KUCHING: F&N Beverages’ plant in Kuching has emerged the winner in the Medium Industries – Manufacturing Category of the Chief Minister’s Environmental Award (CMEA) this year.
F&N Beverages Kuching competed with another 31 companies nominated within the same category.
F&N Beverages, represented by the National head of manufacturing, Lee Joon Hin, received the award from the honourable Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem who graced the award presentation ceremony on December 15 in Kuching.
Speaking at the ceremony, Lee said that conservation measures in water and energy usage, as well as continuous recycling efforts are not only practiced to sustain the environment, but it also helps them reduce their operating cost and workload; hence maintaining their high productivity rate.
“This award is indeed a recognition of our unending effort to maintain a good balance between sustaining our environment and our aspirations to be the leading beverage player in Malaysia and also Asean,” he said.
The biennial award attracted 73 companies and organisations this year, and is divided into four main categories — Large Enterprise, Medium Industries, Small Industries and Local Authorities.
It serves as recognition to those who have shown outstanding environmental stewardship and sustainable green initiatives in their daily operations.
“The strongest scoring point that drove the win for F&N Beverages Kuching was its Waste Water Treatment Plant that treats industrial waste water, before it is discharged into public drainage,” the group noted in a statement yesterday.
“The plant is also ISO 14001 certified, and is in compliance with the Environmental Quality Act 1974, the OSHA Occupational Safety and the Health Act 1994.
“All of these factors combined made the Kuching Plant one of the most environmental-friendly manufacturers, deserving the award.”
The Kuching Plant was constructed in 1965, and is the first F&N Beverages plant in East Malaysia. With 165 employees, it has the maximum capacity of producing seven million cases of beverages per year.
Whilst staying on top of its productivity, F&N Beverages also ensures that the sustainability of the environment is not disregarded.
Among the industries who contested for the award are manufacturing, telecommunications, electricity supply, wastes disposal, water supply, forwarding and transportation, construction, plantation, logging, quarry and mining, oil and gas, hotels (three-star and above), golf courses, restaurants, gas/petrol stations, recycling services, city and municipal councils, and district councils.