How do some of the world’s largest international organisations operate in a more socially responsible manner? Datuk (Dr.) Vinod Sekhar, Chairman and Chief Executive at PETRA Group says that although big businesses have tools at their disposal to make changes, it is ultimately up to people to decide. He says:

“Pursuing financial profit and social benefit are not incompatible, as thriving societies lead to stronger markets and greater profitability. There must be sustainable wealth creation for all stakeholders to ensure that markets are constantly growing for the benefit of all. This is the only way that we can address the major economic, environmental, and societal challenges of our time, including climate change.

“Climate change is only going to be impacted by the citizenry getting involved and ensuring that the programs of climate change are enacted. If we don’t have societal buy-in, we’re going to change nothing.”

The PETRA Group is a global conglomerate that focuses on sustainable solutions, green technologies and innovation as a whole towards enhancing society. Sekhar describes the group as “a feelgood company: we do things that make life better for everyone.”

We need to ensure that markets are constantly growing for the benefit of all stakeholders as this is the only way that we can address the major economic, environmental, and societal challenges of our time, including climate change.

“Feelgood”, at PETRA, means making stakeholders feel positive about the company and its vision of providing real and sustainable solutions for humanity. Mooreyameen Mohammad, Chief Sustainability Officer at the PETRA Group explains:

“The PETRA Group is founded on the concept of social capitalism which means business profit is used to uplift ourselves as well as society. For us to continue to grow as a business, we need to take care of our stakeholders – our employees, our customers, as well as society and the environment that we operate in. It’s only logical that sustainability is at the core of the PETRA Group businesses.”

PETRA Group embraces innovation and transformative technologies to build sustainable businesses; Green Rubber addresses one of the world’s biggest environmental hazards, green rubber waste, through its revolutionary DeLink technology, that breaks down the molecular structure of used rubber, enabling it to be recycled rather than put into landfill or burnt.

PETRA has also ventured into the cultivation of vanilla as a lucrative crop that will benefit farmers by providing a lucrative and sustainable revenue stream. Vanilla thrives in tropical climates and has the potential to become a primary export crop for Malaysia.

Through PETRA Transit Systems and PETRA Modular, the group builds infrastructure and creates environments that are safe, healthy and sustainable for the future. PETRA Modular, builds modular homes that are affordable, versatile, and are of the highest quality using proprietary technologies that are environmentally sound.

Across much of the world, housing is in short supply. Rick Singh, Chief Manufacturing Officer at PETRA Group describes the benefits of PETRA Modular:

“PETRA Modular manufactures high quality housing using modular technology that uses less resources and takes less time than the conventional building method, allowing city councils and governments to address housing needs in a shorter amount of time, with less impact on the environment”

It’s modular building solution also incorporates more sustainable materials and technologies to reduce overall carbon footprint; the use of solar panels for energy efficiency, rainwater harvesting systems and the continuous shift towards sustainable solutions. Building offsite in factory-discipline environment ensures controlled construction and quality management with less pollution compared to onsite construction.

For Mooreyameen Mohammad, making life better for people and lifting them out of poverty is the first step to healing the planet:

“Until we can protect human lives meaningfully, we will never be able to protect the environment sustainably.”

Dr Graham Kendall, Chief Executive, Good Capitalism Forum at PETRA Group says:

“We recently donated a mobile hospital to the Malaysian government to provide healthcare to those who can’t afford it. We are helping people whileraising awareness of our brand, so we hope it’s win-win. The point is, we need to find ways to make social capitalism the way that people want to do business and the way the general public expects companies to operate.”

Datuk Dr Vinod Sekhar says that profit is not the enemy of social progress – it’s a key part of funding that progress:

“We want to grow, we want to make money and we want to lift everyone with us. We lift our partners with us, we lift the environment with us and we lift the community with us.”