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

Frontken Corp Bhd (KL:FRONTKN) has bagged the silver award in the most improved ESG performance over three years category at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024.

Among the various sustainability programmes Frontken has successfully executed, the company is proud of its transition to green production using environmentally friendly chemicals and processes.

“Our R&D team developed new chemistry, materials and processes that minimise environmental impact. We conducted a thorough analysis of our production processes and chemicals consumption across our facilities,” says its executive director and chief scientist Dr Tay Kiang Meng.

“By implementing closed-loop systems and re-engineering processes to use green chemicals, less chemicals … consume less water, [and] generate less waste, we not only conserved resources but also lowered operational costs. We optimised our manufacturing processes to minimise waste and emissions.”

These advancements were coupled with extensive employee training programmes, ensuring that everyone from management to the operational staff understood the intricacies of green production and the proper handling of eco-friendly chemicals.

The biggest obstacle the company faced in the past year was maintaining process consistency and ensuring product quality assurance across its operations during the green transition process.

To address potential risks, Frontken implemented a rigorous approach to quality control. It conducted extensive testing and quality checks to ensure the performance of its green production processes met its standards and the expectations of customers.

Employee education also played a crucial role, and comprehensive training sessions and workshops were conducted across all operational levels.

While Frontken has made great strides forward, the broader adoption of ESG requires the involvement of key stakeholders — the government, investors and consumers.

“The government should establish comprehensive regulations and provide incentives that encourage businesses to adopt ESG practices. This could include tax incentives, grants and subsidies for companies investing in sustainable technologies and practices,” says Tay.

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