Corporate Social Responsibility

As a responsible corporate citizen, Avarga believes in contributing towards driving positive and sustainable changes for the benefit of the local communities where we operate and the society as a whole.

The Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) efforts have been largely focused on Myanmar. Over the past few years, we have helped two schools in Myanmar, with a primary focus on a government primary school near our power plant, No. 16 Basic Education Primary School, Insein township, which is home to over 800 students.

Since 2015, our CSR efforts in Myanmar include building an airconditioned multi-media hall and equipping it with computers, accessories, desks and chairs; replacing the school’s old furniture with new desks and chairs, building a new school building, building a new school hall and library; replacing the school’s parameter walls and donating new uniforms, books and bags to the school’s students.

Over the years, we have also made CSR contributions towards the communities surrounding our power plant. These include repairing water tanks, donating oxygenators and making contributions towards victims of natural disasters.

With the sale of the power plant in 2024, we have since ceased our CSR activities in Myanmar.

In Malaysia, UPP Pulp & Paper (M) Sdn Bhd contributed towards The Edge Covid-19 Equipment Fund in 2020. The fund aimed to raise donations from the corporate sector to buy medical equipment such as ventilators, protective suits and masks, to assist Malaysia’s medical facilities and healthcare workers.

We have also donated RM60,000 over 2020-2021 to Persatuan Kebajikan Amal Da Ai Malaysia, a non-profit charitable childcare centre looking after mentally and physically handicapped children.

In 2022-2024, due to the large losses incurred by UPP Pulp and Paper (M) Sdn Bhd, we did not undertake major CSR activities in Malaysia, as we focused instead on restructuring our business.

In Singapore, we have pledged to donate a total of S$250,000 from 2018-2022, comprising annual donations of S$50,000 per year over 5 years, to the Singapore National Gallery to support and promote Singapore’s arts and cultural heritage.

In Canada, Taiga Building Products created the Taiga Community Fund to support customers and organisations in need through difficult times. The fund has made donations to recipients in every province in Canada, including Abbotsford Food Bank, Kelowna’s Women’s Shelter and Coast Mental Health in British Columbia, the Arthouse for Children and Youth and Children’s Aid Foundation of Halton in Ontario; and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundations in both Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. We also provide scholarships to the children of our employees.

Taiga Building Products had made some significant donations in 2022 to various projects and initiatives in its communities, including C$30,000 to the Canadian Red Cross in support of the Hurricane Fiona recovery efforts in the Atlantic Region, C$10,000 to the Vancouver General Hospital Foundation, C$10,000 to the BC Children’s Hospital Oncology, and C$8,000 to the Blind Beginnings Gala, a local charity for blind youth.

In 2023, donations totaling over C$114,000 were contributed by Taiga Building Products in Canada alone, with significant support directed towards various community projects and initiatives. Among these contributions were C$20,000 directed to the Canadian Red Cross for aiding wildfire relief efforts in Alberta, C$10,000 each to the Red Cross and the Fondation Charles-Bruneau, which focuses on providing care for children with cancer in Quebec.

We also made a substantial donation of C$52,808 to Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga. This non-profit organization collaborates with communities to construct homes for local families in need of affordable housing.

In the US, Taiga Building Products contributed a total of US$14,000 in various donations. This included US$4,000 directed towards the Panther Foundation, and US$2,500 allocated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington.

In 2024, donations in Canada totaled C$265,301. Notable contributions include C$104,799 to Habitat for
Humanity Halton/Mississauga, C$101,288 to Habitat for Humanity Canada, and C$22,306 to Habitat for Humanity Edmonton.

In the US, donations amounted to US$3,998, which includes a US$2,500 contribution to Read Northwest.