ESG Policy

1. Environmental

Team Building Asia is committed to making significant strides in improving our own environment-related metrics. Our action plans are rolled out in the short, medium, and long term, complete with periodic evaluations. We base our sustainability policy on the ESG framework and draw inspiration from the Hong Kong government’s waste reduction guidebook on organising green events as well as the Hong Kong Green Building Council’s (HKGBC) list of green measures for events.

• 1.1 Waste

  • Minimise our waste footprint by avoiding the use of disposable items and replacing them with reusable/recycled/recyclable products and reduce packaging needs.

  • Practice Waste Separation:

    1. In Hub: Recycling Boxes & General Waste
    2. Onsite: Designated “Recycling” (Clear Bag) and “General Waste” (Black Bag) and hand over to Venue.
  • Reduce the consumption of day-to-day operational inputs such as paper and electronic equipment. Examine the feasibility of paperless systems and their incorporation within operational processes.
  • Extend life expectancy of existing office equipment to minimise their premature disposal and reduce waste.
  • Increase the number of products sourced from recycled or sustainable forest sources.

• 1.2 Energy Reduction

  • Increase the usage of innovative and energy efficient technology in our operations to reduce energy consumption arising from our day-to-day operations.
  • Reduce the use of energy across our operations where possible. (On poster, “Turn off lights & air conditioning when everyone goes out for lunch and at end of day.”)
  • Produce clean, sustainable energy (LED Lights in The Hub).
  • Minimise printed materials, More PDF, E-Docs etc.

   

• 1.3 Emissions

  • Reduce where feasible emissions within our operations by taking public transport to The Hub and designated venues.
  • Carpool where possible
  • Offset yearly flight travel using resources such as www.cooleffect.org

2. Social

The Social aspect of ESG for Team Building Asia encompasses a commitment to fostering positive relationships and ethical interactions with employees, customers, suppliers, and the broader community. It prioritises employee welfare by ensuring fair wages, benefits, and opportunities for professional growth while promoting diversity, inclusion, and mental health support. The company implements rigorous health and safety protocols to protect staff and attendees, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations. Engaging with the community, the company supports local businesses and charities and strives to create experiences that are accessible and inclusive.

• 2.1 Employee Welfare and Development

  • Ensure fair wages and benefits.
  • Provide ongoing training and development opportunities.
  • Foster a diverse and inclusive workplace.
  • Promote work-life balance and mental health support.

• 2.2 Health and Safety (Also Separate “Health & Safety Policy”)

  • Implement stringent health and safety protocols for all events.
  • Provide regular health and safety training for employees.
  • Ensure venues comply with all relevant health and safety regulations by using the onsite checklist (Location of Emergency Exits, AED etc.)

• 2.3 Community Engagement and Impact

  • Partner with local communities to support and promote local businesses.
  • Engage in philanthropic activities and support local charities.
  • Develop and deliver CSR related programs that benefit local communities (IMPACT, Wheelchair Challenge etc.)
  • Membership and support of B1G1 projects (www.b1g1.com). B1G1 is a Global Giving initiative that helps companies around the world make measurable and long-lasting impacts through small projects. At Team Building Asia we choose to make a donation to B1G1 for every teambuilding we deliver. As a result we have already provided meals and medication for underprivileged families and other worthy projects.

• 2.4 Customer Relations and Satisfaction

  • Prioritise customer feedback to improve services.
  • Ensure clear and transparent communication with clients through Proposal Presentations and in the Organiser Notes.
  • Promote accessibility and inclusivity in event planning.

• 2.5 Diversity and Inclusion

  • Promote diversity in hiring and vendor selection.
  • Ensure event content and speakers reflect diverse perspectives.
  • Create inclusive environments at events for all attendees.

• 2.6 Ethical Supply Chain Management

  • Be mindful to partner with suppliers who adhere to fair labour practices.
  • Promote sustainability and ethical sourcing in procurement.

