ESG in APAC: Diverse Focus, Common Ground

We ranked 22 sustainability themes across six Asian markets — Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia — to see what consumers actually prioritise. The headline: safety unites the region, while environmental and governance priorities diverge sharply by country.

Safety is the common thread

Across most markets, safety tops the list. “Chemical Safety” ranks #1 in Japan and Thailand, while Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia place “Workplace Safety” first — a shared emphasis on the social dimension of sustainability.

Environmental priorities diverge

The environmental focus shifts by market: Singapore ranks “Waste Management” second; Taiwan and Thailand both prioritise “Clean Energy” (4th); Japan and Indonesia give more weight to “Natural Capital, Biodiversity & Land Use” (5th). Local policy context clearly shapes what matters.

Governance reflects local rules

Governance priorities track local regulation and expectations: Singapore elevates “Business Ethics” (5th); Malaysia makes “Tax & Accounting Transparency” its top governance issue (4th overall); Japan focuses on “Compensation Practices” (4th).

What it means for brands

• Localise ESG communication — lead with each market’s most critical themes, not a single global message.
• Use local proof — credible, relatable local examples build trust faster than global claims.
• Educate on the gaps — invest in awareness for globally important but lower-ranked themes such as Climate Responsibility.

Reproduced in ShareParty Insight’s research hub from our partner research archive. Charts are ShareParty renderings of the published figures.

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