NORTHPORT AND KLANG ROYAL CITY COUNCIL PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE URBAN AGRICULTURE THROUGH CIRCLE OF LIFE INITIATIVE

KLANG, 28 May 2024 – Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (“Northport”), a member of MMC Group, and the Klang Royal City Council (“MBDK”) announced a collaborative initiative aimed at fostering sustainable urban agriculture through an innovative large-scale vertical farming project. Dubbed “Circle of Life Community Garden”, this initiative is set to expand urban farming in Klang, promoting community engagement and integrating principles of the circular economy.

A key component of this initiative is the active involvement of local community stakeholders. For this project, Northport and MBDK will work closely with schools, mosques and residents of the nearby housing areas to ensure the community is at the heart of the initiative. By engaging these groups, the project aims to educate and inspire the local community about the benefits of sustainable agriculture. This project will also involve partnerships with stakeholders from the Port Klang port and logistics industry, demonstrating the collective support and commitment of the industry community in promoting sustainable practices.

“We first initiated the vertical farming project at our premises in August 2023 and have seen positive results since then. Due to its success, we extended the initiative to nearby schools in Klang as part of our CSR programme aimed at raising awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability among school children while promoting local community development. The next phase is this collaboration with the city council which is a large-scale project focusing on developing the nearby community with the assistance of the port and logistics industry players. Our goal is to elevate this initiative into a sustainable ecosystem with the involvement of various levels of stakeholders,” said Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of Northport.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of MBDK, Datin Paduka TPr. Noraini binti Roslan, said, “This innovative project initiated by Northport is an excellent initiative as it combines environmental sustainability and community engagement to develop the ecosystem, particularly in Klang. We feel that it is our responsibility to support this initiative, and we have allocated a piece of land in Port Klang for the project. We hope that more organisations will come forward and participate in this initiative as it contributes to the well-being of the local community.”

Vertical farming is an innovative agricultural system where crops are grown in vertically stacked layers within a controlled environment. This method allows for efficient resource use, requiring minimal monitoring and significantly less water. It requires a smaller land area compared to traditional farming methods, making it highly adaptable to various locations, including urban areas and industrial sites. Vertical farming also encourages a circular economy by emphasising sustainability, minimising waste, and maximising resource efficiency.

For Northport’s vertical farming project, the water supply comes from its rainwater harvesting system, which collects and stores naturally sourced rainwater in a storage tank. The stored water is then supplied directly to the water pump, which is powered by solar energy, ensuring an eco-friendly and renewable power source. In addition to sustainable water management, the vertical farming system utilises fertilisers produced by an aerobic digester machine. This machine biologically converts solid food waste materials from canteens around Northport into compost, providing nutrient-rich fertiliser for the plants. The funding for this project comes from the proceeds of Northport’s recycling campaign. Since its launch in 2018, Northport’s annual 3R programme, “Ayuh Kitar Semula” has successfully collected more than 217 tonnes of recyclable items worth RM75,254.

The large-scale vertical farming project initiated by Northport is expected to bring significant benefits to the Klang community. These include increased access to fresh, locally-grown vegetables, enhanced community engagement and education on sustainable practices, a reduced carbon footprint and landfill waste through innovative farming techniques, and improving local food security and resilience. As the project progresses, Northport and MBDK aim to expand the initiative to include more community partners and stakeholders, further embedding sustainability into the fabric of Klang’s urban landscape. This collaboration represents a key step towards a more sustainable and resilient future for the community.

Prior to this, Northport has implemented various initiatives to showcase its commitment to sustainability as part of its Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) strategy. These initiatives include the use of Electrified Rubber Tired Gantry (“E-RTG”) cranes for its container handling operations, making Northport the first port in Malaysia to utilise environmentally friendly terminal handling equipment. Northport is also the first port in Malaysia to establish an on-site Port Reception Facility (PRF), providing a value-added service for total waste management solutions to the berthing ships.

Other initiatives include the replacement of conventional lighting with LED systems across its operational areas and office buildings, resulting in reduced energy consumption, lower maintenance costs and improved lighting quality. Northport has also equipped its Northport Distripark Sdn Bhd (“NDSB”) 2 new warehouses with green elements such as solar panels, a natural aIr ventilation system, translucent panels for natural lighting, an Industrialised Building System (IBS) and a Rainwater Harvesting System.

Emphasising its commitment to zero waste, Northport also organised an ESG-themed “Hari Raya Open House” event with a zero food waste KPI in 2023. Through these initiatives, Northport continues to lead by example in promoting a sustainable future for the Klang community and beyond.