Overview to IPOSC 2022

The International Palm Oil Sustainability Conference 2022 (IPOSC 2022) is MPOC’s biannual conference that highlights the sustainability challenges and opportunities in the Malaysian palm oil (PO) industry to stakeholders involved in the palm oil sustainability debate. IPOSC 2022 has now approached its 7th edition since its introduction in 2008. 

Opening remarks

The CEO of MPOC YBrs Pn Wan Aishah Wan Hamid addressed that new international climate change and deforestation-linked legislation emerged as the challenges to the PO industry as they can potentially create trade barriers. In addition, for decades, the PO industry has been questioned on the issues related to deforestation, endangered wildlife, global warming, the sustainability of palm-based biofuels and the recent forced labour issues raised in the USA.

Pn Wan Aishah shared that corporate investors, trust funds and financial institutions have begun to impose ESG criteria in its investing and financing requirements. She believed that these developments will bring positive impacts to the corporates.

Plenary paper

The Joint Chairman of the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid presented “The Role of Malaysian Corporations in Shifting Sustainability Compliance to Sustainability Stewardship”. In his presentation, he encouraged the Malaysian PO industry to continue to be at the forefront of leading the sustainability practices.

Paper presentations

Session 1: Net zero and decarbonisation 

Senior Undersecretary at the Strategic Planning and International Division at the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) Malaysia, Mr Pubadi a/l Govindasamy presented five strategies for the development of the PO industry: sustainability, productivity, value creation, market development and inclusiveness.

He also shared the four policies and conservation efforts that have been implemented by the government for sustainable cultivation of PO. The commitment towards sustainable smallholders development includes: (1) MSPO incentive for smallholders, (2) replanting loan for smallholders, (3) sustainable palm oil cluster, (4) koperasi penanam sawit mampan (KPSM), and (5) assistance and subsidies for smallholders.

Chief Sustainability Officer at Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP) Mr Rashyid Redza Anwarudin stated that SDP pursues sustainability for people, planet and prosperity. While majority of SDP’s Scope 1 & 2 emissions originated from methane emissions from effluent treatments at the mills, he shared that SDP had a target to reduce 50% of its operational Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2030.

Mr Rashyid shared that over 80% of the energy consumed comes from renewable sources. He added that methane capture technology is the key in tackling the most material emission source at SDP. On solar energy, SDP Malaysia began to install photovoltaic (PV) systems in 2021. Various evaluation methods have been used to assess the risk of deforestation and peat clearance. Also, the assessments will be done on new developments to avoid deforestation.

Session 2: Global sustainability trade barriers

Teoh Cheng Hai (Seniro Advisor) and Law Chu Chien (Country Manager) from Solidaridad Network Asia shared that the priority should be given to capacity building and training in Best Management Practices before embarking on the certification process.

Risk Assurance Partner at PwC Malaysia Nik Shahrizal Sulaiman presented that it is important to determine communication channels to share ESG progress and PLCs should collate feedbacks on expectations and informational needs.

Managing Director of Meo Carbon Solutions GmbH, Andreas Feige highlighted that ongoing demand makes palm as attractive feedstock for bioenergy and non energetic markets, while there will be a premium market for low iLUC products.

Environment Counsellor at the EU Delegation to Indonesia and EU Lead for KAMI, Henriette Faergemann shared that it is important to communicate objective information to global markets to strengthen supply chains for sustainable PO. Deforestation-free PO and its traceability are the two key due diligence requirements that need to be achieved.

Session 3: Forum

The forum was moderated by YBrs Dr Ruslan Abdullah, Director of Science, Environment & Sustainability Division at MPOC. Senior Manager – Sustainable Commodity at WWF-Malaysia, Benjamin Loh shared that 20-30% of the economy is focused in sectors with high transition risk; RM50-60 billion incremental GDP per annum from a net zero pathway; and, less than 1% of the GDP is the investment cost required to achieve net zero.

