Mr Kenny Looi from SGS (Malaysia), presenting the MTCS Chain of Custody to Mr Shanthan Suppiah, General Manager of Setia Wood Industries Sdn Bhd witness by Mr Yong Teng Koon, MTCC CEO
S P Setia Offers Forest-friendly Flooring Option
Through Chain of Custody Certification
Kuala Lumpur, 1 October 2018 – Setia-Wood Industries Sdn Bhd (Setia-Wood), a subsidiary of S P Setia Berhad (S P Setia), recently obtained the Chain of Custody (CoC) certification under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), demonstrating its commitment to source sustainable materials.
With the MTCS certification, S P Setia effectively becomes the first property developer in Malaysia to showcase its support for sustainable forest management through such a certification. Setia-Wood aims to progressively increase the use of PEFC/MTCS-certified timber flooring for its residential projects. Hence, customers can make informed purchasing decisions when investing in their house that they are also contributing to the sustainable management of our forest.
“The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) applauds S P Setia’s efforts in championing green initiatives and embracing sustainability requirements in its development projects. The award of the MTCS CoC Certificate to Setia-Wood Industries Sdn Bhd further attests to S P Setia’s commitment to the cause of responsible forest management. We hope more developers in Malaysia will follow in the footsteps of S P Setia in obtaining certification and advocating the use of MTCS-certified timber in their projects,” said MTCC CEO, Mr Yong Teng Koon.
The MTCS is a national timber certification scheme operated by MTCC to promote sustainable forest management. A CoC certified company must be able to demonstrate that it has implemented and fulfilled the necessary quality standards required under the MTCS which ensures that forests from which the wood is sourced and managed sustainably. Since the implementation of the MTCS in 2001, and as of August 2018, a total of 4.45 million hectares of forest areas and 365 timber companies have been certified under the MTCS. In addition, MTCS has been endorsed by the largest forest certification scheme in the world namely the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) providing further credibility to the scheme.
Commenting on the certification, Shanthan Suppiah, General Manager of Setia Woods said, “We are Malaysia’s leading developer in building green townships, and thus we strive to innovate and offer the latest eco-concepts while adhering to environmental sustainability requirements. The MTCS certification is another step towards our commitment to incorporate sustainability practices in S P Setia’s projects. People often forget that using renewable energy sources, reducing our carbon footprint, environmental protection, and achieving ecological health, are ways to drive sustainability without having to compromise our modern lifestyles. We want to continue leading the way in building homes embracing sustainability criteria for the public. Hence, we are pleased to join the MTCS family in its aspiration to contribute to good forest management practices”.
At S P Setia, we are always looking for more innovative ways to offer the best possible options to our customers and incorporating MTCS-certified products into our designs will definitely add value to our projects which are known for their high standard of quality”, he added.
The MTCS-certified flooring products will be used in S P Setia’s eco-friendly Viia Residences located within the KL Eco City development. S P Setia has embarked on building green townships as far back as 2005 with its first eco-themed concept development, Setia Eco Park, in Setia Alam, Selangor. The Group has since proceeded with bigger and bolder initiatives in embracing eco concepts and sustainability, as exemplified in the Setia Eco Glades, Setia Eco Templer and soon to be launched Setia Fontaines in Penang.
“MTCC is excited that Setia-Wood has achieved this milestone of offering forest-friendly flooring solutions to home buyers. Protecting our forests often comes in the form of making greener purchasing decisions, and Setia-Wood has made it possible for consumers to do their part for the environment through the MTCS certification. We hope that many more developers will also pursue timber certification for their wood-based products to help raise consumers’ awareness on sustainable forest management,” concluded Yong.
