SD Guthrie Bhd (Guthrie), in collaboration with WWF-Malaysia, is advancing its efforts to establish a comprehensive baseline assessment in Kunak, Sabah, an initiative aimed at strengthening environmental stewardship while deepening its engagement with local communities across its operational landscapes.
This follows the announcement of its collaboration in February on piloting a five-year regenerative agriculture programme for palm oil in Tawau, Sabah, the first such initiative of its kind for the industry. This transformational partnership is part of WWF-Malaysia’s larger initiative to deliver landscape-level biodiversity and climate-positive outcomes in the region.
Commenting on the collaboration, SD Guthrie’s chief sustainability officer Rashyid Redza Anwarudin said the initiative reflects the group’s commitment to pursuing sustainability beyond its operational boundaries and fostering positive outcomes for people and nature.
“Through this collaboration with WWF-Malaysia, we are taking a landscape-level approach to sustainability that extends beyond our operational boundaries. Covering approximately 13,000 hectares across our four RSPO-certified estates and one mill in Sabah, this pilot under WWF’s Reconnect Borneo Initiative reflects our commitment to advancing biodiversity conservation while ensuring responsible palm oil production.
“By strengthening ecological connectivity through wildlife corridors and grounding our actions in science-based data, we aim to create lasting positive outcomes for nature, climate and the communities that live and work within these landscapes,” he said.
Establishing a data-driven foundation
At the heart of the initiative is a robust, multi-dimensional effort to establish baseline data across key environmental and socioeconomic indicators. This includes:
> Environmental mapping – systematically identifying biodiversity hotspots, forest cover, water resources and carbon stocks to better understand ecological assets and sensitivities.
> Soil health and land resilience assessment – analysing soil composition, fertility, erosion risks and carbon content to support sustainable land management, optimise yields and enhance long-term ecosystem resilience.
> Wildlife and habitat surveys – documenting key species, including endangered and keystone wildlife, as well as mapping their movement corridors to support long-term conservation planning.
> Operational footprint analysis – assessing the impact of plantation and refinery operations on land use, greenhouse gas emissions and surrounding ecosystems.
> Socioeconomic context – improving livelihoods, resilience and equity within the palm oil system across its operational landscapes.
> Regulatory and compliance benchmarking – ensuring alignment with Malaysian and Sabah-specific environmental regulations, RSPO standards and WWF-Malaysia frameworks.
Together, these workstreams provide a holistic view of the landscape, enabling Guthrie to make more informed decisions, prioritise interventions and align its operations with both national and global sustainability expectations.
Communities within regenerative palm oil landscapes
While data and science form the foundation of the initiative, it is the voices of the local communities that are shaping its direction in meaningful ways.
Through ongoing engagement sessions with smallholders and workers living within and around Guthrie’s estates, a consistent theme emerged: communities expressed that they valued Guthrie’s presence, while also seeking stronger collaboration and more meaningful participation in shared benefits.
According to Ong Wen Wai, 40, a smallholder who runs Ladang Sim Yong, Guthrie plays a role that goes beyond business.
"Ever since I have been doing business here, I know their (Guthrie’s) roads were maintained well for an estate environment,” he said.
He added that the facilities the company has put in place, from schooling opportunities for staff's children to knowledge-sharing programmes like good plantation practices, have made a tangible difference.
"The knowledge shared with us helps us operate in a manner that getting certified would be no issue,” he added.
That sense of stability extends to estate workers as well. Raden, 32, who works at Ladang Sunpia, said the estate's youngest residents, children as young as six months old, up to age 15, benefit directly from company-supported education.
"Guthrie provides them with education opportunities through a nursery, public school and primary education via the Humana Child Aid Society Sabah schools (Humana)," he said, noting that everyday infrastructure has improved quality of life on the estate.
"Their other facilities, such as the convenience store and water filters, allow us the ease of access to basic necessities and household items, all accessible thanks to their roads as well,” he said, adding that there are complaint channels to report any road-related issues.
Humana schools are learning centres providing basic education to marginalised and stateless children in plantations across Sabah, Borneo.
These accounts feed directly into Guthrie's approach, a strong reminder that sustainability outcomes need to be inclusive and responsive to community needs, not just environmentally sound on paper.
Smallholders have long expressed that Guthrie plays an important role not only as an economic enabler, but also as a key local partner supporting continuity and development across the landscape. At the same time, they have called for greater access to shared facilities, infrastructure and resources that can support their livelihoods and improve overall community well-being.
These insights are helping to inform Guthrie’s approach to sustainability, ensuring that solutions are not only environmentally sound, but also inclusive and responsive to community needs.
A shared journey forward
As the baseline assessments progress, Guthrie remains committed to translating insights into actionable strategies that deliver long-term impact.
The collaboration with WWF-Malaysia underscores the company’s belief that sustainability is not a standalone goal, but a shared journey that requires partnership, trust and a deep understanding of both nature and people.
By combining scientific rigour with community engagement, Guthrie is laying the groundwork for a more resilient and inclusive future for Sabah's plantation landscapes.