ESG

BANGKOK, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd. has taken a significant step towards its sustainability goals by transitioning all six of its manufacturing facilities in Thailand to renewable electricity under the Utility Green Tariff 1 (UGT1) program. This marks a collaborative effort with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to supply green energy from renewable sources, including hydroelectric and solar power. Ms. Suchada Kongdham, (left), Director of Power Economics Policy Department, PEA; Mr Philippe Glauser, (2nd from left), Technical Director, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd.; Mr Praveen Narayan (2nd from right), Corporate Engineering Manager, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd.; and Mr Amphol Sanguanwong, (right), Director of Power Economics Department, MEA This move supports Nestlé’s ambition to achieve 100% renewable electricity usage across its Thai factories by the end of 2025 and aligns with the company’s global Net Zero 2050 roadmap, aimed at achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century. Since July 2025, Nestlé has been sourcing renewable electricity for its six factories across Thailand. These include: The ice cream factory in Bang Chan The coffee creamer factory in Bang Pu Two Nestlé Waters factories in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Surat Thani Two pet food factories in Rayong province Mr Philippe Glauser, Technical Director at Nestlé (Thai) Ltd., emphasized the importance of the initiative: “Our collaboration with MEA and PEA under the UGT1 program is a major milestone in Nestlé Thailand’s journey toward Net Zero. Transitioning to renewable electricity isn’t optional—it’s essential to ensuring the planet’s long-term health. Nestlé is among the first FMCG companies in Thailand to adopt the UGT1 program, making sure that the energy used to produce our products is sourced responsibly from clean, renewable sources. This initiative continues our mission to create products that are not only Good for You, but also Good for the Planet.” Mr Amphol Sanguanwong, Director of MEA’s Power Economics Department, echoed the sentiment: “MEA is proud to begin supplying green electricity to Nestlé under the UGT1 program, starting with the July 2025 billing cycle. This reflects our strong commitment to promoting clean energy in Thailand’s industrial sector, helping businesses meet future energy needs in a sustainable and competitive way.” Ms Suchada Kongdham, Director of PEA’s Power Economics Policy Department, added: “This partnership between Nestlé and PEA reinforces our shared goal of advancing Thailand’s transition to clean energy. It showcases a powerful collaboration between the public and private sectors that will benefit the economy, environment, and quality of life in Thailand over the long term.” This initiative not only supports Nestlé’s operational sustainability goals but also reflects its commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. By aligning its business practices with ESG standards, Nestlé continues to deliver tasty, nutritious, and affordable products while keeping environmental and societal well-being at the core of its operations.

KUALA LUMPUR, Johor Plantations Group Bhd (JPG) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with YPJ Plantations Sdn Bhd (YPJP) and PIJ Holdings Sdn Bhd (PIJH) — both Johor state-linked companies — to boost collaboration and modernise the state’s palm oil industry. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, JPG said the partnership covers around 13,202 hectares of land managed by YPJP and PIJH. The focus will be on improving productivity through better procurement and processing of fresh fruit bunches, sustainability advisory services, and efforts to obtain Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. The parties also plan to explore centralised procurement for key inputs like fertilisers and introduce training and upskilling programmes for plantation workers. JPG managing director Mohd Faris Adli Shukery said the group is committed to working with Johor state agencies to build a more efficient and sustainable agribusiness ecosystem. “By sharing resources and expertise, we aim to raise productivity, strengthen sustainable practices and enhance the skills of our workforce. This collaboration marks a meaningful step toward strengthening Johor’s agricultural sector,” he said. The partnership is expected to deliver long-term value, improve plantation standards and support Johor’s vision to become a national leader in sustainable agribusiness. YPJP is involved in palm oil trading under Yayasan Pelajaran Johor, while PIJH — under Perbadanan Islam Johor — operates across sectors including plantations, property, infrastructure, and the halal industry.

