KUALA LUMPUR: PLS Plantations Bhd has received ratings by RAM Sustainability for its principal plantations and trading seg­ ments, reflecting some gaps and the early stages of the company's environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices that are cru­ cial for reforestation and plantation-related sectors.

The ratings by RAM Sustainability captures PLS Plantations' corporate sustainability per- fomnance based on all the ESG themes, as well as the relevant international and domes­ tic guidelines by Bank Negara's Climate Change and Principle-based Taxonomy.

PLS Plantations chairman Tan Sri Nazir Razak said, in a statement, that the rating sets the baseline for the company in providing clear forward strategy. “This is in terms of our priorities and focus areas, across our business and operations, especially in areas for improvement. “Equally as important, it offers our stake­ holders - investors, regulators, business part­ners, suppliers, and clients - an objective and transparent assessment of our commitment to sustainability and responsibility as a relia­ble supplier, business partner, and an employ­er.” PLS Plantations is also working hard towards becoming Malaysia's leading sustain­able, agrofood provider in the coming years, he added.

Meanwhile, RAM Sustainability CEO Promod Dass said PLS Plantations is estab­lishing a starting point on its ESG journey. The company is subjecting itself to the rigours of a sustainability rating and posi­tioning that transparency is a priority even though it points to its high ESG risk profile, he said. Dass also said: "We hope that this will set a precedent for more companies to embark on their sustainability journey and aspire to achieve the highest ratings,“

As part of the company's turnaround jour­ ney PLS Plantations demonstrates a strong commitment to expand on its corporate gov­ernance framework and policies, especially in areas of sustainability governance, pend­ing a dedicated group-wide framework and policies to govern the company according to Dass.