Kota Permai Golf & Country Club teams up with adidas Golf to create awareness on environmental sustainability in the club – and beyond
By Syama Ramasamy
Protecting the Blue Planet, the place we all call home – our ONLY home – is no longer a choice, but a critical neccesity. A myriad of anthropogenic activities in the name of “progress”, which include deforestation, pollution, technological innovation and consumptive habits, continue to ravage Mother Earth and deplete her natural resources.
And these constant pursuits for “bigger, better, faster” collectively have a massive impact on global warming as high levels of greenhouse gases, in particular carbon monoxide from the combustion of fossil fuels in cars, buildings, factories and power plants, are released into the earth’s atmosphere, affecting the planet’s temperatures. Left unchecked, climate change will have an irreversible effect on the planet.
As such, the future of all which inhabit this earth depends on the steps we take today to lend Mother Nature a hand. Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (KPGCC) has been a longtime advocate for environmental sustainability, wholeheartedly embracing owners Gamuda Land’s key vision to create a better, greener environment for its community.
As part of the club’s “green” campaign, since 2018 the club has ceased the issuance and usage of single-use plastic items such as straws and plastic bags; instead, woven bags are made available for members. Complimentary bottled water is also no longer provided; instead water dispensers are provided at strategic locations such as at the starter point for golfers to fill up their own water bottles.
Other commendable initiatives include the installation of a tank at the golf wing to harvest rainwater which is then used to wash the buggies. The entire wing and other parts of the clubhouse use LED lights, while only invertor-type air conditioning units that promote energy saving and efficiency are used at the golf wing.
In its effort to help create further awareness of environmental sustainability among its members, KPGCC recently partnered with adidas Golf, whose latest apparel range, Go-To Primegreen, is made with 89 percent recycled content to help ‘End Plastic Waste’ and continue the brand’s progress towards its goal of using 100 percent recycled polyester in all its products by 2024.
“adidas as a group started the Primegreen campaign with the main purpose of ending plastic waste by year 2024,” said Eileen Fong, senior manager – commercial of adidas Golf Malaysia. “Our objective is to stop using virgin polyester, instead use 100% recycled sustainable polyester in all our garments.”
She shared that adidas Golf has worked with KPGCC for many years, and this collaboration was in line with Gamuda group’s ESG programme, which made the team-up a natural fit. “It’s great to be able to work together to bring awareness of environmental sustainability to golfers and educate the public for a better tomorrow by ending plastic waste in the near future,” added Fong.
KPGCC director Tang Meng Loon concurred that the collaboration was timely as the club was always looking at ways to build awareness on environmental sustainability among its members, guests and beyond.
“When Eileen approched me on the Primegreen sustainability programme, I was very interested as it reflects Gamuda’s commitment towards sustainable living,” shared Tang.
“These are baby steps, but we have to start somewhere. I’m happy that adidas Golf decided to choose KPGCC as one of their partners in their suitanability programme.”
Tang furthered shared that the club took on a “green” approach in 2018 when they ceased all single-use plastic.
“We no longer use plastic straws and plastic bags; we instead provide woven bags for our members. We also stopped giving out complimentary bottled water; instead we provide custom-made tumblers for golfers to use to fill their bottles using water dispensers which are provided at specific locations.”
Tang noted that as per the Gamuda group’s ESG, they were on the right track towards reducing their carbon footprint by year 2030.
“There are a couple more initiatives in the pipeline,” said Tang. “We believe these steps would help protect the environment and make way for a better future for us, for our children, for future generations. Everyone must play their part.”
GO-TO TAKES ON KOTA PERMAI
On the morning of March 25, 2021, the adidas Golf Go-To Primegreen collection was put to the test at the Kota Permai golf course.
Joining club director Tang for the 9-hole round were celebrity golfer Natalia Ng andPGA of Malaysia president CM Chong, along with ParGolf managing editor Jonathan Ponniah, each of them decked in strikingpieces from the Go-To Primegreen range, specifically designed to be worn on the go, created using materials and colours that give off a wear-anywhere vibe.
“When adidas announced the Primegreen collection, I was actually quite excited,” said Chong. “They’re the first brand to use recycled material to produce golf garments. I think it’s going to revolutionise the market. At the same time, doing their part to protect the environment, save the world.”
Golfer-turned-actor and model Ng chimed in, saying, “I love that adidas Golf is committed to using all recycled materials in their garments by 2024. Going green is something I’ve been passionate about for years, so I’m glad to be part of this.”
