Malaysia started its journey on sustainable development when the New Economic Policy (NEP) was introduced in 1970 to eradicate poverty and restructure societal imbalance. In 2009, Malaysia formulated the New Economic Model (NEM) which further cemented their commitment to pursue sustainable development based on three pillars, namely high income, inclusivity, and sustainability. Moving forward, Malaysia is ambitious in setting higher targets for the SDGs through sustained and systematic effort.
KNOWLEDGE PARTNER
REGIONAL SUPPORTER
MEDIA PARTNER
SUPPORTERS
OUR NATIONAL ADVISORY PANEL (NAP) 2020/21
CHE KODIR BAHARUM
Director of Environment & Natural Resources (Economic Division), ECONOMIC PLANNING UNIT, PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT OF MALAYSIA
KAREN CHAND
Director of Strategy & Operations Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development
SHAMSUL BAHAR MOHD NOR
Chief Executive Officer, Malaysian Green Technology And Climate Change Centre (MGTC)
PUAN HAJAR NOR FAZILA HASHIM
Director, Sustainability Unit, Productivity and Competitiveness Division, Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC)
DR MAHADI MOHAMAD
Executive Director, Green Growth Asia Foundation
MASTURA ISHAK
Principal Researcher, President & CEO Office, Malaysian Industry-government Group For High Technology (MIGHT)
ROBERTO BENETELLO
Executive Director, Business Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia (BCSD Malaysia Berhad)
Gallery
A selection of images from all the Sustainable Business Awards ceremonies held thus far.
WINNERS PROFILE
A full breakdown of the SBA Awardees and their award categories.
Overall Winners
Overall
Large Corporations
Winner
Significant achievement
highly commended
SMEs/ Social Enterprises
Winner
Significant achievement
2020/21 Large Corporation Overall Winner
2020/21 SME Overall Winner
Duopharma integrates sustainability into all their operations, and takes into consideration environmental and social outcomes in their decision-making process. Following their core values, passion, excellence, teamwork, responsibility, integrity and respect, Duopharma demonstrated how these are put into practice through the assessment and also reminds us that it takes time and hard work to truly advance sustainability.
Artmatrix has been actively supporting various events and activities related to environment and education. They introduced a GBI training program for employees to improve knowledge on sustainable buildings. Artmatrix has an R&D internship program to train future product designers in building sustainable furniture. As a member of UN Global Compact, they incorporate the 10 principles into Artmatrix’s CSR strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, they aim to uphold their basic responsibilities to people and planet, but also setting the stage for long-term success.
2019 Best
Being the industry leader in categories such as Sustainability Strategy; Energy; Climate Change; and Stakeholder Engagement, Sarawak Energy has been harnessing renewable energy to support the growth of the company, whilst aligning to national economic policies. They have contributed and pledged to follow the UN SDGs and are aligned to guide their business operations and support their long-term strategies themed towards sustainable practices.
Sustainability is at the heart of MISC and a cornerstone of growth over the past five decades from a small shipping business into one of the top global players in the energy and maritime industry. For MISC, the concept of sustainability goes well beyond the environment, and permeates into business ethics and the UN SDGs. This is thereby tied into their sustainability strategy through a five-year roadmap addressing 11 key aspects and 6 sustainability pillars – in which they have their own clear targets. For each of these targets MISC devises milestones, objectives and action plans for each year leading to 2020.
2020/21 Winner
Category: Workforce
2020/21 Winner
Categories: Sustainability Strategy; Community; Climate change and emissions
With a comprehensive business ethics and sustainability policy, Airestec Innovation’s products and services are designed for minimum water consumption, energy efficiency, and circularity.
The Lost Food Project, being an NGO, has been leading by example to establish a highly effective food donor – recipient network that ensures circularity and inspires community engagement and advocacy.
2020/21 Winner
Categories: Sustainability Strategy; Community; Energy Management; Water Management; Waste Productivity and Materiality; Supply Chain Management; Land Use and Biodiversity; Business Ethics and Responsibility; Stakeholder Management; UN SDGs
Artmatrix has been actively supporting various events and activities related to environment and education. They introduced a GBI training program for employees to improve knowledge on sustainable buildings. Artmatrix has an R&D internship program to train future product designers in building sustainable furniture. As a member of UN Global Compact, they incorporate the 10 principles into Artmatrix’s CSR strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, they aim to uphold their basic responsibilities to people and planet, but also setting the stage for long-term success.
