@Green January/February 2026 | Page 10

@ green | January-February. 2026

Instead, he suggested that organisations should integrate sustainability principles directly into operational decision-making.

When organisations collaborate with suppliers on sustainability initiatives, they may also create opportunities for reverse logistics and shared efficiency gains. In this sense, carbon reduction can become a driver of operational improvement rather than an additional expense.

" Organisations should stop looking at carbon only as emissions and start looking at it as carbon currency," Hodzic said.

Ong echoed this perspective, arguing that ESG can function as a profit centre rather than a cost centre.

" If businesses become more carbon conscious, they could gain benefit from reducing the cost of water, electricity, and manpower usage."

TIME TO ACT

For organisations that are considering participation, the time to act is now.

As sustainability expectations continue to shape markets, organisations that begin integrating ESG principles earlier are likely to gain a strategic advantage in the coming decade.

What was once viewed as a regulatory requirement is increasingly becoming a factor in competitiveness, supply chain participation and long-term resilience.

Hodzic emphasised that companies must shift their view of sustainability, " The companies that will lead in the future are those that understand sustainability is a way for them to have a platform to grow and sustain their business."

The MAPAN ESG Industry & Academic Summit 2026 is designed to support that transition by creating a platform for businesses, academics, investors, and solution providers to exchange ideas and develop partnerships.

By inspiring action and collaboration, the summit positions Malaysia to become a regional benchmark for ESG implementation. This vision invites every participant to contribute to a national movement that can shape the future of sustainable business across the region.

Participants will have opportunities to explore innovation proposals, identify research collaborations, and connect with potential investors and industry partners.

Ong described the summit as a space where these conversations can take place openly.

" The summit is like a marketplace. Everyone will gather in one place to exchange ideas and opportunities."

Through dialogue, innovation and collaboration, the MAPAN ESG Industry & Academic Summit 2026 aims to provide organisations with the insights and partnerships needed to begin or accelerate their sustainability journey.

INDUSTRY IN ACTION: Participants can learn through the site visits to an industrial park like the Eco Business Park.

WHILE policy discussions are part of the programme, the MAPAN ESG Industry & Academic Summit 2026 will also focus on practical initiatives to encourage innovation and experimentation in sustainability.

One such initiative is the Impact Innovation Challenge, which invites organisations and researchers to propose solutions addressing real sustainability challenges.

One of the Summit ' s Scientific Committee members, Chan Ling Foon, explained that the initiative was designed to encourage organisations to take initial steps towards ESG adoption, even if they are still at an early stage of the journey.

" Businesses can begin with small steps," Chan stated. " We are making every effort to implement ESG, but we acknowledge that, in comparison to regions like Europe, Malaysia is still developing in this area."

Rather than imposing strict expectations, the challenge aims to encourage experimentation and innovation. Teams are invited to present ideas that demonstrate key areas, including practical value, measurable impact, and implementation potential.

Chan acknowledged that many businesses are currently operating in an uncertain economic environment where profitability remains a primary concern.

" We understand that profit is the main concern for companies," he said. " But at the same time, they should not fall behind in ESG because global markets are moving in that direction."

Moreover, strong ideas generated during the challenge may

also lead to further opportunities after the summit, as its goal is to connect promising proposals with investors, corporate partners and potential mentors who can help bring these concepts to life.

Chan added that the conference itself was conceived as a platform for international exchange.

" We want to integrate knowledge from different parts of the world. This gives Malaysians the motivation to follow global developments," he explained.

Therefore, the innovation challenge serves as both a learning platform and an indication that sustainability is becoming a key component of economic competitiveness.

In addition to discussions and presentations, the summit programme will include practice-based learning sessions that demonstrate ESG implementation in real operational settings.

Carbon Credit Chair Vern Chong emphasised that the summit can help raise the nation ' s ESG standards to international standards, thereby strengthening both operational capabilities and corporate reputation.

He explained that participating in sustainability initiatives has already produced tangible outcomes within his own organisation.

" Through the programme we achieved results such as renewable energy certification and progress towards Scope 2 net-zero emissions."

For companies that are just beginning their sustainability journey, these examples illustrate how ESG initiatives can move from theoretical concepts to measurable achievements.

The case-based learning sessions aim to replicate this process by allowing participants to examine real-world examples of sustainability implementation.

Complementing these sessions are study tours that allow participants to observe ESG practices directly within operational environments. Through the visits to operational facilities, participants can gain insights that may not be fully captured in presentations or slides.

The tours will include visits to several locations that represent different aspects of ESG implementation and will demonstrate how sustainability considerations can be embedded in everyday operations.

The objective is to help attendees understand that sustainability is not limited to specific industries but can influence a wide range of operational processes. – @ green