SEOUL, LG Electronics has announced a new social media campaign to promote the use of ‘LG My Cup’, a dedicated tumbler-cleaning dishwasher. The campaign, which runs from July 30 to August 27, encourages users to share their My Cup experience online. LG Electronics announces that it holds an authentication event for the ‘LG My Cup’ dedicated cleaner to promote the use of tumblers until the 27th of next month.  Participants can join by posting photos or videos of themselves using My Cup on platforms like Instagram or personal blogs, using hashtags such as #TumblerWasher, #LGMyCup, and #StarbucksTumblerWasher. Users can conveniently locate My Cup units—installed in locations such as Starbucks—through the My Cup app. As part of the campaign, 2,000 winners will be randomly selected to receive prizes including the LG StandbyME 2, LG tiiun mini, and Starbucks gift cards. Developed in response to strong ESG interest from corporate clients, My Cup was launched on April 22 (Earth Day) after nearly three years of field testing in partnership with Starbucks Korea. Since then, its adoption has grown rapidly across coffee chains, universities, corporate offices, and government institutions. Currently installed in over 400 Starbucks locations, LG plans to expand this to 2,000 stores by year-end. The device is also being adopted in university campuses such as Seoul National University, Kyung Hee University, and Pusan National University, and in offices like Hyundai Motor’s Gangnam HQ, Kyobo Life Insurance, and public agencies including Ansan City Hall and the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office. Leveraging LG’s expertise in dishwashing technology, My Cup offers powerful cleaning with a 360° rotating wing and 65°C high-pressure water, thoroughly washing both the tumbler body and lid. It offers three cleaning modes: Quick Course (30 seconds) – ideal for a fast rinse. Standard Course (4 minutes) – for cleaning coffee or dairy residue. Drying Course (9 minutes 50 seconds) – for comprehensive cleaning and drying. The product has received certification from TÜV Rheinland for eliminating 99.999% of harmful bacteria, including E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella, when using the standard mode. Designed for convenience, My Cup has a compact 23cm width, making it suitable for tight spaces, and incorporates recycled plastic in its body, touchscreen frame, and input cover—reinforcing LG’s sustainability efforts. LG also offers a B2B subscription service for My Cup, including quarterly visits by care managers who perform in-depth maintenance—such as steam-cleaning the lower grill, replenishing detergent and rinse supplies, checking touchscreen operations, inspecting for damage, and replacing internal filters. Lee Hyang, Head of LG Electronics’ Home Solutions Customer Experience division, said:“We will continue to promote My Cup as a core part of LG’s growing B2B subscription business, while encouraging a wider culture of tumbler usage.”

KUALA LUMPUR, Manulife Malaysia is stepping up its focus on cancer prevention through new insurance-led health protection initiatives. MANULIFE, Chief Marketing Officer Marilyn Wang. Chief Marketing Officer Marilyn Wang said the move aims to support Malaysians throughout their entire health journey. “We want to be more than just a claims processor. Our goal is to be a true health partner—raising awareness, promoting early detection, providing treatment support, and ensuring continued care after recovery,” Wang said at a media briefing today. She highlighted that this commitment is reflected in Manulife’s flagship products, Manulife HealthSave Enrich (MHSE) and Beyond Critical Cover (BCC). Life insurer Manulife Malaysia is deepening its commitment to cancer prevention through insurance-led health protection. “MHSE and BCC are designed to close key gaps in health literacy, vaccine uptake, and post-diagnosis care,” she explained. MHSE offers coverage for preventive vaccines such as HPV, dengue, and influenza, alongside benefits like up to a 40% no-claims discount, outpatient care, post-cancer recovery support, and annual family coverage of up to RM20 million. BCC provides upfront financial payouts upon diagnosis of any of 48 covered critical illnesses, as well as additional support for ICU admissions and extended hospital stays. Wang noted the approach is supported by findings from the Asia Care Survey 2024, which revealed that 45% of Malaysians are concerned about cancer and 71% feel underinsured for treatment costs. “Many are unaware that HPV vaccines are available for free in public schools. We want to change that by promoting awareness, encouraging prevention, and helping people take action before it’s too late,” she added. The initiative also complements the efforts of Cancer Research Malaysia (CRM), which is dedicated to advancing cancer research and development in the region. Cancer is currently the fourth leading cause of death in Malaysia, according to the Department of Statistics. CRM projects that cancer incidence could double by 2040, with one in nine women and one in ten men expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime.

