Efforts not gone to waste
> Sunway Putra Mall campaign awarded, receives grant and more
AN estimated 4% of waste generated in the country comes from textile. Despite being recycled or re-purposed, waste materials have seen lesser recycling efforts compared with paper, plastic and cans, mainly due to low awareness.
On a daily basis, approximately 2,000 tonnes of textile waste is generated, further aggravating the many overflowing landfills in Malaysia. With the environmental problem at hand, Sunway Putra Mall initiated a campaign to raise awareness on recycling textile waste through its Mid-Autumn celebration last year.
Partnering with Kloth Cares, the mall created a 10.5m-high lantern made from recycled fabric, which earned the mall acclaim in the Malaysia Book of Records for the Tallest Lantern Made of Recycled Fabric.
A lantern parade was also organised, which saw a gathering of more than 1,000 multiracial participants and tourists including 300 underprivileged children.
The campaign, which caught public attention, also won the mall the 2018 International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) Foundation Asia-Pacific Community Support Award during the ICSC Asia-Pacific Shopping Centres Awards recently.
The sole winner among malls in the Asia-Pacific was recognised for its innovative approach.
Recognition came with a US$10,000 (RM41,685) grant by ICSC, which was channelled to Kloth Cares, an organisation that addresses the challenges of fabric and textile waste.
ICSC president and CEO Tom McGee presented the award to Sunway Putra Mall general manager Phang Sau Lian in the presence of some 300 Asia Pacific mall and retail industry personnel.
Sunway Malls & Theme Parks CEO HC Chan said the win was indeed a great achievement for Sunway Malls and the Malaysia mall industry.
After thanking the ICSC for the award, Phang said: “The ICSC Foundation Community Support Award recognition sets another milestone for Sunway Putra Mall, despite being only just over three years in operation after the refurbishment. This further uplifts our positioning in Malaysia”.
The award automatically sets Sunway Putra Mall up to compete among other regional winners for next year’s prestigious Albert Sussman International Community Support Award, where it stands to win a US$15,000 (RM62,527.50) grant, which will be presented at RECON Las Vegas 2019.