#TECH: Panasonic and GreenSteps in pact to reduce carbon emissions

KUALA LUMPUR: Panasonic Malaysia has partnered with GreenSteps Malaysia to create low-carbon communities to support residents of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) in taking climate action through the 'Food Waste to Wealth' initiative.

The initiative was launched by Kuala Lumpur Mayor, Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah.

"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 Malaysia app to guide climate action now and in the future," said Mahadi.

Panasonic is one of the first corporations in Malaysia to take a whole-of-community approach to improved waste management practises, backed by data-driven, nature-based community solutions.

Panasonic Malaysia managing directror, Keisuke Nishida, 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."

He also stated that the brand action tagline "Create Today. Enrich Tomorrow." underpins the commitment to make progress towards a greener planet and to form a strategic partnership with GreenSteps Malaysia.

This partnership intends to promote source separation as a key driver in diverting waste away from landfills while also addressing the issue of food waste through persistent behaviour change.

The strategic partnership between Panasonic Malaysia and GreenSteps Malaysia addresses four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

This includes Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17).

All of this is in line with Panasonic's long-term environmental objective of contributing to both people's and society's well-being as well as a sustainable global environment.

Meanwhile, GreenSteps Malaysia chief-founder, Azlan Yaacob, said the 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.

GreenSteps Malaysia, he continued, proposed a circular economy approach that emphasises source separation as a critical first step for families and cafés to efficiently process 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," he added.

Panasonic Malaysia in collaboration with GreenSteps Malaysia, is hosting a three-month 'Food Waste to Wealth' event from April 1 to June 30 2023, in which TTDI residents may win up to RM15 000 in cash vouchers.

Residents can participate by sorting their trash into three categories: organic waste (food waste), recyclable garbage (plastics, aluminium, glass, paper, and e-waste), and non-recyclable rubbish (face masks, soiled diapers, and sanitary products).

They are eligible for up to RM10 000 in Panasonic vouchers, households must download the GreenSteps Malaysia app and create a 'Household' account to begin tracking the quantity of food waste composted.

This also lets people track and quantify their carbon reduction emissions while earning GreenPoints for their efforts.

Panasonic Malaysia, with the assistance of GreenSteps Malaysia, has completed a source separation system at its headquarters as part of the company's global promise to achieve net zero by 2050.

At the event, Azlan escorted Nishida on a tour of the Zero Waste Zone along Jalan Datuk Sulaiman to demonstrate the importance of appropriate trash management in a city.

One of the main options is to redirect leftover coffee grounds and tea leaves from landfills and into composting rings for the development of urban gardens and trash reduction in the neighbourhood.

"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," Nishida said.

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