PLANTATION - UPSTREAM There are a total of 135 significant river systems located near FGV’s plantation operations, and we closely monitor the impact of our operations on the water quality of these systems through a range of relevant indicators to measure our usage and discharge. The poorly managed discharge of POME is a major cause of river pollution. As a responsible business complying with all operating regulations, we thoroughly treat POME before discharging it. The discharge is required to be within levels prescribed by the Department of Environment (DOE) for indicators of water quality. For instance, the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) - an important indicator for assessing water quality - has to be below the permissible level. We are unsparing in our efforts to meet parameters set by regulators in all our operations. To this end, we conduct daily, weekly and monthly effluent performance monitoring that involve lab analyses and checks on the physical condition of our POME treatment system. In 2022, we recorded a reading of 73 mg/L in our BOD3 reading as opposed to 78 mg/L in 2021. FGV will continue to make improvements to meet its internal target. In 2022, we are planning on further effluent improvements. Soil, Water, Pest & Disease Management The availability and access to clean water is becoming an increasingly critical issue. The World Wildlife Fund reports that some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year. At FGV, we are acutely aware of the importance of managing our water consumption and preserving its quality both to secure future availability as well as to ensure that ecosystems in areas where we operate can continue to thrive. We have always placed a strong focus on optimising water usage across all our operations. As part of pests and disease management, we practice integrated pest management in our operations and prefer to use natural methods to control pests and diseases. We also advocate the responsible use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers in our plantations. Performance (Final Discharge BOD3, mg/L) 74 78 73 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 117 CLIMATE ACTION & ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020/2021
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