• 2.7 Human Rights

  • Uphold and promote human rights across all operations and events.
  • Ensure no discrimination, harassment, or exploitation in any form.

• 2.8 Stakeholder Engagement

  • Regularly engage with stakeholders to address social concerns.
  • Maintain transparency in ESG reporting and practices.
  • Be mindful to foster partnerships that enhance social sustainability efforts.

3. Governance

Governance at our Team Building Asia is rooted in integrity, transparency and accountability. We are committed to establishing clear policies and procedures that guide ethical decision-making across all levels of our organisation. Our governance framework ensures that leadership practices align with our core values, fostering trust among employees, clients and stakeholders. We regularly review and refine our internal controls, risk management strategies and compliance protocols to uphold the highest standards of corporate responsibility. By promoting a culture of openness and continuous improvement, we empower our teams to act responsibly and contribute to the long-term success of the company.

• 3.1 Governance Structure and Policies

  • Director’s Oversight: Ensure the Directors are actively involved in setting ESG goals, monitoring progress, and integrating ESG considerations into overall strategy.
  • ESG Policies: Develop and implement specific policies related to ESG.

• 3.2 Ethical Business Practices

  • Code of Conduct: Establish comprehensive Codes of Conduct that outline expected behaviour and ethical standards for all employees, suppliers and partners. Please refer to Appendix A: Code of Conduct for Employees and Appendix B: Code of Conduct for Suppliers. Also refer to the Team Building Asia Onboarding Document for Full-Time and Part-Time Staff.
  • Be mindful of Anti-Corruption Measures to prevent corruption, bribery and conflicts of interest within the organisation.

• 3.3 Stakeholder Engagement

  • Engagement Strategy: Develop a plan for engaging with stakeholders (employees, customers, suppliers and local communities) on ESG issues that impact or are impacted by the company’s operations.
  • Feedback Mechanisms: Establish channels for stakeholders to provide feedback and report concerns related to governance practices through feedback surveys.

• 3.4 Transparency and Disclosure

  • ESG Reporting: Implement regular ESG reporting that includes governance-related metrics.
  • Public Disclosure: Ensure transparency through public disclosure of governance practices and any material governance-related issues.

• 3.5 Risk Management

  • Integration into Decision-Making: Integrate ESG considerations into strategic decision-making processes and risk management frameworks.
  • Be mindful to identify and mitigate governance-related risks, such as legal and regulatory compliance, reputational risks, and cybersecurity.

• 3.6 Compliance and Legal Framework

  • Monitor changes in governance-related regulations and ensure timely compliance.

• 3.7 Training and Awareness

  • Employee Training: Conduct regular training sessions to raise awareness about ESG principles and governance practices among employees at all levels.
  • Internal Communication: Foster a culture of openness and accountability through effective internal communication channels.

• 3.8 Continuous Improvement

  • Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly assess the effectiveness of the ESG governance framework through key performance indicators (KPIs) and stakeholder feedback.
  • Opportunities to give feedback for continuous improvement both internal and external.

4. Health & Safety

Our Health and Safety Policy has been developed to cover two main areas of our operations. The first is for our employees and the second is for our events. Team Building Asia is committed to conducting its business operations in a manner that protects the health and safety of its employees and all other people affected by our activities, including clients, suppliers, visitors, contractors, and the general public. We are committed to meeting and exceeding all relevant statutory requirements and recognised industry standards for health and safety.

• 4.1 Employee Safety

  • Provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees in our office, “The Hub.”
  • Ensure all employees are aware of and comply with all safety procedures and policies.
  • Provide adequate training, information, and supervision to employees to enable them to perform their work safely.
  • Regularly review and update safety protocols to address new risks and challenges.

• 4.2 Event Safety

  • Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for all events to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
  • Ensure all venues and activity sites meet or exceed all relevant health and safety standards.
  • Develop and implement emergency response plans for all events, including clear communication protocols and evacuation procedures.
  • Provide clear safety briefings to all event participants before any activity begins.
  • Ensure all equipment used during events is regularly inspected, maintained, and safe for use.

