Feature Stories
Driving the Transition to Sustainable Construction
Marketplace 31 October 2023
As the market leader in Malaysia, YTL Cement recognises the importance and benefits of sustainable development and has made significant strides in promoting sustainable construction. On 11 April 2023, YTL Cement signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM), a subsidiary under the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia, to support the transition of the nation’s construction industry to sustainable construction. The MOU centres on three key areas: personnel development, research and development (R&D), and supporting the construction sector to transition to sustainable construction.
This MOU marks the beginning of meaningful collaboration between the Government and industry to achieve construction excellence and promote sustainable practices, in line with the nation’s 2050 carbon neutral aspiration. CIDB and YTL Cement are joining forces to drive progress in several key areas. They will jointly design training programmes aimed at certifying youths as concrete technicians, with a focus on developing training syllabi for accreditation programmes for qualified personnel in operations. This initiative is expected to assist in attracting, retaining, and nurturing skilled workers vital to the construction industry’s growth. Additionally, YTL Cement’s laboratory and testing facilities will be made available for R&D efforts. Collaborating with YTL Cement’s team of experts, CREAM will explore lower embodied carbon alternatives in materials and construction methods, contributing to environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the partnership will play a pivotal role in supporting the construction sector’s transition to sustainable practices. This workstream will centre on the development of a Sustainable Construction Roadmap, capacity building initiatives, and effective communication strategies to promote sustainable construction practices amongst industry players. Together, CIDB and YTL Cement are poised to drive positive change, nurturing a skilled workforce, fostering innovation, and advancing sustainable construction in line with national goals.
On 23 June 2023, YTL Cement and The Edge Malaysia co-organised a symposium titled “Embracing Sustainability in Construction and Real Estate”. The symposium aimed to foster an open dialogue about ESG considerations amongst industry players and discuss its relevance to the local construction sector. The event also served as a platform to share industry trends and encourage networking amongst various stakeholders, with the collective mission of advancing sustainable construction practices in the country.
Additionally, in response to the construction industry’s rising need for more environmentally friendly building materials, YTL Cement has been expanding their range of eco-friendly products. These products, such as ECOCem cement, ECOConcrete, ECOSand, and ECODrymix, are produced with lower embodied carbon and contain recycled materials. They are specifically formulated to reduce the environmental impact of construction projects whilst maintaining high durability and safety standards. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) information labels were also introduced on the cement packaging to raise awareness amongst consumers about the availability of more environmentally friendly and sustainable products.
The company also strives for continuous innovation through in-house R&D at the Construction Development Lab (CDL) and collaborations with technical experts and pioneers of emerging technologies from other countries. During the reporting period, YTL Cement had three product development projects: Flowable concrete (an improved version of self-compacting ECOConcrete, designed to be easier to pump, lay, and compact), Lightweight aggregate (for lightweight concrete production), and Ultra-low-carbon concrete (a groundbreaking innovation with the potential to accelerate sustainable construction practices and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 60%).
