This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on September 29, 2025 – October 5, 2025
According to the World Green Building Council, the built environment generates a third of the world’s waste and is responsible for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions by buildings annually. What steps can the property sector take to mitigate these environmental risks? ESG spoke to sustainability consultants and professionals to find out.
Simplifying waste management
According to Tang Chee Khoay, chair of the working committee for the development of a data centre tool under the Green Building Index (GBI), property developers should adopt more advanced waste management practices by simplifying segregation into two streams: organic waste, such as food scraps and garden waste; and inorganic waste, such as plastic.
A key issue with current waste-to-energy approaches, he notes, is the inclusion of organic waste, which adds moisture to the waste stack. This moisture requires extensive drying through heating, a process that consumes significant energy.
Tang says the amount of energy used to dry the waste often outweighs the energy produced. Instead, he advocates for the use of anaerobic digesters — airtight, oxygen-free tanks that convert organic waste into biogas.
Tang suggests that commercial developments with multiple properties in the vicinity could invest in their own anaerobic digesters to manage local waste streams. “They can handle waste from their supermarkets, hotels and other facilities,” he says. “If they can offer these solutions to municipal councils, it will be a business opportunity.”
The cost of a small-scale tank can range from RM10,000 to RM100,000 depending on its size and construction, he says.
“I’ve seen the International School of Kuala Lumpur install one for under RM10,000,” he adds. “They used two plastic tanks and a simple system. It’s doable.”
Using materials with low embedded carbon
Green and sustainable construction materials with low embodied carbon have been available in the market for some time, but adoption in Malaysia remains limited. Driving demand will be essential to grow and sustain this market.
“Once developers show an interest in reducing carbon emissions, we should start by showing them simple, accessible ways to do it,” says Tang Chee Khoay, chair of the working committee for the development of a data centre tool under the Green Building Index (GBI). “When they start using low-carbon materials, suppliers will recognise the demand and start innovating to meet it.”
Tan Loke Mun, director of ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd and founder of DTLM Design Group, also suggests using as much recycled material as possible, considering that many old buildings are being demolished.
He explains that demolishing old buildings is highly carbon-intensive, so the best way to mitigate it is by carefully selecting recyclable materials for both reconstruction and new developments.
Tearing down a building completely also leads to waste and energy consumption. “You contribute to dumping, use energy to demolish and then need to buy new materials that have embedded carbon. So, of course, the best approach is to reuse,” he says.
Developers can use green concrete made with at least 20% to 25% of recycled material, slag or fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion. Green concrete has the same strength and durability as original concrete, making it a more sustainable alternative for developers, says Tan.
Another option is to switch from clay bricks to autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), which is lighter, has better insulation, reduces structural load and lowers cooling demand.
Tan points out that timber is becoming a more accessible option for developers, thanks to targeted tree replanting efforts. “If the timber comes from regenerative forests or is Forest Stewardship Council-certified, the embedded carbon is quite low. As long as it’s not from tropical trees, which take around 80 years to grow, trees can be replanted,” he explains.
“Softwoods like oak are industrially laminated for strength, and there are already high-rises built primarily with timber because of its lower embedded carbon.”
Tan highlights innovative companies from overseas, such as Forbo, which produces sustainable linoleum tiles, and Interface, a carpet manufacturer that makes products almost entirely from natural materials. Interface’s carpets are available in Malaysia, but the cost is currently difficult for most developers to justify.
Another way to boost adoption of low-embedded carbon materials is through material passports, which hold producers accountable by requiring audits that verify a product’s embedded emissions. This transparency helps consumers make informed choices, such as distinguishing between linoleum and vinyl tiles, which look similar but have very different carbon footprints.
Tang explains, “SIRIM offers a service that audits a product from raw materials to final production and reports how much carbon is embedded inside. In the GBI, we’re now requiring this certification.”
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