Last August 28, 2025, Next Move, the sustainability activation arm of Drink Sustainability Communications, and Nexus Sustainability organized the first-ever Philippine Sustainability Leadership Forum (PSLF) with Aboitiz as co-presenter. Under the theme “Innovating a New Age of Corporate Sustainability,” the Forum convened industry voices from the business sector, government, and civil society to unpack how, through constant innovation and strategic partnerships, sustainability can evolve into a driver of long-term value creation.
This is especially timely and relevant amid the worsening climate crisis, persistent socio-economic inequalities, and the mounting pressure on businesses to integrate environmental and social responsibility into their strategies—not just to survive, but to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Insights, Challenges, and Solutions
In the same way that no business is an island, PSLF 2025 was also made possible through the support of the event’s partners. This included sustainability partner Prestige Paper Products and outreach partners Humble Sustainability, Maynilad Water Services Inc., BSI Philippines, Megawide Foundation, Azolla Climate, Villgro Philippines, and Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP).
The diverse participation of leaders across industries in various aspects of the event highlights how sustainability transcends sectors and how its full potential can be tapped through collaboration. As Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Chief Reputation and Sustainability Officer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., put it in her keynote speech, it is “by working together [that]we can truly nourish the future, transform energy, innovate ways of living, and build transformative ecosystems” to shape a more resilient and inclusive future.
The Forum featured four high-level panel discussions with visionary leaders—from CEOs of major corporations to sustainability champions in SMEs and government duty-bearers—who tackled the overarching hurdles of climate change, circularity, social equity, and access to sustainable finance.
One key theme emerged from the discussions: sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive. Long-term resilience requires continuous alignment, access to credible data, strategic partnerships, and the adoption of new technologies that embed sustainability into everyday business operations, making it intrinsic to strategy, operations, and culture.
Stakeholders—consumers, investors, employees, and communities—are demanding decisive and responsible action, pushing corporations to adopt strategies that balance cost management with innovation. Nature-based solutions stand out as a promising pathway, enabling companies to cut their carbon footprint while strengthening trust and resilience.
The discussions also highlighted the unique role of SMEs. For many, sustainability can be costly or complex, but with the right support and partnerships, SMEs are showing it can be achievable and profitable. By institutionalizing sustainable practices, they meet operational needs, attract investors, and even open new markets.
Finance, naturally, played a crucial role in the different dialogues. Access to capital remains uneven, particularly for SMEs, but sustainable finance offers a way forward. Leaders emphasized that transparency, risk assessment, and collaboration are essential to ensuring that resources flow where they deliver the greatest impact.
Key Takeaways
In his opening speech, Harris Guevarra, President and CEO of Next Move, mentioned that “[s]ustainability leadership is about adopting new ways of seeing, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting that result in innovative, strategic, and lasting solutions”, echoing The Sustainability Leadership Institute’s very definition of Sustainability Leadership. This same sentiment was expressed across all panels: sustainability is an imperative. It demands bold leadership, collective action, and innovation—whether through technology, nature-based approaches, or new business models.
Equally important is accountability. Credible data, transparency, and authentic storytelling are vital for validating progress, building trust, and inspiring others to act.
The Road Ahead
PSLF 2025 was the beginning of a larger movement, and what Ping Manongdo, Founder of Nexus Sustainability, referred to as “the nexus where innovation and impact meet, and where conversations turn into commitment” . The Forum created a space where leaders could be honest about existing barriers, while envisioning solutions that link climate, circularity, social equity, and finance.
Ultimately, the Forum had one strong, resounding message best summed up by Harris Guevarra when he said, “We need to push ourselves—and our organizations—to look further, beyond the present, and to think of new ways to address and, at the very least, mitigate the risks brought about by the climate crisis. For me, this very act of seeking solutions—whether through new technologies, innovative processes, or even revisiting long-overlooked yet effective practices—is the true definition of Sustainability Leadership.”
The road is clear: sustainability is the path to resilience, growth, and relevance in the years ahead. Sustainability is no longer optional—it is the key to future-proofing business in the time to come.
Catch the highlights of PSLF 2025 in our official same-day edit (SDE) video.
Look through more PSLF 2025 highlights in photos.