The CEO of RSPO Joseph D’Cruz presented that the current GHG protocols measure full Scope 1 and aim to Scope 2 coverage and eventually extend to Scope 3 (partially) emissions. Deputy Head of Corporate Banking Malaysia at CIMB Bank, Rufimy Yii See Khin underlined several green projects involving green financing. For examples, upgrading biogas infrastructure, development of climate resilient agricultural methods and commercialisation of new plant varieties.

IPOSC 2022 infographic competition

Introduction

The competition was organised by POPSIG and co-organised by MPOC. The competition received 89 submissions from 192 students across 30 universities in Malaysia. Through this competition, over 22,000 “likes” were accumulated on social media and more than 400 posts related to #IPOSC2022SDGs were published.

This event witnessed the prize giving ceremony for the MPOC-POPSIG Infographic Competition. The Top 10 winning groups were presented with their prizes and certificates by the Director General of MPOB, YBhg Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Haji Ghulam Kadir on stage.

The prize presentation was joined by YBrs Pn Wan Aishah Binti Wan Hamid (CEO of MPOC), YBrs Dr Ruslan Abdullah (Director of SESD at MPOC), Dr Loh Soh Kheang (Head of Energy and Environment Unit, Engineering and Processing Research Division at MPOB) and Ir Hong Wai Onn (Founder of POPSIG). 

Top 10 winning teams

1. Lum Wai Hong (Year 3, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya),
   Tan Xin Ze (Year 3, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya)
2. Helena Tan Hui Fang (Year 2, Master of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia),
   Lo Ming Eirwen (Year 2, Bachelor of Electrical Power Engineering (Honours), College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional)
3. Foo Jia Wen (Year 3, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS),
   Ho Tze Jing (Year 3, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS),
   Poh Ching Hong (Year 3, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS)
4. Lim Jia Yang (Year 2, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya), Ng Chiu Hwi (Year 2, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya)
5. Ana Ariana Zulaiqa Binti Sahar (Year 3, Bachelor of Science Agrotechnology (Honours) in Agronomy, Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, UiTM Kampus Jasin),
   Nuraimi Syamimi Binti Bismi (Year 3, Bachelor of Science Agrotechnology (Honours) in Agronomy, Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, UiTM Kampus Jasin)
6. Tengku Regina Marsya Binti Tengku Murad (Year 2, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, SEGi University, Kota Damansara), Eshwarr G Sivakumar (Year 3, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, SEGi University, Kota Damansara),
   Tan Wai Hong (Year 3, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, SEGi University, Kota Damansara)
7. Amirul Hairie Bin Mohammad (Semester 2, Tamhidi Science Physical and Technology, Tamhidi Centre, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia), Anis Atirah Binti Mohamad Izatul Azhar (Semester 2, Tamhidi Science Physical and Technology, Tamhidi Centre, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia)
8. Nur Aliah Syafiqah Binti Ahmad Fauzi (Year 3, Bachelor of Technology in Food (Honours), Department of Food, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia),
   Aina Natasha binti Mahmood (Year 3, Bachelor of Technology in Food (Honours), Department of Food, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia)
9. Loi Xuen Ler (Year 1, Master of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia),
   Chen Yu Ng (Year 1, Master of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia)
10. Aunie Afifah Abdul Mutalib (Year 1, PhD in Advanced Materials, School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Muhammad Hafiyuddin Abdul Mutalib (Year 1, Master of Science in Engineering Design, Faculty of Innovative, Design and Technology, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin) 

• More information
• Announcement
• Event photos

Top 10 infographics

• 1st - 5th place infographics
• 6th - 10th place infographics

Finalists

• Full list of finalists
• Shortlisted infographics (Part 1)
• Shortlisted infographics (Part 2)
• Shortlisted infographics (Part 3)
• Shortlisted infographics (Part 4)

Note: Certain sections are adapted from www.mpoc.org.my and The Edge Markets.