KUALA LUMPUR: Panasonic has announced a significant achievement at its automotive systems factory in Penang, Malaysia with the facility now operating as a net-zero carbon emission plant.
Being the first in Penang to have declared the status, Panasonic Automotive Systems Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a manufacturer of high-quality audio and navigation systems for vehicles, attained the net-zero CO2 standing earlier this year.
The ISO 14001-certified plant, with a land area of 100,700 square metres and a build-up area of 28,430 square metres, has been working to reduce CO2 emissions from various aspects of its operations.
Key initiatives include replacing water pumps, lighting, air-conditioning and cooling systems' equipment with energy-efficient ones, installing motion sensors, and conducting air leak surveys and implementing countermeasures.
In October 2018, the company invested in renewable energy via the installation of a small photovoltaic system that generates 0.8 per cent of the total factory's electricity consumption.
Panasonic Automotive Systems Malaysia managing director Takahiro Suzuki said it has been in constant talks with the Penang State Department of Environment to stay aligned in working towards the country's commitment in achieving its carbon neutrality target by 2050.
Suzuki also highlighted that continuing to maintain the zero-CO2 factory status requires commitment from both management and staff.
"We have promoted energy saving and adopted sustainable practices, such as installing high-volume, low-speed fans in place of air-conditioning and switching off lights during breaktimes, to cut wastefulness, and we are truly appreciative of the support and participation of our employees.
"Achieving the 'zero-CO2 factory status' is not an endpoint, albeit a major milestone in our ongoing journey to full environmental sustainability," he said.
Panasonic Automotive Systems Malaysia aims to systematically reduce its energy consumption by 3.0 per cent annually.
It hopes to partially achieve this through a bigger photovoltaic system, comprising 3,284 solar panels to be installed on its rooftops by March 2024, that will supply the plant with 20 per cent of its electricity usage.