5 ENHANCING VALUE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY 157 Healthcare facilities continued to implement structured waste programmes spanning textiles, organics and biodegradable alternatives. Textile circularity was advanced through Group-wide fabric recycling initiatives across hospitals and Menara UEM, with 803.9 kg collected to date. The Green Thread Champion 2025 campaign accelerated participation, collecting about 251 kg of textile waste within 10 days. A major healthcare pilot also progressed during the year. Waste Reduction and Recycling Across Operations Biodegradable Food Tray Initiative The Biodegradable Food Tray Initiative was championed and funded by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and facilitated by Edgenta Mediserve as a pilot programme across 28 hospitals in the Northern Region. The initiative evaluated the feasibility and operational impact of replacing conventional reusable plastic and metal trays with biodegradable food trays, which were produced by Free The Seed using raw materials sourced from approximately 1,300 B‑40 category rice farmers in Kedah, thereby supporting local livelihoods and promoting sustainable supply chain. Assessment findings indicated the approach is technically feasible and operationally viable for hospital settings. The programme reduced electricity, water and chemical detergent consumption by eliminating tray washing processes. Lighter tray weight improved ergonomics and reduced manual handling demands for hospital staff. From an environmental perspective, carbon reduction was driven by the removal of washing-related energy use and the use of paddy straw as a raw material, diverting agricultural waste from open burning. Preliminary assessment estimated 63,079.17 kg CO₂e of carbon reduction across the 28 hospitals. 251 kg of fabric diverted from landfill through Fabric Recycling Bin Campaign installed in Menara UEM The Biodegradable Food Tray used in 28 hospitals in the Northern Region
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