KUALA LUMPUR: Eastern Steel Sdn Bhd has launched Malaysia’s first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for crude steel, marking a major step in industrial accountability.
The landmark initiative was enabled by E-C Digital, a carbon quantification tech firm that recently set up a Malaysian subsidiary to advance regional sustainability goals.
Launched at the “Malaysian Industrial Manufacturing Transformation” event by Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM), the initiative marks a shift toward transparent, data-driven environmental reporting, helping Malaysian manufacturers meet global standards like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and rising supply chain demands for verified carbon data.
In a statement, Eastern Steel said an EPD acts as an "environmental nutrition label," presenting complex life cycle assessment (LCA) results in a standardised format.
It added that self-declarations are no longer sufficient, and this EPD, built on a foundation of scientific LCA and a strict MRV (measurement, reporting, and verification) process, demonstrates the power of verifiable data.
Eastern Steel said that by adopting international best practices in LCA and third-party verification, it is aligning with national climate goals while setting a transparent governance model for others to emulate.
Eastern Steel executive director Datuk Tee Choon Hock said the company’s commitment to the rigorous EPD process reflects its dedication to the highest standard of transparency.
“The company believes its customers deserve to know the verified environmental footprint of their products. This entire process, from the detailed LCA to the final third-party verification, strengthens internal governance and gives partners unwavering confidence in their commitment to sustainable manufacturing,” he said.
Meanwhile, E-C Digital’s expansion into Malaysia and the broader Asean region brings world-class carbon management tools and expertise directly to local manufacturers.
Short for "Easy Carbon Digital," the company aims to simplify carbon management complexities through its advanced SaaS platform.
With a growing presence in Malaysia, E-C Digital is committed to supporting the region’s long-term sustainability goals by leveraging its deep experience in quantifying industrial carbon emissions.
The event also highlighted the growing role of green product certifications in Malaysia’s sustainability efforts. The SustainBuild Mark (SB Mark), awarded by the Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM) under the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), provides Malaysian manufacturers a key pathway to showcase their environmental credentials and meet green building standards.
The SB Mark, expected to launch in August 2025, will serve as a platform guiding the construction industry’s transition toward a more sustainable and responsible future.
The certification emphasises a self-declared approach for environmental product declarations based on ISO 14021 principles, enabling importers and manufacturers to demonstrate the environmental performance of their products through clear, evidence-backed claims.
