Digitalization is affecting more and more businesses, and fashion is no exception. Penjana Kapital Sdn Bhd and Sea Limited (Malaysia) recently worked together to put on Tech in Fashion, an event that showcased fashion-tech innovations.
Penjana CEO, Taufiq Iskandar, addressing the crowd at Tech in Fashion
Textile waste poses a big problem for the environment because old clothes end up in landfills. It is one of the problems that the fashion industry must wrestle with. However, the use of cutting-edge technology is changing the way people buy clothes and making it more environmentally friendly. Four businesses were chosen to show off their new ideas, which included making eco-friendly fabrics, improving the local textile ecosystem, and making affordable clothes for everyday use.
At the showcase, Kloth Circularity Malaysia, Nanotextile Sdn Bhd, Kualesa,andOxwhite showed off how technology has helped them adapt to the times and stay successful. They also showcased sustainable practices during the “Pitch to Runway” workshop.
From left: Founders from Oxwhite, CK Chang; Kloth Circularity, Sarah Kedah; Nanotextile, Thomas Ong; & Kualesa, Haris Kamal.
When it comes to tackling waste, Sarah Kedah, Co-Founder of Kloth Circularity Malaysia, talked about how green technology can revolutionize the textile business. Kloth Circularity Malaysia turned old plastic bottles into valuable raw materials that can be used to make new clothes. By doing this, they have effectively made Kloth Circularity a part of the circular economy by creating a cycle of sustainability that will not only lessen waste but help with the economy as well.
With Generative AI (Gen AI) taking centre stage, it comes as no surprise that some companies have incorporated it into their workflows. Haris Kamal, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, said that Kualesa is using Gen AI and large language models (LLM) to improve marketing efficiency and automate predictive personalised email processes to increase conversion rates.
Entrepreneurs in the fashion industry can do well in this changing world by adopting digitalization, technology, and new ideas. As a tech company and e-commerce enabler, Sea is dedicated to helping sellers on its subsidiary Shopee’s platform. It is widely accepted that buying behaviours are rapidly changing and it is no different for textiles and fashion.
Cisco has announced that it is discontinuing its HyperFlex hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) product family, effective March 12, 2024. The company cited evolving customer needs and market dynamics as the reason for the decision.
Cisco HyperFlex HCI combines data centre elements, including storage, compute, networking, and management, into a single unified system. It has been a popular choice for organizations of all sizes, offering a simplified and scalable way to manage their IT infrastructure.
However, in recent years, there has been an increasing number of companies shifting towards hybrid and multi-cloud computing which requires more flexible or scalable solutions. This has led to a decline in demand for traditional on-premises HCI solutions, such as Cisco HyperFlex.
Source: Cisco
In response to this trend, Cisco has decided to focus its efforts on developing and supporting hybrid and multi-cloud solutions. The company has recently announced a strategic partnership with Nutanix to offer a complete hyperconverged solution for IT modernization and business transformation.
Cisco has assured existing HyperFlex customers that they will continue to provide support for the product for the next five years. The company is also offering platform migration support and services to help customers transition to other HCI solutions, such as Nutanix. Cisco also offers a Take Back and Recycle program that allows its customers to sustainably remove and dispose of obsolete products.
The environment is becoming one of the main issues at the top of all our minds especially with the effects of global warming becoming more apparent. Signify is empowering us to do more when it comes to energy efficiency with their new line Philips Ultra Efficient LED lights. The new lineup is touted to consume 60% less energy compared to standard LED lights and last 3.5x longer. They aren’t just stopping at energy efficiency, Signify is also bringing new solar-powered lights with their Philips Solar Lighting lineup. Signify is completing its offerings with smart lighting solutions in its Wiz line of solutions.
We need to start with the basics when it comes to sustainability and it doesn’t get any more basic than the lights we use on a regular basis at home. These lights range from incandescent tube lights to bulbs. Traditional lighting options required a lot of energy to deliver their light. However, with the Philips Ultra Efficient LED lights, this isn’t the case anymore. In fact, these bulbs deliver more power efficiency with lower operating wattages and longer-lasting durability. Philips Ultra Efficiency LED lights are able to deliver the same brightness with power consumption levels that are 3.5x lower than conventional LEDs.