KUALA LUMPUR, Samaiden Group Bhd has secured three bioenergy project awards through the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia’s 2025 e-bidding exercise. The projects, located in Johor, Terengganu, and Kelantan, will add more than 18 megawatts (MW) of biomass and biogas capacity to Samaiden’s portfolio, reinforcing its presence in Malaysia’s renewable energy (RE) sector. Samaiden Group Bhd has secured three bioenergy project awards under the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) Malaysia’s 2025 e-bidding mechanism. The awards cover two biomass power plants in Tangkak, Johor and Kemaman, Terengganu, as well as a biogas power plant in Bachok, Kelantan. Each project has been granted a 21-year Feed-in Tariff (FiT) approval and is scheduled to begin commissioning in the second half of 2028. Samaiden group managing director Datuk Ir Chow Pui Hee said the awards mark a significant milestone in expanding the group’s RE portfolio beyond solar energy. “This diversification enhances our long-term earnings visibility, supports Malaysia’s decarbonisation goals, and strengthens Samaiden’s position as a comprehensive clean energy solutions provider,” Chow said in a statement. She added that winning bids in three different states demonstrates the group’s technical expertise and strong execution track record. These projects will further Samaiden’s role in advancing Malaysia’s RE sector and contribute towards the government’s target of achieving 70 per cent RE generation capacity by 2050.

KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Cement Group, a leading building materials provider, has launched Malaysia’s first pilot facility dedicated to processing and reusing recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), marking a major step toward sustainable and circular construction. Developed in partnership with the Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM), the research arm of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), the facility aims to reduce construction waste and reliance on virgin raw materials. Located in Jalan Chan Sow Lin, near key construction zones, the facility was officially launched by CIDB Malaysia chief executive Zainora Zainal and YTL Cement director Datuk Aziyah Mohamed. (L-R): Datuk Sri Dr. Arifuddin Mohamed Shah, CREAM board member, Patrick Pereira, director of YTL Cement, Datuk Aziyah Mohamed, director of YTL Cement, Zainora Zainal, chief executive of CIDB Malaysia, M. Ramuseren, chief executive officer of CREAM, and Datuk Dr. Gerald Sundaraj, CREAM board member at the launch of Malaysia’s first RCA facility. The plant transforms fresh returned concrete—estimated at 5% of Malaysia’s annual 30 million cubic metres of concrete production—into aggregates that can replace up to 30% of natural aggregates in new concrete mixes. Finer by-products are also repurposed for road base layers or brick-making. This effort supports a low-carbon, resource-efficient construction ecosystem. “This initiative shows our commitment to advancing sustainable development in Malaysia. We aim to change the perception of returned concrete from waste into a valuable resource and replicate this model in other construction-heavy areas,” said Aziyah. Operational since June 2025, the RCA facility is the first major outcome of a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between YTL Cement and CREAM, focusing on talent development, research, and the shift to greener construction methods. Zainora praised the project as a model public-private partnership: “The RCA facility demonstrates how collaboration can accelerate innovation and meet national sustainability goals. We hope this will inspire more industry players to adopt RCA and launch similar initiatives nationwide, supporting the National Construction Policy 2030.” YTL Cement and CREAM also plan to expand research into new applications for RCA by-products, particularly aggregate fines, to further enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact across Malaysia’s construction value chain.

Kakao Bank, the internet-only banking arm of South Korea’s Kakao Corp, has pledged $2 million to UNICEF to support young people in Southeast Asia affected by climate change. The two-year partnership with UNICEF’s global and Korean offices will focus on children and teenagers in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand. In Indonesia, the funds will improve school sanitation and clean water access. In Cambodia, they will be used to build infrastructure that reduces student exposure to extreme heat. In Thailand, Kakao Bank will sponsor an educational conference on global warming and encourage youth involvement in climate policy initiatives. Kakao Bank CEO Yun Ho-young, center, poses for a commemorative photo with Kanetaka Sawako, right, lead of Unicef’s Asia-Pacific hub, and Cho Mi-jin, secretary general of the Korean Committee for Unicef, after signing a global partnership agreement on climate crisis response for future generations at the Unicef Korea office on July 28. This pledge is part of Kakao Bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, which allocates about $1 million annually to international aid and climate projects. Last year, the bank contributed a similar amount to UNICEF for infrastructure development in Myanmar and Laos, including solar-powered schools and medical facilities, food security, and water access initiatives, as well as education programs in Malaysia and Thailand. The partnership agreement was signed on Monday at UNICEF Korea’s office in Mapo District, Seoul. “Kakao Bank is the only Korean company working with UNICEF on projects addressing the climate crisis,” said CEO Yun Ho-young. “We are dedicated to strengthening our social contributions to support vulnerable communities facing environmental challenges.” UNICEF has highlighted the urgency of building climate resilience for children in the Global South, where rising temperatures and extreme weather pose increasing threats to health, education, and safety. Kakao Bank’s contribution is part of a growing number of private-sector efforts supporting this mission.