• 4.3 Risk Management and Compliance

  • Maintain a comprehensive system for reporting and investigating all incidents and near misses to prevent recurrence.
  • Adhere to all local, national, and international health and safety laws and regulations.
  • Consult with employees, clients, and other stakeholders on health and safety matters to foster a collaborative and proactive safety culture.

5. Our Team

The management team at Team Building Asia takes full ownership of the strategic and operational execution of our ESG Policy. We are dedicated to building a sustainable business that is committed to making a positive impact on the environment, society, and our community. Our ESG vision is to embed sustainability into the DNA of our organisation, ensuring that it is a central consideration in our decision-making, operations, and culture.

• 5.1 Leadership and Accountability

  • The management team is responsible for setting clear ESG goals, monitoring progress, and ensuring accountability across all departments.
  • We will regularly communicate our ESG performance to our employees, clients, and stakeholders, fostering transparency and trust.

• 5.2 Employee Engagement

  • We will actively involve employees in our ESG initiatives, empowering them to contribute their ideas and actions to our sustainability journey.
  • We will provide ongoing training and education on ESG topics to build a culture of awareness and responsibility.

• 5.3 Continuous Improvement

  • We will regularly review and refine our ESG Policy to ensure it remains relevant and effective in a changing world.
  • We will seek feedback from all stakeholders to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation in our ESG practices.

Appendix A – Code of Conduct for Employees

This code of conduct serves as a guide for employees, suppliers, and partners to understand and uphold ethical standards in all aspects of Team Building Asia’s operations. It promotes a culture of integrity, responsibility and respect, contributing to the Team Building Asia’s reputation and long term success.

1. Compliance with Laws and Regulations

   • Compliance: We are committed to complying with all applicable local and international laws, regulations, and industry standards in all aspects of our business operations.

2. Integrity and Honesty

   • Honesty: We conduct our business with integrity, honesty, and transparency in all interactions with clients, stakeholders, and the public.
   • Conflicts of Interest: Employees must avoid conflicts of interest and disclose any potential conflicts promptly.

3. Respectful Behaviour

   • Respect: We treat all individuals with respect, dignity, and fairness, irrespective of their background, beliefs, or identities.
   • Harassment-Free Environment: We maintain a work environment free from harassment, discrimination, or any form of inappropriate behaviour.

4. Confidentiality and Privacy

   • Confidentiality: We protect confidential information of clients, partners, and employees and use it only for legitimate business purposes.
   • Data Privacy: We respect individuals’ privacy rights and handle personal data in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

5. Health, Safety, and Sustainability

   • Safety: We prioritise the health and safety of our employees, clients, and event attendees by adhering to safety guidelines and protocols.
   • Sustainability: We promote environmentally responsible practices and strive to minimise our environmental impact in event planning and execution.

6. Fair Business Practices

   • Fair Competition: We compete fairly and ethically in the market, avoiding anti-competitive practices and unfair advantages.
   • Supplier Relations: We engage with suppliers and vendors based on fair and transparent principles, ensuring mutual respect and benefit.

7. Anti-Corruption and Bribery

   • Zero-Tolerance Policy: We prohibit bribery, corruption, and unethical practices in all business dealings and interactions.
   • Gifts and Entertainment: Employees must exercise caution and transparency when giving or receiving gifts and entertainment.

8. Social Responsibility

   • Community Investment: We actively engage in community initiatives and contribute positively to the communities where we operate.
   • Diversity and Inclusion: We promote diversity and inclusion within our workforce, suppliers, and event participants.

9. Reporting and Accountability

   • Reporting and Accountability: We provide channels for employees and stakeholders to report unethical behaviour confidentially without fear of retaliation. We hold ourselves accountable for upholding this code of conduct and continuously improving our ethical standards.

