SUSTAINABILITY NEEDS
LEADERSHIP
The discussion also centered around the motivating factors behind integrating sustainability in the
respective organisations, and the impact of doing so to customers, employees and operating costs. In
closing, several of the speakers spoke of the challenges and future of sustainability which included the
need to change the mindsets of all involved, including customers.
In celebration of Earth Day, EcoKnights, Malaysia’s
kicked off its first inaugural forum themed ‘Corporate
Leadership: The Battle For Sustainability’. The forum
brought together key industry leaders to share insights
on building sustainable businesses.
EcoKnights President, Yasmin Rasyid explained,
“The forum was about changing mindsets. It was also a
platform to inspire businesses, specifically those in the
Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) sector, to think about
sustainability. The first step is understanding what sustainability is and how it can work for a business. For
many, it can even come down to cost savings. Our speakers today comprised key industry leaders who have
implemented a wide array of successful sustainable
initiatives.” Speaking from experience, Sage Software
Managing Director, Michael Cho, demonstrated how the
accounting management solutions and payroll software
provider reduced wastage in both product packaging
and internal business processes.
On a larger scale, Digi Telecommunications’ Project Manager for Sustainability, Philip Ling, shared the
company’s aspirations to be a thought leader in climate
change.
Ling shared how Digi Telecommunications advocates climate change through environmental sustainability and energy efficiency. Amongst other initiatives,
include incorporating renewable technologies during
its network modernisation exercise, housed operations
in green buildings and created a sustainability criteria
checklist for suppliers and sourcing.
The forum also featured, Tanamera a Malaysian
brand that produces tropical spa products from 100 per
cent plant-based ingredients and uses recyclable paper
in its product packaging. Its Managing Director, Faisal
Fadzil also shared with the audience how the organisation operated according to the three tenets, humanfriendly, animal-friendly and earth-friendly, all of which
are crucial pillars to Tanamera.
The Frangipani Langkawi Resort and Spa, Managing
Director, Anthony Wong shared his passion for green
practices, spanning 40 years and resulted in building
Malaysia’s ‘greenest resort’. The resort and spa, which
proactively practices the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’
motto has successfully reduced consumption, wastage
and increased effective energy usage, amongst others.
From the building and construction industry, Hijjas
Architects & Planners Project Architect and Director, Serina Hijjas, there is a need to maintain an equilibrium
between the built environment and nature; natural resources and demands; and energy and efficient use; and
materials and recycling. Passive designs and the importance to adapting to the local climate and culture also
play a vital role towards ensuring sustainability.
Already thinking of the future, Yasmin Rasyid said,
“We want to show businesses in Malaysia that sustainability is not just crucial, but in the long term, beneficial.
Our ultimate goal is to collaborate with entrepreneurrelated agencies to produce a ‘guideline to sustainability’, through which we can reach out to SMEs and manage their impacts sustainably. That is our hope.”
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