Of course, with LED lighting, there has been an increasing number of creative lighting solutions that break convention and allow users to customize their space. Signify is taking a step into this arena with their Philips HexaStyle Downlights which allow users to have a more futuristic setup with hexagonal lights without the hassle of needing to renovate. These downlights fit seamlessly into conventional circular cutouts letting users update their setup with minimal cost.
Together with the more efficient LEDs, Signify also introduced a whole lineup of Philips Solar Lighting. These lights are perfect for lighting up beautiful landscapes and don’t require much maintenance. In fact, you won’t need any wiring. These lights are able to sustain themselves by charging using integrated solar panels after an initial charge. They’ve also included lighting for gates, floodlights, and even string lights to highlight the landscaping.
In addition to the new lineup, Signify also showed off their WiZ lighting which was launched in November 2022. The new lineup brings Signify’s Philips lighting prowess to the IoT space with internet-enabled lighting solutions that can be controlled from the WiZ app. They’ve introduced flexible tube lighting that you can bend to your will!
The new products showcased will be making their way to the Malaysian market starting in July 2023.
Acer’s Vero brand is really branching out this year. The company has already announced a projector with the Vero brand. Now, the Vero brand is making its debut on Acerpure products. Acerpure made its debut not too long ago and bullodzed Acer into the home and living space. So far, the sub-brand has been used primarily for air-purifiers, air circulators and fans.
With the Acerpure Pro Vero, Acer is making its most capable air purifier a tad bit more environmentally friendly by adopting the same technology used to make its Vero laptops. The Acerpure Pro Vero has a chassis made of 35% post consumer recycled (PCR) plastics. The adoption of these plastics has helped decrease the carbon footprint of owning an Acerpure Pro.
Aside from this, the Acerpro Pro Vero comes with a simple, modern design that allows it to blend in seamlessly into your home. It’s equipped with a PM 2.5 air quality sensor which detects suspended particles in the air. It uses this information to automatically adjust the setting of the Acerpure Pro system in “Green mode”. The DC motor allows for more efficient use of energy when it comes to operating the Acerpure Pro.
The hallmark feature of the Acerpure Pro is the 3-in-1 HEPA filtration system. This system is able to filter out 99.9% of PM2.5 particles and is able to reduce the concentration of allergens in your room and home. It can also filter out formaldehydes thanks to an anti-formaldehyde coating on an activated carbon cotton-infused filter.
Pricing & Availability
The Acerpure Pro Vero (AP353-10W) will be available in Taiwan starting in May. It will also be making its way to select markets in the Pan Asia Pacific and EMEA Regions.
It’s not every day that we hear a tech company is celebrating its 10th Anniversary; what’s more, one that isn’t a start-up or consumer-facing. While that may be true for EDOTCO, the company’s decade-long existence has entrenched the company with consumers and connectivity. The company has been actively involved in the rollout of cellular towers and related technologies in Malaysia, Cambodia, Bangladesh and more across the ASEAN and South Asian regions.
What exactly does a TowerCo (telecommunications tower company) do? Well, it’s pretty simple. You know that symbol on your mobile phone which shows you your signal strength? They work to ensure that there is a connection at all times. This comes in the form of building and maintaining cell towers for mobile network operators (MNOs) and even leasing or co-locating towers with other companies. EDOTCO has its beginnings in Malaysia as Axiata group’s TowerCo before it spun off into its own business.
The company now boasts a portfolio of over 54,000 towers across the ASEAN and South Asian regions. They currently operate in Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Pakistan, Philippines, Laos and most recently, Indonesia. This has made them the 6th ranking TowerCo in the world with ambitions to be in the top 5 by 2024. They have also been recognized as one of three unicorn status companies in Malaysia by Credit Suisse last year.
We spoke with CEO, Mohamed Adlan Ahmad Tajudin, about the company’s focus on equitable connectivity, innovation and sustainability. This interview comes in the wake of the company celebrating their 10th Anniversary and launching a companywide rebrand.
