BHS Industries Berhad, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is primarily involved in printing and publishing, has begun venturing into a new sustainable green business, towards transforming and diversifying its existing core business operations. BHS aims to achieve this through the setting up of a green technology driven, paper mill factory using a patented Malaysian-owned technology called Preconditioning Refiner Chemical-Recycle Bleached Mechanized Pulp (PRC-RBMP).

The thrust of the project is not only to revolutionize the printing and publishing industry by providing a new source of eco-friendly and sustainable paper and pulp, but to also provide Malaysia with an alternative source of local paper and pulp products. This is to be accomplished via the processing and manufacturing of palm oil industrial waste known as Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) into renewable paper pulp products. Accordingly, the paper mill factory using PRC-RBMP, and which spans 26 acres of land granted by the Pahang State Government, is targeted to be completed in the first half of 2017. With direct synergistic links to BHS's core business in printing and publishing, it marks the beginning of the company's business transformation through the spearheading of a new sustainable "green" industry.

BHS Managing Director Dato' Lim Thiam Huat said that "in essence, using this new proprietary 'green' technology, we can save more than 200 million trees currently being cut down every year for paper pulp production. While seemingly ambitious, this goal is in fact realistically achievable with the co-operation and combined efforts of the authorities as well as all respective stakeholders. To date, there are an estimated 440 palm oil mills in Malaysia generating 20 million metric tons of EFB per year, which they are facing the major challenge of disposing of. The printing and publishing industry meanwhile is utilizing raw material from the cutting down of trees. BHS therefore aims to bridge the gap between the needs of these two industries, creating an abundant alternative raw material source for the printing and publishing industry while simultaneously transforming EFB into a saleable commodity for the palm oil industry. It will revolutionize both sectors, and present a sustainable 'green' business model that is scalable and profitable, while at the same time being a big step forward for environmental conservation in the Asian region."

PRC-RBMP is an evolving basic platform that can be built on to create new technologies for the conversion of all other waste from palm oil mills into usable and saleable commodities. Ultimately, the consolidation of all these technologies will be known as "Oil Palm 'Zero Waste' technology" and will offer a diverse source of new income derived from the trading of pulp and paper, royalties, consultancy services, the design, supply, and fabrication of machineries, and the construction of new facilities. BHS is therefore currently collaborating with the Federal Land Development Agency (FELDA) to leverage on continuous access to EFB waste from oil palm processing operations and to assist the palm oil mills themselves by using what is now regarded as a waste product to be discarded.

 

Harnessing the PRC-RBMP technology effectively, will allow the conversion of 7 million metric tpy of existing EFB waste in Malaysia, and bring about a number of socio-economic benefits: new jobs are expected to be created in the surrounding areas and across the state; increased economic development especially among rural communities, which will subsequently improve their standard of living; and Pekan's workforce will be propelled towards being more knowledge-based. Ultimately the company hopes to propagate the use of the PRC-RBMP technology around the region, with Malaysia as its focal point as an international biomass processing hub.

With this vision in mind, BHS, through its subsidiary Nextgreen Pulp and Paper Sdn. Bhd., this week held an official ground-breaking ceremony at the Rest Area along kilometer 26.8, Lebuhraya Gambang - Segamat, Palo Hinai, Pekan, Pahang. The ceremony was officiated by Yang Amat Berhormat and Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia.

 

BHS is gearing towards bringing substantial potential foreign investment into the country as well as expanding into overseas markets that have a high volume of palm oil production, such as Indonesia, or countries with a high emphasis on green technology. 

Dato' Lim further added in closing, "This business transformation heralds an exciting new chapter for the company that will provide a long-term and recurring revenue stream by focusing on green and sustainable business practices. I believe that BHS is uniquely placed to introduce as well as helm this new green industry, using EFB waste, so I would like to extend our most sincere gratitude from everyone at the company to the Pahang State Government for their support and trust in granting us the land approval. It is our goal to ultimately realise 'Zero Waste' and to assist the Pahang State Government in creating and growing a Green Technology Park in the nearby town of Pekan, while simultaneously operating a profitable business model with high growth potential."

The project and the subsequent benefits it will bring, aims to highlight Malaysia as taking a pivotal role in environmental conservation within the region, and concurrently become a major player in the global paper production market. Given time, the further development of Oil Palm 'Zero Waste' technology effectively will strengthen the palm oil industry, rejuvenating it into a major economic pillar for Malaysia,