As one of Malaysia’s largest sustainability and green technology exhibitions, organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability in collaboration with the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM) 2025 provided a powerful platform for dialogue and discovery. For Bernard Business Consulting (BBC), it was an opportunity to listen, learn, and engage with business leaders navigating the fast-evolving sustainability landscape, particularly the National Sustainability Reporting Framework (NSRF).
Conversations with clients, partners, and policymakers revealed an important insight: ESG practices in Malaysia are gaining traction, yet many businesses are still transitioning from a compliance mindset towards a more strategic and purpose-driven approach.
For many organisations, sustainability reporting remains a requirement to fulfil, rather than a means to strengthen trust, attract investors, or drive innovation. At BBC, we believe it is time for businesses to move beyond compliance and adopt a conscious approach to sustainability — one that unites purpose, performance, and progress.
When sustainability becomes part of corporate strategy, it evolves from a reporting exercise into a compelling story of resilience, leadership, and value creation.
Table of Contents
Rethinking Value Creation in the Sustainability Era
One of the most thought-provoking discussions at IGEM 2025 centred on a question many leaders are asking today: Where should sustainability investments go, and how can they be used wisely?
In an uncertain economic climate, companies often focus on how much to spend. Yet, as our Founder and CEO, Bernard Eng, shared during IGEM:
“It’s not the way you spend the money that matters, but the way you make it.”
True sustainability is about creating value with real wisdom — integrating responsibility and innovation into the very way a business generates revenue. When companies focus on how they make money, sustainability transforms from a cost centre into a catalyst for long-term growth and competitiveness.
The NSRF Era: Challenges and Opportunities
The National Sustainability Reporting Framework (NSRF) marks a defining shift in Malaysia’s corporate landscape. Aligned with IFRS S1 and S2, it raises sustainability reporting to the same level of discipline and transparency as financial reporting, setting a new benchmark for credibility and accountability.
While this transition introduces complexity, it also opens opportunity. Many organisations are still developing the capacity, data systems, and governance needed to meet NSRF requirements, yet those who act early will lead.
Companies that prepare now will:
- Strengthen investor confidence through credible, IFRS-aligned disclosures
- Enhance data reliability for informed decision-making
- Gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating transparency and readiness
In short, early action creates lasting impact.
From Awareness to Action: BBC’s Commitment
Our experience at IGEM 2025 reaffirmed that Malaysia is ready to move from awareness to action. At Bernard Business Consulting, we help businesses navigate this transition by combining strategy, data, and capacity-building under one roof.
Our key solutions include:
- NSRF gap analysis and consulting to assess readiness and bridge disclosure gaps
- Sustainability and Integrated Reporting to communicate value clearly and consistently
- ESG and GHG Software Implementation to streamline data management and assurance
- Capacity-Building and Training to empower internal teams for long-term success
Through these offerings, BBC supports organisations in transforming regulatory expectations into meaningful, measurable outcomes.
Learn more about our NSRF Consulting Services
Resources to Accelerate Your NSRF Journey
To help companies navigate the NSRF confidently, BBC has developed two essential resources designed for executives and practitioners alike:
Download the C-Suite Guide to Malaysia’s National Sustainability Reporting Framework (NSRF)
Developed by BBC’s ESG and sustainability consultants, this practical roadmap guide helps leaders understand, plan and apply the NSRF effectively. It provides a clear roadmap to strengthen governance, enhance reporting and create business value.
Discover our NSRF Implementation Training Series
Equip your team with the skills to implement the NSRF effectively. Our NSRF Implementation Training Series covers IFRS S1 and S2, data architecture, materiality assessment and disclosure development, customised to your organisation’s needs.
Public Workshop
September 25, 2025 | November 20, 2025 @ 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MYT
Navigating Sustainability Reporting Using IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
This interactive IFRS workshop offers expert-led guidance and hands-on tools to help businesses identify ESG risks, uncover opportunities, and align with Malaysia’s NSRF.