A Heritage of Innovation & A Culture of Sustainability
EDOTCO hasn’t been resting on its laurels for the past decade. They’ve been at the forefront of innovating in the TowerCo space. The company has also been busy inculcating a philosophy of innovation and sustainable thinking from the ground up. CEO, Mohamed Adlan informs us, “we inculcate the culture of a sustainable world for the future and the next generation within the minds of our people. We hire passionate individuals who fit within EDOTCO’s culture and core values to ensure our staff are in tune with EDOTCO’s heart.”
(Source: EDOTCO) Cell tower in the Uttara Region in Bangladesh made of Bamboo.
Their genuine passion and dedication to innovation and sustainability have been driving EDOTCO’s ingenuity when it comes to tower technology. One of the hallmarks of the company’s past decade is their collaboration with the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). They looked to create a greener, more sustainable solution to building steel towers atop buildings in Bangladesh. If you remember, there have been cases where buildings in South Asia were collapsing due to the weight being borne. In their collaboration, BUET and EDOTCO created a very sustainable solution of creating the towers with specially treated bamboo which is more resilient and lightweight. This innovation resulted in a solution that is not only greener with 70% less carbon emissions; the resulting tower is 88% lighter. EDOTCO erected its first bamboo tower in the Uttara region of Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2017.
Source: EDOTCO
“Innovation will always remain a key cornerstone in our operations. However, we have also shifted our focus to sustainability as a key indicator of growth as a group.”
While it may seem trivial, the innovative approach could very well be the first step in a new way to set up towers and empower connectivity in rural areas. With better, more natural materials, we’re looking at the possibility of minimally affecting ecosystems while society moves towards being more connected. The lower cost and carbon emissions are also a testament to the company’s commitment to creating and innovating sustainably.
Refocusing to Empower Equitable Connectivity with Innovative Solutions
The company isn’t resting on their laurels with their 10th anniversary either. Instead, they’ve turned their focus to sustainability and equitable connectivity. EDOTCO is committed to adapting to the rapid changes that come with the surge forward in digitization. To further drive the point home, the company is undergoing a revamp and rebranding to embody their continued commitment and further refocusing their efforts on sustainable innovation.
The rebranding also comes with a commitment to empower and advance the Asian region when it comes to the region’s communications and connectivity ambitions. They will continue to innovate and address the needs of both developing and developed countries with solutions that drive connectivity with 5G and beyond; making next-generation connectivity universally accessible. Together with that, EDOTCO will also be working with their partners and customers to enable and drive positive transformation in the communities they are engaged.
(Source: EDOTCO) Redesigned Logo focusing on Sustainability and Equitable Connectivity
Together with this EDOTCO is also looking to drive their goals sustainably. They will be enhancing their internal sustainability strategy moving forward through their one-way and two-way engagements internally and in person. The vision to be sustainable isn’t just a bunch of fluff or a hot topic. It’s a vision and policy being driven in all departments from HR to Engineering. It provides an added impetus to their innovation and empowers their vision for equitable connectivity.
When it comes to equitable connectivity, EDOTCO isn’t just talking about sustainability either. They’re taking tangible steps to make erecting towers and providing connectivity as a service more affordable to its customers and, in turn, to consumers. Even before they embark on their next decade, the company has already helped MNOs save between 16% to 35% in their Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operations Expenditure (OPEX) through infrastructure sharing, tower leasing and co-location. This has also resulted in faster, more sustainable network rollouts and fostered competition between MNOs which is beneficial for consumers.
Working to Spearhead Equitable Connectivity & Sustainability
As much as they are driving innovation and helping with cost reduction for MNOs and, in turn, consumers, EDOTCO can only continue to do so with the correct policies in place. These policies and frameworks allow them to address more targeted issues. In Malaysia alone, EDOTCO continues to support the JENDELA framework put in motion by the Malaysian Government. It comes as no surprise that the company has already focused on equitable connectivity when JENDELA was first announced. They have since been supporting this framework by being a forerunner in connecting the unconnected.
(Source: EDOTCO) The Human Touch behind their innovative Bamboo Tower
Their innovations have allowed initiatives like Malaysia’s JENDELA to progress at a faster pace. With solutions like EDOTCO’s Network and Planning Analytics (NaPA), the company continues to allow MNOs to reduce costs and be more targeted and strategic in rolling out infrastructure. NaPA allows MNOs to reduce build times for towers by providing geocoding and analytic insights. To date, this technology has been used in the setup of over 200 towers in the JENDELA initiative.
