Etika promotes its green ambition

KUALA LUMPUR: Etika Sdn Bhd, one of Malaysia’s leading halal beverage manufacturers, is strengthening its sustainability commitments to promote environmentally conscious practices within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry and at the consumer level.

Etika’s renewed sustainability efforts would be anchored around key pillars of reducing carbon emission, sourcing sustainable ingredients, innovation in packaging and waste reduction.

Etika would also simultaneously focus on building strategies that would provide sustainable value creation in the long term for all stakeholders involved, including their consumers, employees and local communities.

“Etika has always been driving a positive impact within the Malaysian society, whether it is through our refreshing beverages or creative campaigns.

“With our renewed sustainability initiatives in place, we hope that we are able to drive that impact on a larger scale, effectively addressing the environmental and social concerns that we face today,” said Khalid Alvi, chief executive officer of Etika Group of Companies (Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei).

Growing concerns about environment protection have set in motion a sustainability drive to implement measures and solutions to combat pressing challenges such as plastic pollution, increasing emissions of greenhouse gases and waste management.

Contributing positively to this conversation, he said Etika has shaped its group sustainability plans to emerge as a greener business that focuses on better business practices, sustainable packaging and sourcing as well as waste recycling.

For instance, Etika has already embarked on its mission toward sustainable sourcing by obtaining raw ingredients such as sugar and palm oil from local producers such as Central Sugar Refinery (CSR).

In fact, Etika had planned to procure 28% sugar used in their products from sustainable suppliers by 2021, a target that has already been achieved.

Etika has also steadily been working to innovate their packaging and introduce materials that are eco-friendly and recyclable.

The halal beverage manufacturer has already committed to using 100% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper for all their operational and packaging needs by 2023 to ensure that the paper products being used are sourced in an environmentally friendly manner, are socially responsible and economically viable.

Simultaneously, Etika is also working on reducing plastic waste by incorporating more recyclable materials in their packaging.

It is supporting initiatives under the Malaysia Plastic Pact, an industry driven platform for stakeholders along the plastic value chain, to achieve systemic transformation to shape a circular plastics economy by building a national plastics collaboration network.

Along with sourcing for sustainable raw ingredients and looking at innovation within packaging, Khalid added Etika is also working diligently on waste management, waste reduction and recycling.

Beside working on implementing the 4Rs of waste management (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) across all everyday operations, the company has also developed a successful waste segregation system at the production line.

The implementation of this system has allowed Etika to recycle over our tonnes of beverage cans, 23 tons of paper cartons and 71 tonnes of plastic, amounting to over 98 tonnes of material that was recycled in 2020 and a cost saving on waste management.

While putting their best foot forward to build an actionable sustainability plan, the company continues to remain committed to also building sustainable communities by championing community focused initiatives parked under Etika Cares, he added.

Over the past year, Etika Cares has run several campaigns and extended help to local groups including frontliners, small business owners, the recent flood victims and more.

This is to ensure that Etika is able to create value and drive impact for all stakeholders.

“In recent years, we have seen an increasing number of consumers respond positively to brands who are committed to environment conscious and sustainable practices.

“This gives FMCG players like Etika an opportunity to relook at our existing sustainability commitments and reinvent models that lead to positive outcomes throughout the value chain, whether it is creating healthier products or innovating our packaging.

“As such, we remain committed to enhancing our sustainability practices throughout the year,” Khalid noted.