Panasonic Supports TTDI Community to Transition Towards a Low-carbon Society

Panasonic and GreenSteps Malaysia partnership emphasises nature-based community solutions and the importance of carbon emissions reduction data to guide climate action

Kuala Lumpur, 30 March 2023 - Panasonic Malaysia today announced a significant partnership with GreenSteps Malaysia, a community-inspired initiative focusing on creating low-carbon communities, to support Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) residents to take climate action through a ‘Food Waste to Wealth’ initiative. Launched by Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Hj. Mahadi bin Che Ngah, the partnership sees Panasonic as among the first few corporates in Malaysia to adopt a whole community approach towards better waste management practices underpinned by nature-based community solutions while being data-driven.

En Azlan Yaacob, Chief-Founder GreenSteps Malaysia (left)
Yang Berbahagia Datuk Seri Hj. Mahadi bin Che Ngah, Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur (middle)
Mr Keisuke Nishida, Managing Director Panasonic Malaysia (right)

Commenting on the partnership with GreenSteps Malaysia, Keisuke Nishida, Managing Director of Panasonic Malaysia said, "Our long-standing mission established by our founder is that our corporation should contribute to society and this includes tackling global challenges around climate change. Our brand action tagline “Create Today. Enrich Tomorrow.” underpins our commitment to make progress towards a greener planet and we are delighted to form a strategic partnership with GreenSteps Malaysia to support the TTDI community to transition towards a low-carbon society.”

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, if food waste were a country, it would be the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) after the US and China.1 This collaboration aims to encourage the practice of source separation, a key catalyst to diverting waste away from landfills while addressing the issue of food waste through consistent behaviour change.

Speaking at the launch of the ‘Food Waste to Wealth’ initiative, Azlan Yaacob, Chief-Founder of GreenSteps Malaysia said previous attempts to address food waste in the TTDI community were not viable and needed a redesign. He explained that GreenSteps Malaysia put forth a circular economy model that emphasises source separation as a crucial first step among households and cafes to efficiently treat both organic and recyclable waste streams.

"By practising source separation correctly, the community is able to ensure recyclables are clean, leading to a higher rate and better quality of recycling in Malaysia. What we are left with is organic waste which can be turned into nutrient-rich compost and used as valuable input to develop edible gardens, benefitting the health and well-being of the community through hyper-local and nutritious produce. This partnership with Panasonic signifies our shared values and marks an important step towards addressing the issues of climate change mitigation and adaptation through the use of carbon emissions reduction data to guide climate action, while demonstrating circularity," he said.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Hj. Mahadi bin Che Ngah expressed his support for the partnership and the efforts of the community. He said, "I am encouraged and supportive of this commendable initiative as it promotes proactive climate action among residents and businesses. I would like to congratulate both organisations on this fantastic approach to nature-based community solutions which emphasises the importance of recording carbon emissions reduction data via the GreenSteps app to guide climate action now and in the future.”

To support a whole community approach towards better waste management, Panasonic Malaysia together with GreenSteps Malaysia are organising a 3-month ‘Food Waste to Wealth’ contest starting 1 April to 30 June 2023, where TTDI residents stand a chance to win up to a total of RM15,000 in cash vouchers.

Residents participate in the contest by separating their waste into three categories: organic waste (food waste), recyclable waste (plastics, aluminium, glass, paper, and e-waste), and non-recyclable waste (face masks, soiled diapers, and sanitary products). To be in the running to win up to RM 10,000 worth of Panasonic vouchers, residents download the GreenSteps Malaysia app and register for a 'Household' account to begin recording the amount of food waste composted. This also enables them to consistently track and measure their carbon reduction emissions while collecting GreenPoints through their efforts.

To demonstrate circular economy in action, residents who accumulate GreenPoints by regularly composting their food waste and keying data into the GreenSteps Malaysia app will be rewarded with up to RM 5,000 worth of vouchers redeemable at participating GreenSteps cafes in TTDI. GreenSteps cafes are those that practice source separation and are committed to behaviour change. Throughout the competition, residents will be able to access valuable tips and resources on effectively practising source separation and composting to further encourage active participation via GreenSteps' social media pages.

As part of its commitment to strengthening sustainable practices, Panasonic Malaysia with the help of GreenSteps Malaysia implemented a source separation system at its headquarters recently in line with the company’s global pledge to achieve net zero by 2050. This initiative involves employees taking climate action towards a greener future while enabling them to become advocates for a more sustainable future.

Demonstrating the green steps implemented in the TTDI community, Azlan Yaacob led Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Hj. Mahadi bin Che Ngah and Keisuke Nishida on a tour of the Zero Waste Zone along Jalan Datuk Sulaiman to showcase the value of proper waste management in an urban environment. One of the main solutions includes diverting used coffee grounds and tea leaves from cafes away from landfills and into composting rings for the development of urban gardens and reducing litter in the area.

Mr Keisuke Nishida Managing Director Panasonic Malaysia (left) at the compost area together with
En Azlan Yaacob, Chief-Founder GreenSteps Malaysia (right)

The strategic collaboration between Panasonic Malaysia and GreenSteps Malaysia addresses four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – (11) Sustainable Cities & Communities, (12) Responsible Consumption & Production, (13) Climate Action and (17) Partnership for the Goals which are aligned to Panasonic's long-term environmental vision to contribute to both the well-being of people and society as well as a sustainable global environment.

“We enthusiastically look forward to working closely with GreenSteps Malaysia to enrich the lives of the TTDI community and hope to inspire more people to take climate action towards a greener and cleaner planet," added Nishida.

To learn more about the 'Food Waste to Wealth' competition, please visit GreenSteps Malaysia on facebook and Instagram. To begin tracking and measuring your carbon reduction emissions, please download the GreenSteps Malaysia app by visiting this link https://zez.am/greenstepsmalaysia

¹ https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200224-how-cutting-your-food-waste-can-help-the-climate#:~:text=It%20has%20been%20estimated%20that,FAO)%20of%20the%20United%20Nations.