1 Utama Shopping Centre has earned the top accolade amongst all Malaysian malls at the inaugural Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPK) Top Sustainability Practices Awards 2024 awards ceremony, reaffirming its position as a mall leader in ESG excellence.
With a legacy of sustainability spanning nearly three decades since 1995, 1 Utama has consistently raised the bar in green building, energy efficiency, and water management in the industry as Malaysia’s 1st Green Mall. In 2023, the mall was also awarded the prestigious GreenRE Platinum certification, the highest rating under GreenRE, making it the first platinum rated mall in Malaysia and setting another benchmark for environmental leadership in the retail sector.
During the PPK awards ceremony held on 4th September at Sunway Resort Hotel, 1 Utama was awarded Platinum in Category C – for malls with a net lettable area of 1,000,000 square feet and above. The award, presented by PPK President Phang Sau Lian and Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Chairman Datuk Dr Yasmin Mahmood, was proudly received by 1 Utama Director Teo Chui Ping.
Said Teo, “We are deeply honored by this recognition, which acknowledges 1 Utama’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and ESG principles both in Malaysia and globally. Since we opened 1 Utama in 1995, our vision has always been to create a better-designed, more efficient mall that aligns with international best practices by incorporating green building features and promoting sustainable materials. This award is also a testament to the collective efforts of our management team and retailers, who all share a common goal of positioning 1 Utama as Malaysia’s first and leading green mall”.
This accolade recognizes 1 Utama’s comprehensive environmental initiatives, including Malaysia’s largest solar energy installations in a retail mall, one-stop recycling hub 1RECYCLING CENTRE, W.I.S.E. Food Waste Management System, and iconic green attractions such as its award-winning Rainforest and Southeast Asia’s largest rooftop garden, promoting both biodiversity and eco-tourism.
Driving Sustainable Innovation
1 Utama’s sustainability framework is closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encompassing energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The mall’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is underpinned by its performance metrics, divided into four key pillars: energy, water, waste, and GHG emissions.
1 Utama is also at the forefront of forging Green Lease Partnerships with its tenants, encouraging sustainable practices in fit-out, operations, and retail spaces. This collaborative effort aims to drive collective progress toward a net-zero future, reinforcing 1 Utama’s ESG aspirations.
The mall embraces cutting-edge digital and green technologies, including the launch of ForestONE – a groundbreaking mobile app game that gamifies tree planting – the first of its kind to be developed by a Malaysian mall, as well as promoting cashless shopping with its 1PAY E-wallet and ONESHOP E-commerce platform to drive the nation’s digital economy forward for electronic cashless payments.
A popular one-stop recycling hub, its 1RECYCLING CENTRE combines tech, sustainability and rewards into a seamless solution to reduce environmental impact and inspire shoppers to adopt a zero waste lifestyle. For each recycling transaction, shoppers are rewarded with QR-code digital Green Points through 1 Utama’s SuperApp, which also tracks the amount of carbon savings based on weight, quantity and waste category. Accumulated Green Points can then be converted into ONECARD UPoints to shop and dine in the mall or into virtual water to plant trees with 1 Utama’s ForestONE tree planting game. These advancements highlight 1 Utama’s leadership in merging retail innovation with sustainability.
1 UTAMA GREEN BUILDING FEATURES
1 Utama has long been at the forefront of sustainability, benchmarking forward-thinking green building and socially sustainable initiatives that provide an exceptional shopping experience:
- 1 Utama is the 1st mall in Malaysia to install Ice and Chilled Water Storage Systems that produces ice and chilled water during off-peak hours using idling generating capacities of the power grid to save 30% of electricity consumption.
- A modern computerized Building Automation System (B.A.S.) programmes the mall building to respond to the diversity of demands for energy e.g. infrared / motion sensors detect and adjust variables such as temperature, lights, escalators, lifts, water pumps and building motors to utilize energy at optimal levels.
- Energy-saving LED bulbs and light sensors via the B.A.S reduce lighting load by 50% while atriums are designed with natural daylighting to minimize the need for artificial lights.
- Installation of the largest on-site Solar PV Panels and BIPV Panels covering 273,296 sq ft generates 5,694 kWp clean renewable energy to power the mall.