2020/21 Significant Achievement
Categories: Sustainability Strategy; Workforce
Invest Energy’s operations are aimed at expanding sustainability both internally and externally. They have clear and ambitious criteria to review each project they invest in on a case by case basis. Furthermore, the company has an empowerment programme to certify and upskill their employees in the areas of sustainability.
2020/21 Significant Achievement
Categories: Waste productivity and materiality; Business Ethics and Responsibility.
The Lost Food Project, being an NGO, has been leading by example to establish a highly effective food donor – recipient network that ensures circularity and inspires community engagement and advocacy.
2020/21 Significant Achievement
Categories: Community; Energy Management; Waste productivity and materiality; Supply Chain Management
Red Wheels Trading has strived to improve on waste disposal, energy consumption, localizing their supply chain through innovation, and collaboration.They work on improving their own operations while also assisting their business partners and vendors to meet their own targets.
2020/21 Significant Achievement
Category: Climate Change and Emissions
Artmatrix has been actively supporting various events and activities related to environment and education. They introduced a GBI training program for employees to improve knowledge on sustainable buildings. Artmatrix has an R&D internship program to train future product designers in building sustainable furniture. As a member of UN Global Compact, they incorporate the 10 principles into Artmatrix’s CSR strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, they aim to uphold their basic responsibilities to people and planet, but also setting the stage for long-term success.
2020/21 Significant Achievement
Categories: Energy Management; Water Management; Land Use and Biodiversity; Business Ethics and Responsibility; Stakeholder Management; UN SDGs
With a comprehensive business ethics and sustainability policy, Airestec Innovation’s products and services are designed for minimum water consumption, energy efficiency, and circularity.
2020/21 Winners
Category: Energy Management
Axiata contributed to green innovation of digital telcos through reducing the carbon intensity of their operations. In 2020, the company deployed 210 solarised grid sites which managed to reduce 8% of their grid electricity usage.
Category: Supply chain management
Berjayapak has adopted a purchasing policy that promotes 3P (Planet, People and Place) sustainability and has closely aligned their corporate objectives with its responsibility towards its stakeholders.
Category: Workforce
During COVID-19, Edotco directed more budget towards financial assistance for employees and provided a mental healthcare hotline across the 8 territories in which they operate. Their internal survey reflected that 98% of their employees felt satisfied and engaged with the company’s wellness strategy.
Categories: Community; Stakeholder management
PETRONAS adopts a forward-looking and end-to-end process that is anchored to their business objectives, and prioritises stakeholders that could affect or be affected by their decisions through a thorough mapping process.
Categories: Sustainability strategy; Energy management
In 2020, Sunway set up a Board Sustainability Committee to review, supervise, and recommend Sunway’s sustainability strategy, key ESG targets and performance to advance the group’s sustainability leadership in the long-term. By aligning their goals to the UN SDGs, they also demonstrate long-term commitment to sustainable development.
Categories: Energy management; Water management
PETRONAS Chemicals Group has three broad sustainability focus areas – Social Responsibility, Resource Efficiency, and Business Sustenance. Overall they displayed ambitious goals for a future that is beginning to decarbonise by advancing a strong sustainability culture within the company.
Categories: Waste productivity and materiality; Climate change and emissions; Land use and biodiversity
From developing zero emissions vessels by 2030 to rehabilitating marine ecosystems, MISC has initiatives for emissions reduction, waste management, and protection of marine ecosystems. Their initiatives are a reminder that sustainability is multifaceted and requires a coordinated response on many dimensions.
Categories: Business ethics and responsibility; Stakeholder management; UN SDGS
Duopharma integrates sustainability into all their operations, and takes into consideration environmental and social outcomes in their decision-making process. Following their core values, passion, excellence, teamwork, responsibility, integrity and respect, Duopharma demonstrated how these are put into practice through the assessment and also reminds us that it takes time and hard work to truly advance sustainability.
