Green Practices Guideline for Services Sector

PART II: ASSESSMENT 2.1 ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT OF GREEN PRACTICES Green practices in the services sector in Malaysia aim to foster innovation, minimise resource usage, eliminate or minimise toxic substances, reduce waste generation, and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions throughout the entire service life cycle. Recognising the importance of sustainability, businesses in the services sector are committed to adopting green practices to ensure long-term viability and environmental stewardship. This guideline has been specifically developed considering the unique capacities, operations, and environmental impacts of diverse sectors within the services industry. It provides a framework for implementing green practices that are applicable and beneficial across various service operations in Malaysia. The goals of green practices in the services sector include: RESOURCE CONSERVATION: Businesses aim to conserve valuable resources such as energy, water, and materials. By optimising resource usage, adopting efficient technologies and processes, and promoting responsible consumption, companies in the services sector can minimise their ecological footprint and reduce resource depletion. REDUCTION OF TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: Green practices focus on minimising the use of toxic and hazardous materials in service operations. Businesses can adopt alternative materials, promote safer practices, and implement sustainable procurement policies to minimise emissions and waste generated during their service delivery processes. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTION: The services sector aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By implementing cleaner and more energy- efficient technologies, optimising energy consumption, and exploring renewable energy options, businesses can contribute to mitigating climate change impacts. The guideline provides general recommendations that can be applied across different sectors within the services industry. It emphasises the importance of businesses adopting and implementing green practices in Malaysia. These recommendations enable companies to develop action plans and implementation strategies tailored to their specific capabilities, operations, and long-term sustainability goals. By following the outlined steps, businesses in the services sector can develop comprehensive action plans for integrating green practices into their existing and future operations. The approach takes into account the sector’s current capabilities and strategies, ensuring a practical and achievable transition towards sustainability and responsible resource management. Overall, embracing green practices in the services sector in Malaysia is crucial for conserving resources, minimising environmental impacts, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting the sector’s long-term viability in alignment with global sustainability goals. 29 GREEN PRACTICES GUIDELINE FOR SERVICES SECTOR