10. Continuous Improvement

    • Training and Awareness: We provide ongoing training and resources to ensure understanding and compliance with ethical business practices.
    • Feedback and Adaptation: We welcome feedback and continually review and adapt our code of conduct to reflect evolving ethical standards and business practices.

Appendix B – Code of Conduct for Suppliers

Team Building Asia is committed to upholding high standards of ethics, integrity and fairness. We believe that conducting businesses in an open and responsible manner creates greater value for our stakeholders. This Code is applicable to suppliers and contractors of Team Building Asia. Suppliers should meet or exceed all applicable legal requirements, as well as environmental and social standards, in the respective jurisdictions of their operations.

1. Governance

   • Suppliers are encouraged to have a sustainable procurement policy in place, and to develop their own policies and code of conduct to ensure robust control and governance on their suppliers and operations.

2. Business Ethics

   • Suppliers should strictly prohibit any corruption, anti-competition, fraud, false declaration or other malpractices, abide by all the relevant laws and regulations of anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-competition, and establish anti-corruption policies and programmes.
   • Suppliers should report any suspicious activity of corruption, anti-competition, fraud, false declaration or other malpractices to Team Building Asia.

3. Environmental Protection

   • Suppliers should identify the environmental impact associated with their operations and take measures to control any negative impacts. Adequate resources and training should be provided for their employees.
   • Suppliers should minimise their impact on the environment by carefully managing their greenhouse gas emissions, energy, waste and resource efficiency and strive to prevent pollution.
   • Suppliers should also seek to preserve biodiversity, avoid deforestation and conserve land where possible.
   • Suppliers should proactively promote the use of sustainable material in their service and business.

4. Occupational Health and Safety

   • Suppliers should commit to providing a safe and healthy work environment for their employees.
   • Adequate resources and training should be provided to ensure employees’ safety, health and wellness.
   • Onsite contractors should be subject to regular safety compliance checks and review by site safety professionals and compliance audits by external professionals where applicable.

5. Human Rights and Equal Opportunities

   • Suppliers should respect the human rights and freedom of association of their employees. Suppliers are required to bargain in good faith with association representatives.
   • Suppliers should not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including, but not limited to, gender, age, religion, race, pregnancy, family status, marital status and disability.

6. Labour Practices

   • Suppliers should not employ any child labour or persons under the legal working age unless they are employed via recognized apprenticeship programmes.
   • Suppliers should not tolerate forced labour situations, including, but not limited to, threats, debt bondage, withholding of wages, or retention of identity documents.
   • Suppliers should ensure a discrimination and harassment free workplace.
   • Suppliers should recognize and abide by local statutory requirements for minimum wage, minimum benefits and working hour limits, and provide a decent working environment with good working conditions.

7. Confidential Information and Privacy

   • Suppliers should not disclose confidential information regarding the Team Building Asia’s business without the prior written consent. They are required to formulate their own policies to prevent leakage of confidential information.
   • Suppliers should take good care of the Team Building Asia’s assets and ensure the economical use of the Team Building Asia’s resources. They should follow the Team Building Asia’s procedures and practices regarding the use of the Team Building Asia’s assets and resources.
   • Suppliers should protect the privacy of their employees and customers and comply with the relevant laws in their areas of operation.
   • Suppliers should recognise and respect the intellectual property rights of Team Building Asia in respect of the trademarks, service marks, logos, copyrights, designs, inventions and patents.

8. Monitoring & review

   • To ensure the effective implementation of this policy, Team Building Asia will coordinate these efforts and track the progress of various environmental initiatives. The ESG Team will be responsible for conducting any training as required.
   • We will engage and consult with our stakeholders to improve our environmental performance and to mitigate adverse environmental impact from our operations. We will work toward implementing an environmental management system to standardise our approaches to both managing and reducing the environmental impact arising from our operations.
   • We will handle environmental complaints and respond to environmental inquiries in a timely manner, taking action to resolve problems and concerns as soon as possible. We will also report on our environmental impact and performance through platforms such as our website.