms and through educational talks and events.

Meaningful and sustainable corporate gifting
Meaningful and sustainable corporate gifting

Smilie is a tech-enabled gifting platform that transforms the way corporates gift to reduce waste and ignite delight. Through enabling recipient choices, we ensure that each gift received is desired.

By bringing on sustainable vendors, we provide sustainably produced gift options.

By enabling recipients to donate the gift amounts, we empower individuals to support causes.

Our premise is built upon great curated gift options - from products to experiences, and our platform enables any company to automate, track and measure their gifting needs - be it for internal employee engagement, external client referrals or memorable events.

Operates in: Singapore

Buddies - Experience sharing

The « green journey » may feel overwhelming sometimes, but you are not alone.

Our Buddies have tried, succeeded, failed to implement change in their companies. They share their experience so you can learn, take shortcuts, get inspired and ask questions.

Everybody can become a Buddy and give back to the community; if you are keen, get in touch with us.

Claire Kolly
HR Consulting & Executive Coaching - EDLT.global

Claire has spent more than 20 years in the HR field working in global environments, accompanying businesses in their -always complex!- development and transformations. Working across teams and cultural boundaries, she became passionate about helping teams and leaders navigate through changes and make sustainable decisions for themselves and their teams, balancing the short-term and long-term impacts in organisations.

Back in 2016, she added a coaching hat to her HR experience, got trained and certified (PCC-ICF) with the idea that most of the time what employees and leaders are missing is a space to reconnect with what is really important for them, what makes them successful, or on the contrary slows them down.

In 2021, Claire launched her own business, combining her Executive HR and Professional Coaching expertise. She is since then, helping organizations and individuals who want to do the “right thing” to develop the "S" in ESG through sustainable, human-centered HR Practices, development programs and coaching. To really be the change they want to see!

She is able to strategize, coach, train and advise in order to improve both long term executive and organizational performance, as well as ensuring that personal growth and well-being are taken care of in a sustainable and authentic manner. She is Hogan, Gallup CliftonStrengths, Individual and Team Coaching Certified.

Ivona Balint-Kowalczyk
Sustainability consultant, Founder - Sustainao

With a background in sustainability consulting and audit, Ivona supports businesses in their sustainability journey by building an impactful strategy, embedding sustainable practices across operations, and reporting performance to stakeholders.

She is the founder of Sustainao, a Singapore-based company specialized in sustainability consulting. Previously, Ivona worked as a sustainability auditor at KPMG France. She holds an MBA in CSR & Sustainability and a Master’s degree in Environmental Management.

Vincent Desclaux
Managing Director - Palo IT

I have been working in Asia for the past 12 years (Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore since 2014) within the digital and technology space.

I have founded and run several companies in different sectors such as IT Consulting, Education, and the F&B business.

I am passionate about how to use technology as a force for good.

Géraldine Pelissier
Corporate Reach - The Matcha Initiative

Most of my professional career was in Sales and Marketing for emissions-intensive sectors (automotive, telecom, oil and gas industries) to say the least…. But I always knew I had to look for a greater purpose. Covid19 slowed down my professional activities and helped me to follow my passion. I decided to open a new chapter and follow a new career path, but to do so, I had to study sustainability.

I particularly like innovation and tech, so I wish to pursue my career with a tech for good angle.

Duncan Craig
Director of Sustainability (Interior Environments) - Concourse

Duncan, originally from the UK, has been living & working in Asia for the last 16 years. He runs a creative interior design & project management company delivering projects across the Asia Pacific Region; specialised in retail, F&B and commercial sectors. Duncan is passionate about creating interiors that excite and engage Clients and Customers alike, all through the lens of sustainability.

Carolin Barr
Founder - SusGain

Carolin is a passionate and driven entrepreneur and sustainability advocate. She is involved in many projects and initiatives that contribute to reducing our environmental impact.

In 2020, Carolin founded the social enterprise susGain.

susGain is a rewards-based engagement app that focuses on driving behavioural change within communities (corporates, schools, NGOs etc.) whilst measuring ESG reportable data on the impact created. By better connecting the environmentally and socially conscious stakeholders, susGain hopes to accelerate the change towards more sustainable communities.

Prior to susGain, Carolin worked as Account & Project Manager in an HR consulting and change management firm, where she was responsible for business development and end-to-end project management of training and consulting projects across APAC.

In July 2021, Carolin won the Finder's Expatpreneur Sustainability Award. susGain has also been recognized by Global Initiatives at the Sustainable Business Awards Singapore 2020/21.

Elly Both
Founder - Bright Green

I run a business called Bright Green where I work with corporates to engage employees in impact projects in the areas of environmental and social impact. I also facilitate sustainability learning programs to educate employees on developing an eco-friendly mindset and high impact actions they can take in their homes and daily lives.

Before founding Bright Green in 2020, I have been working in Project Management, Change Management and Continuous Improvement roles within Human Resources and Recruitment. I love that I get to work with organisations that are making commitments to net-zero and inspire employees to make an impact!

Mimi Nguyen
COO - Handprint, Founding Member - The Matcha Initiative

I was born in Vietnam and grew up in France in Paris’ low income suburbs. My parents used to bring us to the park to have some outdoor activities and that’s where my father taught my siblings and I to observe, love and respect nature. He gave us perspective on our place in a much bigger ecosystem. 

At that time, we didn’t describe our family as “sustainable”. It was very pragmatic, we didn’t waste anything, we mended everything, saved and reused, because we just couldn’t afford not to :)

In 2018 in Singapore, after what felt like a long, unfulfilling professional tunnel on autopilot, I was forced to make a pause and took the opportunity to consider what I really wanted to do with my life (I know this resonates with many!)

Then I really realised how passionate I was about sustainability and for the first time, I considered making it my job. Nothing is easy when you don’t hold the right degrees or the right amount of money, so I co-created The Matcha Initiative to jump into action instead of procrastinating. That’s how you start an amazing experience with amazing people :)

Cherry on the cake: TMI helped me land my current job at Handprint, where we help businesses embrace the next step - Regeneration.