Steps to creating sustainable living through technology utilisation in new normal | Bahasa

Indonesia, 26 Aug 2020 - The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed an important lesson for people from all walks of life: the need to adapt to changes that have an impact on every aspect of life, including how to run a business. A mindset and work ethic that favour efficiency, collaboration, and the use of technology play a central role in adapting to the new normal. Business models and investments that have a positive impact on the environment and put forward Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) are crucial for economic recovery.

If climate change and the disappearance of flora and fauna continue unchecked, global environmental damages that cause a much larger social and economic crisis would ensue. Creating sustainable living, including sustainable business and economic activities, through technology utilisation is highly possible. However, this cannot be done individually. Collaboration between corporations, startups, foundations and various other organisations is crucial.

“Companies often treat sustainability as an obligation in running their business. However, sustainability is more than just an obligation as it has forced us to change our mindset and behaviour, especially in the midst of the pandemic. Besides, sustainability in the context of creating an inclusive green economy is the goal of countries in reviving the economy. Focus should be placed not just on how to create jobs and big profits but also on how to take into consideration the environmental and social aspects of the business,” said Head of Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, PT Bank DBS Indonesia, Mona Monika.

What can corporations, startups and foundations do to create sustainable living while helping the economy to recover from the Covid-19-triggered crisis? Following are the main outcomes from the Walk the Talk series titled "Driving Sustainability with Tech in New Era" that discussed the use of technology for sustainable living in the new normal and how to make it happen!

• Economic balance and social impact

Bank DBS Indonesia as a purpose-driven banking institution is committed to creating a better world for everyone in every business activity. The commitment is manifested through various efforts, from business to daily activities at Bank DBS Indonesia. Collaboration with various parties, Bank DBS Indonesia’s corporate culture, and a digital banking approach, all of them make us part of sustainability.

Bank DBS Indonesia actively embraces various parties to face these difficult times together through various programmes. Internally, Bank DBS Indonesia provides medical service and free medical equipment as a stimulus for employees to keep them safe and healthy while carrying out their activities. Bank DBS Indonesia is also running the DBS Stronger Together Fund programme with Benih Baik Foundation (Benihbaik.com) and customers to collect funds to be donated to people in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE) and food packages.

Bank DBS Indonesia is actively addressing the issues of sustainability and digitisation to realise its commitment through various programmes and forums, including the Asian Insights Conference 2020 held in July. These activities are born out of Bank DBS Indonesia’s awareness of its responsibility to advocate social, environmental and sustainability issues.

Collaboration with social enterprises is another focus on Bank DBS Indonesia’s endeavour  to create a sustainable environment and business. Through DBS Foundation, Bank DBS Indonesia focuses on supporting and promoting social enterprises in Indonesia through various programmes, from education, mentoring, business training, utilisation to grants.

“We believe that social enterprises are the future of business because they can also create a positive impact and resolve social issues. Furthermore, we realise that ensuring the sustainability, growth and development of social enterprises is part of Bank DBS Indonesia’s responsibility of strengthening the economic foundation and resolving social issues faced by the people,” said Mona.

• The use of technology in waste management

Gringgo CEO and Chairman Febriadi Pratama who joined the talk show on technology and sustainability drew attention to the development of circular economy as an alternative to linear economy aimed at using the potential of each material to its fullest and to recover materials that have reached the end of their useful life.

“We see that people have yet to consider waste management an important issue.There is also a lack of adequate infrastructure for proper waste management. Therefore, we present a technology that connects the need of industry with what is produced by society so that it can be well distributed and produces very little waste,” said Febriadi Pratama.

Gringgo is a technology startup that provides solutions to sustainable issues, particularly technology-based waste management. Gringgo utilises artificial intelligence technology in public waste management, measures the amount of waste collected, and determines the types of waste that can be recycled into raw materials.

• Providing access to education

Sustainable living is more than just about the environment. Education is no less important. Easy and fair access to education is one of the keys to a country's progress. This is one of the focuses of Ancora Foundation that seeks to provide access to quality education, teacher education, and community empowerment.

Prior to the pandemic, Ancora Foundation utilised technology to provide access to scholarships for people across Indonesia, and was involved in the process, from registration to the selection of candidates. "Of course, the challenge, even long before the pandemic, is infrastructure. However, we are confident that with various efforts and collaboration between parties, the issue can be resolved. We started with social media and it has now developed with the use of cutting-edge technology in collaboration with other technology startups,” said Ancora Foundation Executive Director Ahmad Zakky Habibie.

The challenges and lessons learned from previous programmes are Ancora Foundation's capital in dealing with the pandemic that forced schools to close. Technology utilisation is one of the right strategies for the foundation to continue to provide access to quality education for all students, including teachers, in Indonesia.

The Walk the Talk is a series of events held in collaboration with various companies, organisations and communities to inspire the general public to learn new things and to act in the current situation. In May 2020, the series had its first session, titled “What Business Can Do and Adapting to the New Normal.” Given the pandemic situation, the event was held virtually to bring together speakers from different backgrounds and experience to share their knowledge on issues of interest to or currently faced by the Indonesian people.

[END]

 

About DBS

DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 18 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank’s “AA-” and “Aa1” credit ratings are among the highest in the world.

Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney, “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker and “Best Bank in the World” by Global Finance. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia” award by Global Finance for 11 consecutive years from 2009 to 2019.

DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, and positively impacting communities through supporting social enterprises, as it banks the Asian way. It has also established a SGD 50 million foundation to strengthen its corporate social responsibility efforts in Singapore and across Asia.

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. The bank acknowledges the passion, commitment and can-do spirit in all our 29,000 staff, representing over 40 nationalities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.