Tree

Sustainability Commitment

At SSB, we are dedicated to the principles of the triple bottom line, integrating People, Planet, and Profit into our corporate philosophy. We adhere to best practices in tree plantation management and made a significant impact in 1974 by designating 60,000 hectares for an Industrial Tree Plantation (ITP), establishing ourselves as the first private company in Malaysia and Southeast Asia to commercialize tree plantations. Our company’s celebration of 50 years demonstrates our strong commitment to sustainability in the agroforestry industry. Today, SSB manages approximately 23,990 surveyed hectares in the tree plantation sector, including 5,129 hectares reserved for non-production, conservation, and biodiversity initiatives.

Global Certifications for Sustainable Excellence

SSB proudly holds world-class certifications that affirm our leadership in responsible forestry and supply chain integrity:

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) Certified Tree Plantation – The global benchmark for environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable forest management.
• Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS) Certified – Since 2007, ensuring rigorous compliance with international timber legality standards.
• FSC® Chain-of-Custody (CoC) Certification – Since 2011 for woodchips, providing end-to-end traceability from plantation to market.
• Integrated Management System (IMS) Certified – Since 2023, encompassing Quality, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), Environmental Management, and Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) for holistic operational excellence.

These prestigious accreditations underscore our unwavering dedication to ethical practices, legal assurance, and sustainable innovation.

Innovative Species Selection

To meet global demand for sustainable wood while reducing pressure on natural forests, SSB's Research and Development team supports replanting programs with proven species, including Eucalyptus pellita, Eucalyptus hybrids, Acacia hybrids, and non-pulp species including Albizia falcataria and Neolamarckia cadamba (Laran). These are refined through advanced tree breeding programs and clonal deployment, delivering superior genetics, faster growth, and higher yields. Today, we prioritize Eucalyptus pellita, Eucalyptus hybrids, and Acacia hybrids to address strong market demand.

Innovative Species Selection

Our comprehensive strategy ensures long-term plantation viability, featuring shortened five-year rotation cycles, higher stand densities per hectare, and expanded areas for annual harvesting and replanting. Optimized operations deliver exceptional productivity from Eucalyptus pellita and its hybrids and as well as non-pulp species across 23,990 surveyed hectares, with 18,862 hectares actively cultivated for the main species. Dedicated R&D efforts to continuously provide high quality clonal planting materials and technical support our tree plantation operation.

Strategic Goals for Sustainable Log Production

SSB targets an annual production of 360,000 cubic meters by 2030 to meet growing demand from the Japanese and Chinese markets, as well as neighboring countries like Indonesia. This forward-thinking strategy underscores our dedication to sustainable forestry and positions SSB as an industry leader in Sabah.

Powered by innovative practices and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, we excel in agroforestry, creating enduring positive impacts for the environment and local communities.

Chipmill

Sabah Softwoods Berhad (SSB) owned the region's most sophisticated chip mill, it is the largest integrated woodchip mill in Sabah and Malaysia. The mill is not only a principal link in Innoprise Corporation Sdn. Bhd's outstanding chain of timber operation, it is a remarkable industrial enterprise in its own right, and a first of its kind in the country. Designed by USA Fulghum Industries, this chip mill is situated at Sg. Udin which is about forty-five minute drive from Tawau town. Installation of machineries was done in May 1997 and completed at the end of October the same year.

The Chipmill commenced production of woodchips in 1998 and this activity has propelled SSB as a leading supplier of woodchips from Malaysia with an annual production volume of 180,000 Green Metric Tons (GMT) which is equivalent to about 100,000 Bone Dry Metric Tons (BDMT).

The chipmill is the only mill in the country designed to process high volume of pulp logs planted from tree plantation of fast growing tree species at a low cost. The main source of woodchips comes from Acacia mangium trees. The woodchips are mainly exported to Japan, china and a few local woods based industries in Malaysia. The chipmill is the only mill in teh country designed to process high volume of pulp logs planted from tree plantation of fast growing tree species at low cost. The main source of woodschips come from Acacia mangium trees. The woodchips are mainly exported to Japan,china and a few local woods based industries in Malaysia. The chip mill's operation was certified under the FSC^® Chain-Of-Custody (C0C) certification for woods based manufacturing in Acacia mangium woodschips products. The certification provides a guarantee on the production of FSC^® cerified products at premium price. Distinct and identifiable procedures are in place to track raw materials from the source, all stages of processing and eventual distribution in compliance to the stringent standard of certification.

Forest Stewardship Council^® (FSC^®)

As a pioneer in large-scale commercial forest plantations, SSB has been FSC^® certified since 2007, covering 30,000 hectares of forest plantation areas established prior to 1994. The plantation has been successfully re-certified for a further five-year period (2022–2027) under the FSC^® Certification Scheme, marking its fourth certification cycle since 2007. This re-certification covers the period from October 2022 to October 2027, making SSB’s plantation among the longest continuously certified well-managed forest plantations under the SCS Qualifor Programme.