Building a Sustainable Future: Enhancing Responsible Business Conduct in the APAC Region

Charles Reeves, Consul General of Canada to Hong Kong and Macao opened the seminar by emphasizing Canada’s commitment to RBC as a foundation of long-term sustainable trade. He highlighted that Canada’s approach to RBC promotes responsible and ethical business practices on aspects such as human rights, environmental protection, gender equality, diversity, and inclusion. “Responsible business conduct is one of the top priorities for long term sustainable trade strategies. It is essential to create platforms like this seminar, where we can align our practices and ensure that Canadian trade policies reflect responsible business conduct that benefits all stakeholders,” he remarked.

Panel Discussion: Promoting Best Practices in Responsible Business Conduct

The seminar featured a panel discussion moderated by Victoria Gilbert, Director APAC at GlobeScan. Panellists included Joyce Chau, Director APAC at amfori; Kristina Warzecha, GM Responsible Sourcing and Compliance at Giant Tiger Stores Limited; and Keilem Ng, General Manager – Sustainability at Link REIT. The panel explored the evolving role of RBC, best practices, and the unique opportunities challenges faced by businesses.

Joyce Chau highlighted amfori’s long-standing commitment to promoting responsible business practices. At amfori, we’ve been at the forefront of supporting responsible business conduct and sustainable trade globally for over 40 years. Through our various tools like amfori BSCI, amfori BEPI, amfori QMI as well as capacity building programmes, and partnerships, we support members to identify, mitigate and prevent ESG risks; empower businesses to meet evolving expectations while ensuring they remain competitive in the global market,” she added. “Our approach focuses on fostering collaboration, helping companies implement robust due diligence practices that promote sustainable trade across supply chains. We are glad to see that more Canadian companies in the region are taking proactive strategy and actions to implement responsible business conduct in their businesses.”

As amfori’s key member from Canada, Kristina Warzecha stressed the importance of collaboration in driving sustainability efforts. “We believe that sustainable practices can only be achieved through strong partnerships. amfori plays an essential role in our approach to RBC, particularly through their auditing tools. This reliable and unbiased system is in place to help us maintain transparency and integrity in our sourcing operations. By collaborating in this way, we ensure that everyone involved—from factories to retail partners—contributes to a supply chain that is ethical and sustainable,” she said.

Survey Results Unveil RBC Challenges and Opportunities for Canadian Companies

Prior to the seminar, a survey was conducted to gather insights from CEOs and senior management of Canadian companies. The results revealed key gaps in the adoption of RBC frameworks. While over 60% of respondents reported integrating RBC into their operations, half indicated unfamiliarity with internationally recognised guidelines. Furthermore, 60% of companies were either unaware or unfamiliar with Canada’s RBC strategy.

John Poon, Advocacy & Engagement Advisor at amfori, presented the findings during the seminar. The responses of the survey indicated that RBC integration is growing, the limited adoption of global standards suggests a need for more strategic alignment. “Transparency and engagement, both internal and external, are critical areas where improvement is needed. Engaging stakeholders and adopting professional standards can strengthen a company’s reputation and enhance the authenticity of its RBC practices,” he noted.

The survey also highlighted challenges companies face, such as resource constraints, rising customer demand, and knowledge gaps. The results reflected that more professional training and guidance on best practices are crucial to supporting companies in their RBC journey.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@amfori.org