Manulife named a Top Sustainability Advocate in Asia for second consecutive year
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Manulife has again been recognized by the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards as one of the Top Sustainability Advocates in Asia, marking the company’s second consecutive regional recognition in the category.
Now in its 13th edition, the ACES Awards recognize leadership and organizational achievements across Asia. The awards’ evaluation framework considers long-term strategy, sustainability performance, ethical governance and social impact.
This year’s recognition highlights Manulife’s work to connect environmental restoration with community resilience, including through Manulife Impact Forests. The global network of restoration sites is designed to enhance biodiversity create opportunities for local communities and contribute to climate resilience. It currently spans Canada, the United States, Cambodia, Japan and the Philippines.
Manulife is the first corporate partner to implement veritree’s Smart Forest technology, the platform powering verified nature restoration, and works with community planting partners to support reforestation sites across the globe. The technology combines satellite imagery, ground-level data and bioacoustics monitoring to support accurate mapping, appropriate species selection and ongoing monitoring throughout the lifecycle of each restoration project.
“Receiving this recognition reflects the sustained work of colleagues and partners across the region,” said Steve Finch, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Asia. “Manulife Impact Forests is one example of how we are working with communities and partners to support healthier ecosystems and more resilient communities. That work complements our broader ambition to empower customer health, wealth and longevity across Asia.”
Manulife’s 2025 Sustainability Report noted that Manulife Impact Forests had restored more than 160 hectares of land across five countries. The initiative forms part of Manulife’s broader approach to sustainability, which includes incorporating climate and nature considerations into its operations, investment decision-making, and products and services, as well as supporting communities through partnerships, colleague giving and volunteering.
“Credible restoration requires more than planting trees. It requires the right local partnerships, science, monitoring and transparency,” said Brian Kernohan, Chief Sustainability Officer, Manulife Investment Management. “Through Manulife Impact Forests and veritree’s Smart Forest technology, we can better understand progress over time and support lasting benefits for nature and communities.”
The recognition also aligns with Manulife’s enterprise priority of empowering customer health, wealth, and longevity. The Manulife Longevity Institute, backed by a C$350 million commitment through 2030, advances research, thought leadership, innovation, advocacy and community partnerships focused on helping people live longer, healthier and more financially secure lives.
About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Anchored in our ambition to be the number one choice for customers, we operate as Manulife across Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice, insurance and health solutions for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment solutions, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2025, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.
About Manulife Longevity Institute
The Manulife Longevity Institute is a global research, thought leadership, innovation, advocacy, and community investment platform to drive action that can help people live longer, healthier, and more financially secure lives. Underpinned by a $350 million signature commitment, its focus is on helping people extend their healthy years, promoting greater financial resilience for all. As a global insurer, retirement plan provider, and asset manager, Manulife is uniquely placed to help lead this change. The Institute’s work will support Manulife’s Impact Agenda strategy by investing in organizations that are growing the longevity economy, convening research collaborations with leading academic institutions and think tanks, and producing thought leadership to advance awareness and action on the issues impacting populations as they age. The Institute will be known as the John Hancock Longevity Institute in the United States. The actions of the Institute will be guided by a Steering Committee of members of Manulife’s Executive and Global Leadership Teams and in partnership with a robust ecosystem of partners and experts who champion longevity across Canada, Asia, and the US. Canada, Asia, and the US.
For more information, please visit Manulife.com/Longevity.
Media contacts
Manulife Asia:
Sabrina Cheung
Chief Communications Officer, Manulife Asia
Sabrina_cheung@Manulife.com