KUALA LUMPUR, Global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sukuk are projected to surpass US$60 billion in outstanding value by the end of 2026, according to Fitch Ratings. Global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sukuk is likely to surpass US$60 billion in outstanding value by the end of 2026, according to Fitch Ratings. The rating agency said the growth reflects ESG sukuk’s increasing role in financing sustainability projects, appealing to a wider investor base, and benefiting from regulatory reforms. In the first half of 2025 (1H25), ESG sukuk accounted for just over 40% of all emerging-market US dollar ESG debt (excluding China), with the remainder issued in bond format. Fitch expects ESG sukuk issuance to slow in the third quarter of 2025 (3Q25) due to seasonal summer lulls in major markets, but anticipates a strong rebound in the final quarter of the year. “Fitch-rated ESG sukuk have shown resilience despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East,” said Bashar Al Natoor, Fitch’s Global Head of Islamic Finance. “All issuers maintain Stable Outlooks, almost all are investment-grade, and there have been no defaults. ESG sukuk are increasingly popular with both Islamic and ESG-focused investors, diversifying funding sources and helping issuers meet sustainability goals.” Fitch noted that over 10% of global US dollar sukuk outstanding are ESG-linked, with the total market rising by 12% year-on-year in 1H25 to about US$50 billion. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, accounted for over half of the market, while Malaysia and Indonesia together contributed around 40%. Fitch currently covers about three-quarters of the global US dollar ESG sukuk market, the majority of which is senior unsecured. Listing venues for these sukuk include the stock exchanges in Frankfurt, London, Stuttgart, and Nasdaq Dubai. Issuer diversity has also grown, with notable entries in 2Q25 such as UAE-based Omniyat Holdings’ debut green sukuk (rated ‘BB-‘) and Pakistan’s first rupee-denominated sovereign green sukuk. Fitch added that recent regulatory initiatives, such as Saudi Arabia’s new guidelines for green, social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked debt, will further support market growth. However, the agency cautioned that geopolitical tensions, shifting Shariah interpretations, oil price volatility, and greenwashing concerns could affect future ESG sukuk issuance.

KUALA LUMPUR,  Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM), through Unifi Business, has launched Usahawan Digital TM, a programme aimed at empowering 2,200 B40 entrepreneurs from the e-Kasih database by equipping them with essential digital tools and skills to succeed in the digital economy. The RM10 million initiative provides an average of RM5,000 worth of in-kind support per entrepreneur, including devices, digital solutions, and training resources. The programme focuses on three key areas: skills enhancement, digital business tools, and empowerment programmes to help micro-entrepreneurs grow their businesses. TM group chief executive officer Amar Huzaimi Md Deris said the initiative is part of TM’s commitment to driving Malaysia’s digital future. “Through Usahawan Digital TM, we are providing digital tools, skills, and 5G connectivity to help micro-entrepreneurs transform their livelihoods. This effort supports our Digital Powerhouse 2030 vision to nurture talent and innovation in Malaysia,” he said.

Coca-Cola Vietnam is piloting the use of eco-friendly pallets made from agricultural waste—part of its push toward sustainable, carbon-negative packaging solutions. Called NetZero Pallets, these alternatives to traditional wooden or plastic pallets are being trialed at Coca-Cola’s automated warehouse in Vietnam. Made from materials like coconut fiber and coffee husks, they offer a greener, non-toxic option for product handling and logistics. The company aims to replace 10.3 million conventional pallets with NetZero versions by 2029. Developed by AirX Carbon, the world’s first manufacturer of carbon-negative materials from coffee waste, each NetZero Pallet can absorb and store up to 34 kilograms of CO₂, contributing to climate change mitigation. AirX Carbon’s CEO, Le Thanh, noted growing global interest in this technology, with companies such as NPC Korea, Hyosung, Olam International, and Pakko Australia exploring its use. International organisations—including UNDP, Switch Asia, GIZ, Action on Poverty, and Helvetas—have also voiced support for the innovation. Scaling up the production of these pallets could prevent tons of agricultural waste from ending up in landfills, while easing rural waste management challenges. Producing 60 million pallets could help: Save 10 million trees Recycle 2 million metric tonnes of agricultural waste Store up to 7 million metric tonnes of CO₂ Beyond environmental benefits, the initiative promises to create income opportunities for more than 600,000 farmers and rural workers, improving livelihoods in Vietnam’s countryside. AirX Carbon’s manufacturing facility in Binh Duong Province, near Ho Chi Minh City, is currently producing up to 1.5 million pallets annually.