ALMOST every new establishment in Penang is required to incorporate green elements to operate sustainably, a vital vision set by the Penang government in pursuit of its long-term sustainability efforts and a broader objective of ensuring a green state.
Today marks another milestone in the state’s green agenda as Penang Green Council (PGC) officially launched the Penang Green Hotel Excellence Programme, an initiative aimed at guiding hotels in reducing their environmental footprint, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing guests’ experience.
PGC chief executive officer Josephine Tan said while the programme is meant to recognise industry players in the relevant sector, its broader objective is also to ensure continued sustainability and to serve as a guide in assisting the state in its green efforts.
“As of now, we have had a total of 17 hotels that have registered to participate in this programme, a positive sign of interest as every small thing starts small, somewhere.
“Our target for this year is 40 hotels, and we are optimistic that Penang hoteliers will be encouraged with the plan we have under this programme, and with their support, we are sure to move forward positively towards achieving our goal of a sustainable state with a clear and realistic green agenda,” she said in her speech during the official launching ceremony of the programme at St Giles Wembley Hotel in George Town today.
For interested hotels, the Penang Green Hotel Assessment is now open for registration until June. Audits will be conducted, with audit results expected within one month after the site visit.
Audit and application fees range from RM1,000 to RM2,500, depending on the total number of hotel rooms, with further details available on PGC’s official website.
It was also learned that each participating hotel is expected to enjoy several benefits, namely the publication of their hotel name on PGC’s website, and the state’s tourism platforms, the right to use the Penang Green Hotel logo for official and promotional purposes, as well as the Penang Green Hotel wall plaque, participation in awards presentation ceremonies, and lastly, participation in the Penang Green Badge Partners Project.
Participating hotels need to be ranked 3-star and above to be eligible to join this programme.
Meanwhile, state Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu applauded PGC for introducing such an initiative, calling it a timely effort in view of the state’s pursuit of potentially becoming the first state in Malaysia to go 100% with no use of single-use plastic.
“This year’s Independence Day will see the last day for the use of single-use plastic in Penang, as from Sept 1 onwards, the no single-use plastic programme will be enforced across the state.
“We are in the education phase now, where for the past two years or more, the public has constantly been reminded of this direction of no single-use plastic mindset, prompting them to be prepared with recycled bags or containers, especially when they visit shopping malls or hypermarkets.
“The transition is positive because if not all, most people are practising placing recycled bags in their cars, which directly shows their awareness and preparedness of adapting to life without single-use plastics,” Sundarajoo said in his speech earlier.
The exco man, who is also PGC’s vice-chairman, said that PGC, in collaboration with the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), have vowed to roll out 100,000 recycled bags to the public, part of the state government’s efforts to encourage the going green agenda among Penangites.
Some 45,000 bags have been distributed so far, where Sundarajoo cited a recent event where a big chunk of bags were handed out at the Chowrasta Market in George Town.
Meanwhile, Tan, in a related development, highlighted an additional initiative focused on reducing plastic waste during the press conference.
She explained that many people often accumulate reusable bags from forums, conferences, and other events, which sometimes end up unused. To address this, PGC has introduced a programme called ‘Re-Bag Stations.’
“If you have excessive reusable bags, feel free to donate them.
“These Re-Bag Stations are designed so that if someone forgets to bring their own bag while doing groceries, they do not have to buy a new one. They can simply take a free bag from the station,” she said.
According to her, the initiative has already been rolled out at three locations, namely Gurney Plaza, Design Village Outlet Mall, and Gama Hypermarket, with Queensbay Mall set to join soon.
“This is a very new initiative by PGC. We hope it will encourage the public to donate extra reusable bags to the Re-Bag Stations, and for those who need them, feel free to take and reuse them,” she added.
Also present was state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, who commended the Penang Green Hotel initiative, emphasising its crucial role in elevating the tourism landscape in Penang.
“Today, we are taking a major step forward by officially launching the Penang Green Hotel Excellence Programme.
“This state-driven recognition scheme is designed to elevate the hospitality industry’s sustainability journey and position Penang as a leader in responsible tourism.
“This programme is also a practical tool for business efficiency. By reducing energy and water consumption, hotels can directly protect their bottom line against rising utility costs.
“At the same time, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) compliance has now become a mandatory requirement to attract premium global MICE events to our shores,” he said.
To support this transition, Wong said the state, through his office, has developed a One-Stop Platform for hotels to conduct gap analysis, create action plans and earn official recognition.
“I encourage all Penang hoteliers to become early adopters through three simple steps: first, complete a Quick GREEN Check-In to find your current status on the PGC website; second, discover the programme requirements; and third, apply via our official self-assessment portal.
“The state government stands firmly behind you. Recognised green hotels will receive priority in Penang Global Tourism’s international marketing and roadshows.
“Let us work together to ensure Penang remains the sustainable tourism leader in the region,” he further added.
Also present earlier was Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Siew Chia En