Bringing a Human Touch to Digitization
(Source: EDOTCO) Mohamed Adlan Tajuddin, CEO Of EDOTCO
Being a company entrenched in the digitalization process, it gets easy to lose sight of the human aspect of technology. However, EDOTCO isn’t just a technology company – it’s a “Bionic Organization”. The company is creating “the workforce of the future” by integrating technology and digital tools into human interactions. While others look to leverage AI to replace humans, they are using AI and other technologies to better their workforce and provide value for their partners. They look to drive human interactions with the highest levels of efficiency.
EDOTCO’s “Bionic Organization” approach looks to harness in-house talent to bring heart and feeling to an industry that can be very cold. In the words of Adlan, EDOTCO is looking to become “Fitter, Faster and Far Better, without compromising on the human soul”. This entails leveraging digital solutions to make work more intuitive and human experience more effective. In addition, it will also, inevitably require their workforce to harness their inherent diversity of experience and backgrounds to drive innovation inclusively and with a sense of equity.
It’s getting rarer to see a tech CEO whose focus is on creating warmth and heart when driving their company. However, Mohamed Adlan’s approach to a “Bionic Organization” is looking to unite the two dichotomies in digitization and embeds them throughout the organization. This aims to create an environment and work culture that is collaborative, efficient and driven by insights and a sense of purpose. This is how he plans to drive both the sustainability and equitability pillars at EDOTCO.
Looking to Expansion, Diversifying & Further Empowering Equitable Connectivity
With the first 10 years in the bag, EDOTCO is looking to the future. Not only is it focused on bringing heart to digitalization, but it’s also constantly looking for opportunities to innovate and expand. Having already built a portfolio of 50,000 towers in nine markets from the initial 10,000 in its four home markets, the company is looking into new areas such as Network as a Service (NaaS) and Site as a Service (SaaS) to expand their portfolio.
Their current focus is on expanding within Thailand and Vietnam where they believe that the potential for growth is the greatest. The company is also eyeing going public in the coming decade while they focus on pushing boundaries and accelerating equitable access to digital connectivity.
Sustainability is all the rage in the tech industry, with more companies committing to long-term sustainability plans. Razer is no different when it comes to that with lofty goals to become a nett zero carbon company by 2030. However, in working towards that, the company has also realised that it is currently difficult for businesses to be sustainable and transparent. This is further complicated by a system which values and measures carbon offsets and credits by the metric ton.
With that realisation, Razer Fintech is working with partners such as GoNetZero, ESGpedia and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to bring Restorify. Restorify is Razer’s answer to creating a more sustainable e-commerce platform which is also transparent. Restorify also removes the barrier of needing to purchase metric tonnes of carbon credit with a more fractionalised approach, allowing every purchase to have a quantified carbon offset. This approach allows customers and e-commerce partners to be part of the equation contrasting vastly with the current state of relying solely on companies.
Restorify is looking to foster a more proactive mindset in consumers when it comes to purchasing. With the smaller denominations of carbon offset, it allows users and consumers to make carbon offsets a part of their daily lives. In an age where e-commerce has become the go-to platform for shopping, it makes sense as one of the main touchpoints to drive greener habits.
That said, carbon credits and offsets haven’t had the best reputation with Greenwashing and companies artificially inflating their carbon offsets. To combat this, Razer Fintech is partnering with agencies like GoNetZero and ESGPedia to ensure the quality and traceability of the carbon offsets offered on Restorify. It is hoped that the traceable carbon neutral shopping carts will help users and consumers be more aware of their carbon footprint as we shop.
They will receive a certificate detailing the total amount of carbon emissions that have been offset by their purchase, the kinds of projects the credits have suppported as well as the certification standard. These individualised fractionalized transactions are digitally recorded into ESGpedia’s registry where you’ll be able to check your own individualised carbon offset.