2020/21 Significant Achievement
Category: Land Use and Biodiversity
United Plantations has a comprehensive Environment and Biodiversity Policy which includes the ‘Zero burn policy’, ‘No primary forest clearing policy’, ‘No biodiesel production’ and more. Companies such as United plantations are working towards a more sustainable business model, to mitigate transboundary issues, and ensure a liveable future for all.
Category: Community
Yinson Holdings Berhad has managed to thoroughly integrate principles of human and labour rights into all business operations via their ‘Code of Conduct & Business Ethics’ as well as within their supplier assessment processes.
Category: Energy Management
During COVID-19, Edotco directed more budget towards financial assistance for employees and provided a mental healthcare hotline across the 8 territories in which they operate. Their internal survey reflected that 98% of their employees felt satisfied and engaged with the company’s wellness strategy.
Category: Stakeholder Management
From developing zero emissions vessels by 2030 to rehabilitating marine ecosystems, MISC has initiatives for emissions reduction, waste management, and protection of marine ecosystems. Their initiatives are a reminder that sustainability is multifaceted and requires a coordinated response on many dimensions.
Categories: Workforce; Climate Change and Emissions
CIMB Group supports the rollout of wellness programmes to promote a culture of health and wellbeing, especially in the current pandemic. Sustainability is not only about caring for the planet but also involves community care and self-care for them.
Categories: Supply Chain Management; Business Ethics and Responsibility
KLCCP has shown to hold themselves to the highest standards of business responsibility but also do the same for their stakeholders. For them, sustainability is a collaborative effort.
Categories: Climate change and emissions; UN SDGS
In 2020, Sunway set up a Board Sustainability Committee to review, supervise, and recommend Sunway’s sustainability strategy, key ESG targets and performance to advance the group’s sustainability leadership in the long-term. By aligning their goals to the UN SDGs, they also demonstrate long-term commitment to sustainable development.
Categories: Sustainability strategy; Workforce; Stakeholder management
PETRONAS Chemicals Group has three broad sustainability focus areas – Social Responsibility, Resource Efficiency, and Business Sustenance. Overall they displayed ambitious goals for a future that is beginning to decarbonise by advancing a strong sustainability culture within the company.
Categories: Water management; Waste productivity and materiality
Duopharma integrates sustainability into all their operations, and takes into consideration environmental and social outcomes in their decision-making process. Following their core values, passion, excellence, teamwork, responsibility, integrity and respect, Duopharma demonstrated how these are put into practice through the assessment and also reminds us that it takes time and hard work to truly advance sustainability.
2020/21 Highly Commended
AmBank Group is paving the way for responsible banking, integrating an ESG loan framework in the process.
With a strong sustainability governance in place, Heineken has made sure to tackle issues of water management, responsible consumption, and sustainable sourcing. Their record shows gradual improvements over the years and ambitious goals set for the future.
Recognizing the positive impact of sustainability on profitability and stakeholder engagement, Hong Leong Bank has successfully aligned its corporate strategy to its sustainability agenda in addition to implementing strong social initiatives.
Unisem
RHB Bank is striving to create a sustainable culture within its workforce with sustainability champions within their senior management as well as through adopting the Agile workforce culture.
UEM Sunrise Berhad is implementing their solar-ready home design project in Johor that provides the infrastructure required to install solar panels on homes. This reduces early capital costs for users to install solar panels. Their projects consider sustainability from the get-go and are moving us closer to a green energy future.
Unisem has been focusing on business growth, labour rights, management of workplace safety and monitoring their environmental impacts. Their training programmes that cover both workplace safety and environmental topics not only ensures the well-being of their workers but also encourages a shift in company culture to be more sustainable overall.
Media coverage
Kimberly Clark recognised for its commitment to sustainable business
SBA Singapore 2018
by 3BL Media
Singapore companies make a strong showing at the 2018 Sustainable Business Awards
SBA Singapore 2018
by The Online Citizen
Sustainable Business Awards honour local companies working at doing the right thing
SBA Singapore 2017
by The Straits Times