THE 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya is no stranger when it comes to creating environmental awareness.

The mall, which opened in 1995, has the green concept incorporated in its architectural and engineering designs.

Among its eco-friendly efforts are the rainforest area within the premises, installation of ice-storage air-conditioning system to use idling off-peak electric power from Tenaga Nasional, reusable tote bags and chilled water storage system.

Creating awareness: Some of the colourful characters from the ‘Tears of Trees’.

To create further awareness on the environment, the mall held its first “Go Green – Get to Grips With Climate Change” campaign from June 5 to 8 in conjunction with the World Environment Day recently.

The campaign, launched by Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan on June 5, managed to reach out to about 15,000 visitors within four days through various activities and awareness programmes at the ground floor HighStreet.

The event involved environmental preservation groups, corporations, recyclers associations and educational institutions that provided beneficial activities and useful green guides to all age groups.

Shoppers were exposed to a lot of eco-workshops, story-telling sessions, recycle runway fashion shows and recycling games.

Eco-friendly fabrics: A booth displaying organic batik made using organic dye.

There were also a eco-percussion performance and fitness workout to a special choreographed nature dance.

The highlight was a children’s musical play called Tears of Trees by Tree Theatre group that created awareness on saving trees.

Also spread on the HighStreet were various booths by the Global Environment Centre, Tetra Pak, Wall-E, Zoo Negara, Country Farm Organics, MPH Bookstores, Craft Haven, Himalaya, D’Paradise, Kraftangan Malaysia, The One Academy and more.

For a green feel, the HighStreet was decorated with potted plants while calming rainforest music played in the background.

Taking centre stage was a globe featuring 3D recycling elements with green tips for shoppers to adopt.

The mall also set up a Green Hall which featured all of the mall’s environmental initiatives from 1995.

The mall’s director, Datuk Teo Chiang Kok, said the disregard for the environment had resulted in extreme climate changes.

“I hope that by the end of the event participants will have a different perspective on climate change and realise that each one of us have a part in saving the environment,” he said at the launch.

Also present was United Nations Develop-ment Programme ambassador Joanna Bessey.