Encouraging Businesses to Adopt More Accountable Sustainability
It’s not all about sharing the responsibility with consumers with Razer’s Restorify. It also aims to empower businesses with a more tangible pathway to evaluate and put into action plans in their commitment to become more sustainable. Restorify itself will provide businesses a pathway to evaluate the environmental impact of their products and business. They will be able to leverage ECOLOGO Certification, Environmental Product Declaration Certification, or Product Carbon Footprint Verification using UL Solutions.
Razer is also working to bring Restorify and its features will be made available for businesses to integrate into existing platforms. In addition, Razer will be working with its supply chain partners and more than 50,000 merchants in Razer Fintech’s network to support their transition to nett zero carbon emissions at no additional cost. Restorify will also be available in over 150 countries through AWS.
Acer is updating their most sustainable laptop – the Acer Aspire Vero – with 12th Generation Intel Core processors. The update brings even more power and battery efficiency thanks to a change in the microarchitecture compared to the previous generation.
The newly refreshed Aspire Vero comes with options for the 12th Generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors. Both come with Intel Xe Graphics built-in. They also feature 8GB of RAM with up to 512GB of SSD memory out of the box. This round, you’ll be able to upgrade to a maximum of 24GB of dual channel RAM.
Of course, the hallmark features of the Aspire Vero make a come back with the laptop featuring post consumer recycled plastics in the keycaps and cover as well as ocean bound plastics in the track pad. The trackpad of the new Aspire Vero uses a new surface treatment method which gives the laptop a glass-like feel for better user experience.
Acer is taking things up to another level with their new VeroSense application which comes pre-installed on all Vero products. The new application allows users to monitor their energy efficiency and device health. It goes without saying that the new VeroSense app also gives users the ability to kick the laptop into power saving mode which allows for better power efficiency.
Design-wise, the new Aspire Vero shares a lot in common with its predecessor. The laptop is designed to look and mirror the aesthetic of recycled products. The textured finish is also one of the more unique features of the laptop. It comes with the iconic mirrored “R” and “E” keycaps as well. The laptop also comes with the same recyclable packaging which won Acer the Red Dot Design Award in 2022.
Pricing & Availability
The new Acer Aspire Vero is now available in Malaysia. The laptop can be purchased from Acer’s official retail stores, the Acer eStore, Acer’s official stores on Lazada and Shopee and at authorised resellers nationwide.
The laptop will set you back MYR2,599 for the Core i5 version or MYR3,299 for the Core i7 version. Both versions come with Microsoft Windows 11 and Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021.
Going Green and being sustainable is all the rage now as corporations continue to find their footing in a market where consumers continue to look for more sustainable goods and services. While there have been many companies who have been boasting about their “green” efforts, not many have done anything tangible or impactful. In Malaysia, DHL is joining the ranks of those who have tangibly implemented policies and followed through. The company will be deploying electric vehicles (EVs) for their last-mile deliveries starting in October 2022.
DHL will be kicking off their sustainability efforts with an initial deployment of 6 electric vans in the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor regions. By 2023, this number will be increased to 61 EVs deployed nationwide. The deployment of these vehicles will undoubtedly go a long way in their efforts to become more sustainable and reduce their carbon footprint in Malaysia. DHL Malaysia is targeting to have 60% of its fleet be EVs by 2050 with a shorter-term goal of 30% of its fleet by 2024.
The EV being deployed by DHL is the CAM EC35. This van has about 4.8m3 of cargo space with a payload of more than 1 ton. The CAM EC35 is rated for a running distance of about 266km on a single charge of its 38.7kWh battery. According to DHL, the company has optimized its delivery routes to ensure that the vans will be able to complete deliveries efficiently within a single charge. Of course, the EV35 can be charged overnight (8 hours) for a complete charge and, if needed, can be fully charged with a DC fast charger in 2.5 hours.
When asked about the impacts of fast charging on the battery itself, representatives from CAM confirm that fast charging will have minimal impact on the battery itself. They also emphasized the 5-year warranty for the vehicle and reiterated the durability of the CAM EV35.
The deployment of the CAM35 EVs into their Malaysian fleet is the latest effort by DHL in their efforts to become a sustainable company by 2050. However, its a big step in their efforts to greenify their operations by 2030 and reduce their carbon footprint from 33MT to 29MT in the same timeframe.
