Since 2009, IPC Shopping Centre in Mutiara Damansara has been helping the community and its tenants live greener through its Recycling & Buy-Back Centre (RBBC).

Over the years, a modest recyclable waste collection point has evolved into a pioneering digital recycling hub with a customer loyalty programme and cashback rewards to promote mindful living.

“We had wanted a better way to manage our own waste, as we are part of a Swedish group that prioritises driving the business in a sustainable way. That extends to how we take care of the community and environment,” says Karyn Lim, General Manager of IPC.

Back then, only a small community practised waste recycling, and IPC RBBC started with just a few core categories, such as cardboard, paper and aluminium. Growing support from local residents prompted the centre to expand in size, scope and scale. Today, IPC RBBC offers one of the widest waste collection ranges in a retail mall, covering also plastics, aluminium, metal, drink carton, polystyrene, clothing, glass bottles, e-waste, as well as scheduled waste, such as light bulbs, batteries, and expired non-liquid medicines.

The number of Green Makers — IPC Tack Club loyalty members participating in recycling — has grown in double digits annually, with around 11,000 members visiting IPC RBBC at least once a month.

“With few existing references, we had to brainstorm, conceptualise and build the entire system from scratch with our partners and vendors. What you can see today is a whole new experience of IPC RBBC that really shapes and fits the modern lifestyle, making it comfortable, clean, convenient, and rewarding,” Lim says.

IPC, which houses sister company IKEA Damansara among the anchor tenants, is now taking another step forward in championing sustainability through education and engagement.

The RBBC Team Building Programme transformed recycling into a hands-on learning experience through guided tours, workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions for schools, corporates and community groups. The curriculum has already engaged international schools, Alliance Bank and Decathlon Malaysia, aimed at empowering more Malaysians with the skills to recycle correctly and reduce waste.

In its latest initiative, the Bring Your Own Container (BYOC) Reward Programme will allow IPC’s Tack Club members to bring their own food carriers or tumblers for takeaway orders at participating F&B outlets such as Paradise Dynasty and BananaBro in exchange for a discount. From Nov 25, 2025, members may unlock the BYOC Reward in the IPC app, simply using five “Tack Points” from the rewards catalogue and scanning the outlet’s QR code at checkout to enjoy a 50 sen discount for the transaction, fully subsidised by IPC.

Complementing this initiative, the newly enhanced IPC app now features a recycling tracker, which enables members to monitor their individual recycling progress to promote accountability and engagement.

IPC also continues to partner with Arus Oil to collect used cooking oil twice a month from tenants and the public, offering recyclers RM2.50 cashback per kilogramme. The oil waste collection will be expanded to a weekly frequency starting from January 2026. This initiative helps divert oil waste from drains and waterways, thus reducing pollution while promoting a circular economy.

As part of its effort to reduce landfill waste, IPC Shopping Centre also celebrates tenants who demonstrate effective waste-segregation practices within their outlets and ensure proper disposal through the Recycling & Buy-Back Centre (RBBC). Through the IPC Green Tenant Awards, tenants are recognised for their ongoing commitment to responsible waste management, including their recycling performance, year-on-year improvements, and insights gathered from on-site assessments.

Each year, the top three tenants winning the awards receive a half-month service charge discount and an IKEA gift card for all retail staff. Previous years’ winners include Padini, Watson’s, Toys”R”Us, All IT Hypermarket, Brands Outlet, HappiKiddo, Sketchers, Crocs, BBQ King, AEON Wellness, Absolute Thai and Simply Chicken.

To further encourage tenants to manage waste properly, they can earn cash back through a buy-back scheme by sending selected types of recyclables to the IPC RBBC. The cash-back reward is calculated monthly based on the accumulated recyclables for that month.

IPC aims to expand its sustainability ecosystem by partnering with more organisations and exploring new methods for waste processing and resource recovery. RBBC will also continue to educate and inspire the community to embrace waste recycling as a natural part of everyday life.

Under its Green Building Management practices, IPC already seeks to conserve energy, water and natural resources through the installation of solar PV panels and LED lighting systems, rainwater harvesting and the use of eco-friendly and food-grade cleaning agents that enhance both energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

As Malaysia’s retail industry moves towards greater sustainability, IPC Shopping Centre is leading by example, turning what was once a compliance requirement into a part of everyday life.