Often hailed as the pulse of Malaysia, shopping malls have emerged as pivotal players in championing ESG values. Embracing these principles is Malaysia's largest halal retail chain — MYDIN.
Having a chain of hypermarkets, supermarkets, and emporiums, their sustainability efforts play a big role in reshaping the retail landscape. Some of their notable initiatives include their Zero Bag Plastic campaign, Carbon Emission Reduction, the Installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations and Recycle Clothing Bin initiative.
“More and more shoppers are now selective on where they shop and what they buy based on how sustainable they think the brands are, whether that the goods are ethically sourced, manufactured, or produced with sustainability in mind. At MYDIN, our sustainability efforts are multifaceted - from reducing environmental impact all the way to implementing social sustainability into business,” said Azwan Ahimmat, MYDIN’s Director of Property and Finance.
This effort requires equal dedication from employees, and the surrounding community to be sustainable in all areas.
Take a look at some of MYDIN’s remarkable ESG initiatives!
Pursuits To Zero Plastic Bags in 2024
Addressing more ESG efforts, this year MYDIN plans to foster collaboration with suppliers to introduce sustainable packaging alternatives and drive a holistic reduction of plastic in the supply chain, aligning with broader environmental goals.
The retailer has taken a decisive stance against plastic pollution by discontinuing the use of singlet plastic bags starting from January 1st, 2024.
Going Green with Solar Energy
On top of that, MYDIN expects to see the completion of solar panel installations in 14 outlets across the country to support the government’s commitment to a greener, sustainable future.
Azwan stated that the solar panels will be used to help power the outlets’ operations and are expected to offset 421,467, 600 tCOe and generate 540, 946,076 kWH in 30 years. This is equivalent to 639, 918,000 trees planted per annum.
This initiative aligns with MYDIN’s goal to achieve a 15% reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions by the year 2030. Last year the retailer successfully managed to save 5% of energy consumption.
Reducing Carbon Footprint through EV Charging
EV chargers and stations are essential as they make it accessible for EV owners to recharge their vehicles, which encourages more people to switch to electric transportation. Currently, the government has been proactively promoting a conducive EV ecosystem and MYDIN positively sees this effort as a pivotal step towards enhancing the accessibility, affordability, and convenience of electric vehicle charging within the community.
To this date, MYDIN has successfully installed EV charging facilities in 13 outlets, and foresees the completion of EV charging in 17 outlets in 2024.
Promoting Energy through Smart Retail Technology
Speaking on best practices in driving sustainable growth, Azwan said "technology has a fundamental role in improving performance in the environmental field. MYDIN invested in Smart Retail Technology to leverage innovative Internet of Things, cloud-based data management, visualisation, and real-time detection to identify inefficiencies and reduce waste in their supply chains, minimising transportation emissions and excess packaging.
It also creates a seamless shopping experience that caters to the preferences and demands of today’s tech-savvy consumers.
“By adopting eco-friendly practices, retail players in the country will be able to conserve resources. These efforts align with global sustainability goals and resonate with the growing consumer demand for eco-conscious brands,” said Azwan.
Giving Back to the Community
Early this year, the retailer rolled out their Back to School Program, “Jelajah Generasi Pintar 2024” edition to continue empowering underprivileged students in their educational pursuits.
The programme is part of MYDIN's commitment to encouraging underprivileged students to embark on their academic journey with confidence and determination. The programme has generously funded more than RM100,000.00 and has successfully benefited more than 500 students.
In 2023, MYDIN Prihatin "Kami Bawa Senyuman," successfully brought smiles to more than 10,000 recipients, engaging in various community engagement and empowerment initiatives throughout the year. The retailer also actively participates in many CSR activities, including festive celebrations, food bank distributions, empowerment of local businesses, and aiding in natural disasters.
MYDIN notable and proactive participation has brought the brand to be recognised as The Malaysia Top Achievers Awards 2023, CSR Company of The Year. Recognising the role in the company, the company aims to continue elevating the impact and extend their reach to 15,000 community members this year.
Empowering Inclusivity and Governance
MYDIN sets a commendable standard for responsible business conduct and ethical standards to ensure our operations play a pivotal role in contributing to robust economic growth.
“Empowering 7,000 employees through a decent workplace and commitment to reducing inequalities. This we do by encouraging and empowering talent with education and technology inclusion in the workplace to increase efficiency and productivity,” said Azwan.
MYDIN Prihatin #ForFuture 2024
“We believe the future starts now. With changing times and an increase in demand for sustainable practices, the retail industry has to rebuild and evolve again with new ambitions to be more environment-friendly. At MYDIN, we are committed to working towards a more sustainable future, cleaner environment, and a more liveable world for all,” Azwan concluded.
For more information on MYDIN sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.mydin.my/sustainability.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