This isn’t the first step that DHL has implemented to go green. In fact, if their international track record is anything to go by, we can expect to see them adopt more technologies in the near future to become more sustainable. In Malaysia alone, the company has accelerated their sustainability journey with warehouse solutions and logistics technologies powered by AI and cloud computing with partners like AWS which allow them to minimise energy consumption and maximise efficiency.
Dell’s commitment to the environment is not something it has pulled out of thin air. The company was one of the first to commit to lowering its carbon footprint and becoming carbon neutral. In fact, they’ve been one of the most consistent for more than a decade. This year, the company is upping the ante when it comes to sustainability with new materials and new packaging that will take them to the next level.
The New Dell Latitude 5000 Showcases Years of Research & Development for Sustainability
Earlier this year, Dell announced Concept Luna where they were experimenting with recycled materials in creating new laptops. That was the latest in a growing number of efforts to be more environmentally responsible and explore renewable materials for their products. Their latest product, the new Dell Latitude 5000 series, is the first product to showcase the many years of research and development. It boasts one of the highest proportions of renewable materials thus far.
The new Dell Latitude 5000 series showcases a laptop lid made of 71% recycled and renewable materials. The lid itself is made of a three major components: a tree-based bioplastic upcycled from the paper making industry; reclaimed carbon fibre and post consumer recycled plastics. According to Dell, it chose to start with the laptop lid as it is the second heaviest part of the laptop which allows the company to make a larger impact on sustainability.
The Latitude 5000 series is also helping Dell reduce its reliance of petroleum based materials. The base of the laptop is made of 20% reclaimed carbon fibre. Dell also uses a new bio-based rubber for its rubber feet. The fan housing used in the laptop series boasts an impressive 23% reclaimed ocean bound plastics in its build.
Comitting to 100% Recyclable Packaging
In addition to increasing the amount of sustainable and recycled materials in its laptops, Dell is also taking a close look at its packaging. The company is comitting to creating packaing which is 100% recycled and 100% recyclable.
To achieve this, its substituting a lot of the materials we’re used to seeing in laptop packaging with paper alternatives. Plastic bags are being substituted with more sustainable materials. Dell is even opting to change to their box with a more sustainable corrgate shipping box with an inner tray made of sustainably sourced bamboo and sugarcane fibres. Tape is also being replaced with a paperbased alternative. This new packaging will be seen with the new Latitude series, Precision mobile workstations and XPS devices.
This is only the beginning, Dell chose the Latitude line up as it is their highest volume product. This will, according to the company, allow it to make a more impactful step in sustainability. However, it’s not forgetting its other lineups. The Precision 3000 mobile workstations, Precision workstations and OptiPlex Micro desktops will also feature some of the sustainable materials mentioned. Of course, Dell is also bringing these materials to its EcoLoop Pro backpacks, sleeves and briefcases.
Many companies are moving slowly towards becoming more carbon-neutral and environmentally responsible. We’ve seen companies make commitments in the past year to make their operations more environmentally friendly, however, companies like Dell Technology have been hard at work behind the scenes. The company has been working to realise their “Progress Made Real” blueprint as early as 2012.
One of the pillars of their blueprint is a coordinated effort to advance sustainability in their operations. Under this lofty pillar, Dell has committed to reducing their energy intensity and also sourcing 75% of electricity from renewable resources. To this end, the company has implemented the world’s largest on-site solar panel in the Dell Technologies Asia Pacific Customer Center in Bukit Mertajam in Penang, Malaysia.
The solar panel consists of 1,590 individual efficient solar panels which will produce 1,000MWh of renewable electricity annually at their centre. This will account for more than 25% of the energy consumed at the 24-hour facility. Dell Technologies is aiming to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases at the facility by an impressive 650 metric tonnes (650,000 kg) annually.
The solar panel is the latest in Dell Technologies ongoing efforts to become a more ecologically responsible company. Previously, they have made changes to their product lineup to incorporate more recycled materials in the products and packaging. It is the company’s step forward in attaining its goal of having nett zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
We also spoke about sustainability in our recent episode of the Tech & Tonic Podcast in which we praised Dell Technologies for creating a meaningful impact in their operations. Their incorporation of recycled plastics in their flagship products such as the Dell Inspiron and even their Precision and XPS line ups.