- Rainwater is harvested and stored in specially built reservoir tanks, thereby reducing demand for treated water by up to 30%. The rainwater is then filtered clean for irrigation, landscaping and water supply to cool air-conditioning towers.
- Water efficient fittings are installed such as low flow taps, sensor taps and cisterns with half flush options to further save water.
- To prevent ‘sick building syndrome’, fresh air is pumped indoors while stale air is expelled above and beyond the 10-15% building standard for a healthier shopping environment. This process is conducted at 3am when outdoor temperature is lowest to reduce aircond load and also because air is at its coolest and freshest.
- Smart electronic sensors detect high levels of carbon dioxide in 1 Utama and sends the signal back to the B.A.S. to replace and circulate indoor air.
- High efficiency hospital-grade MERV13 air filters are used to trap 90% of airborne particles, haze, dust and other pollutants for round-the-clock protection, further purified by powerful UV lights to kill harmful microbes, bacteria and viruses.
- 1 Utama’s 30,000 sq ft Green Roof lowers building heat load by 50-90% and cools the surrounding environment.
- Green Lease partnership requirements are provided in 1 Utama’s Design Fit-out Checklist for tenants to embed sustainability practices throughout their tenancy period in the mall.
- Low emission materials such as zero or low VOC paints and chemically safe wood are carefully selected during construction and renovation works and used wherever possible together with sustainable products.
- Centre wide waste is segregated to promote recycling, conforming to legislative waste disposal methods.
- 1 Utama is seamlessly integrated with interconnected covered bridges and walkways to the MRT & LRT Stations to encourage use of public transport. A dedicated Transport Hub with coach and bus terminals also play a key role in promoting vehicle pooling.
OTHER COMMUNITY-FOCUSED & ECO-INITIATIVES
To further promote its green agenda, 1 Utama has developed many community-focused
eco-initiatives:
- 1 Utama’s W.I.S.E with Food Programme – Proudly home to the largest on-site retail food waste management system in South East Asia, 1 Utama processes 4,000kg of food waste daily from 160 F&B tenants into 100% organic fertilizers, thereby reducing 78% of CO2 from the atmosphere. An experiential showcase and viewing gallery is located at LG Promenade for visitors to watch the entire recycling process live. Shoppers can also purchase this end product at 1RECYCLING CENTRE or on ONESHOP.com.my via donation.
- Food Rescue: Saving Surplus Food, Operasi Zero Waste – To complete the food sustainability cycle and prevent wastage, 1 Utama together with The Lost Food Project “rescues” edible surplus food such as fruits, vegetables, bread, bun and pastries from participating F&B’s (Lavender, Jaya Grocer, Secret Recipe, Komugi, Breadstory, Nando’s, Food Republic, Elephant Resort), supplying 6,000 meals a month to charities and homes.
- The Kotak Project – In partnership with Food Aid Foundation, 1 Utama collects household essentials and groceries from its charity box (kotak) donated by shoppers to distribute all year round to over 130 welfare organizations and the underprivileged.
- Book Matters: Gift a Book, Gift a Future – Knowledge is power. Book Matters is part of 1 Utama’s Literacy Programme that aims to circulate books sustainably to schools, libraries and learning centres so that 150,000 beneficiaries can share in the joy of reading.
- Feed-The-Fish Charity Campaign – A charity drive powered by feeding fishes, 1 Utama has been sponsoring RM1 fish food since 2004 with 100% of sales proceeds donated to NGO’s yearly. Beneficiaries include Zoo Negara to adopt animals, WWF to re-establish Sabah’s fish population, Sun Bear Conservation Centre to protect sun bears in Sandakan, MARECET to support dolphin and marine research and TRAFFIC to stop illegal animal trafficking.
- EV Stations – Designated electric charging stations are conveniently available to promote EV usage and shift towards clean energy for an eco-friendlier transportation future.
- Water Refill Stations – Available mall-wide, shoppers can B.Y.O. tumblers and flasks to refill free drinking water instead of purchasing bottled water. All F&B restaurants in 1 Utama are also required to serve drinking water as part of 1 Utama’s policy to reduce plastic bottled waste.
Adapted from Press Release.
