Investing in People and the Planet

IOI Group has supported the global Earth Hour movement since 2009, and has designated the month of March as our IOI Earth Month since we launched our first Earth Month campaign on 1 March 2010. Following that, we have been organising a series of eco-activities for our IOI family to come together and participate in to encourage our employees to adopt a zero-waste culture and instil a sustainable lifestyle. Our objectives are to mitigate climate change and create a circular future for future generations. No matter how small a step, it makes a huge difference as we take the initiative towards a greener lifestyle.

IOI Group is dedicated to advancing gender equality, diversity, and inclusivity across all levels of its organisation. A key element of this commitment is the establishment of Women Empowerment Committees (WECs) across its headquarters, plantations, and manufacturing facilities. These committees foster an inclusive environment for female employees through organising seminars, engagements and awareness programmes.

Through these initiatives, IOI Group is building a workplace and community where women are empowered, valued, and provided equal opportunities to succeed.

IOI Group is committed to eliminating child labour by ensuring access to quality education for children within its Sabah plantation communities. Since 1996, our partnership with HUMANA has made us the largest private provider of plantation-based education in the region.

In 2021, we launched the “Full-Day Zero Cost Education Platform”, fully funded by IOI, which removes financial barriers to education by covering expenses such as school fees, uniforms, meals, medical services and daycare.

In addition to our own educational efforts, we also work closely with key stakeholders, including the International Labour Organization (ILO), to address child labour issues.

IOI Group has partnered with Tetra Pak Malaysia to drive the collection and recycling of used beverage cartons (UBCs) across its operations. Launched in October 2022, this pioneering initiative in the plantation industry promotes circularity, reduces landfill waste, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. The collaboration includes beverage carton recycling awareness programmes, integrating UBC collections into existing recycling efforts, and organising a UBC Collection Competition among IOI Plantation’s operating units. The programme fosters a recycling culture among employees while generating additional income stream through recycling proceeds.

This partnership underscores IOI’s commitment to a just transition to a low-carbon economy, benefiting both the environment and its workforce. Through active engagement with employees and stakeholders, IOI continues to champion environmental preservation and resource conservation.

IOI has partnered with Athena Empowers Sdn Bhd, a social enterprise specialising in reusable eco-friendly sanitary products, to combat period poverty in the local and indigenous communities.

In July 2024, IOI launched a Menstrual Hygiene Management programme at Leepang A Regional Office in Pahang, where 40 girls aged 9 to 17 received education on puberty, the menstrual cycle and hygiene practices along with Athena Reusable Sanitary Pad kit. In December 2024, the programme extended to the Pamol Estates in Kluang, Johor benefiting 50 more girls.

This initiative empowers young girls with the knowledge and resources to manage their menstrual health confidently. IOI plans to extend the programme to other rural communities near its estates in other regions, reinforcing its commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.