This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on October 28, 2024 - November 3, 2024

Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd (KL:PMETAL) secured the gold award in the industrial products and services category at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024.

One of the company’s proudest achievements in 2023 was earning the coveted ASI Performance Standard certification, an achievement that involved conducting rigorous audits, impact assessments across its facilities, setting time-bound targets and close collaboration with various stakeholders to reduce carbon emissions, enhance resource efficiency and protect biodiversity.

“All our smelters and extrusion facility in China are now ASI-certified, which reflects our unwavering commitment to responsible production. As a result, we have significantly advanced our sustainability roadmap, improved our disclosures and enhanced our tracking systems for better circular economy outcomes,” says Ivan Gan, Press Metal’s head of group sustainability.

Like any company striving for sustainability, Press Metal’s key hurdle in maintaining its ESG performance over the past year lay in extending its strong internal sustainability culture to its broader supply chain.

“We took a further step by introducing our Responsible Sourcing Standards in 2023, aligning our procurement practices with our sustainability goals,” says Gan, adding that the standards now serve as a comprehensive framework to guide engagement with suppliers, contractors, service providers and consultants.

“Our Responsible Sourcing Policy outlines key commitments, including compliance with legal and ethical business practices, human rights protections and environmental responsibility. It sets the expectations for all suppliers to support and respect labour and human rights — such as freedom of association, fair treatment and the elimination of forced or child labour — while ensuring safe and healthy working conditions.”

While the journey is far from over, Press Metal has successfully encouraged its partners to align with the company’s sustainability goals. This addresses one of the most complex challenges corporations face today, which is ensuring the entire value chain upholds strong ESG practices.

“To make ESG adoption more effective, we believe collaboration among stakeholders is crucial,” says Gan.

Not only does the government play a pivotal role in setting the tone through the implementation of optimal policies and incentives to promote sustainability, while fostering green technologies adoption, consumers too can be drivers of change.

“Consumers can choose eco-friendly products, pushing companies to maintain high ESG standards. Investors, in turn, can prioritise long-term value by supporting companies with strong ESG commitments,” he points out.

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