Today, the hot issue in sustainability following COVID-19 is dealing with climate change, especially reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Global Compact Network Thailand, a local network of the UN Global Compact, is co-hosting the UN Global Compact Virtual Leaders Summit 2021.
This year, leading Thai business organizations have been honored to join 3 important stages, reflecting Thailand’s sustainability leadership that is ready to create change at the global level, especially in dealing with the global warming disaster, which sustainability leaders from around the world are giving importance to.
The year 2021 is seen as an important time to drive the world towards the goal of carbon neutrality, in line with previous moves by many countries that have announced targets and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement, which wants the average global temperature increase to not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius.
A NEW ERA OF ACTION
In addition, the joining of leading Thai CEOs on the world stage this year is also in line with the main objective of establishing the Global Compact Network Thailand as a new era of sustainability network that will work together to change the world (A New Era of Action).
The CEOs of leading Thai business organizations shared their visions in 3 important stages, starting with the main stage, which was the heart of the event, starting with Mr. Suphachai Chearavanont, CEO of Charoen Pokphand Group and President of the Global Compact Network Thailand, who joined a discussion on the topic of “Light the Way to Glasgow and Net Zero: Credible Climate Action for a 1.5 °C World” or “Lighting the Torch to Head to the COP26 Glasgow and the Goal of Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Taking Serious Action to Keep Global Temperatures from Raising to 1.5 °C.”
Mr. Dan Pathomwanich, CEO of NR Instant Produce Public Company Limited, joined the discussion on the topic of “A New Era of Action. Accelerate Climate Action: Raising Business Pathway to Decarbonization”
Mr. Ho Ren Hua , CEO of Thai Wah Public Company Limited, joined the discussion on the topic of SDG Ambition: Mobilizing Ambitions Corporate Actions Towards the Global Goals or elevating the operations of business organizations to global sustainability goals.
Charoen Pokphand Group promotes 3 goals within 10 years
Mr. Suphachai Chearavanont, CEO of Charoen Pokphand Group and President of the Global Compact Network Thailand, said that in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we must start by making people in the country aware of the problem of unsustainable consumption, both at the individual and corporate levels, such as the long-term excessive use of natural resources that has led to steadily warming global temperatures. As Charoen Pokphand Group’s businesses are related to food, agriculture, and retail, we have tried to work with more than 100,000 partners to manage the supply chain and, importantly, to raise awareness among the Group’s more than 400,000 employees to follow the same goal.
Charoen Pokphand Group aims to operate in 3 main areas within the next 10 years:
1) Promote the use of renewable energy in the amount that the Group needs to use in 2010, 1,600 megawatts, by investing in green energy of more than 2.5 billion US dollars.
2) Plant 16 million rai of forest to cover carbon footprint offsets in the next 10 years, including a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions covering farmers’ areas in the supply chain.
3) Drive waste disposal, especially food waste, to zero in all processes.
“I would like the COP26 meeting between world leaders in Glasgow, Scotland, which will be held in November 2021, to call on governments and stock exchanges in each country to require listed companies and the private sector to set sustainability goals and report on zero emission to help drive the entire ecosystem so that the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to reduce global temperatures can actually happen according to the target by 2050. The private sector should see these issues as business opportunities when we start to take action seriously. Finally, I would like the education system for the new generation to be adjusted from the 2.0 era to the 4.0 era, which does not only focus on technology, but also teaches awareness of the importance of sustainable living.”
NRF, the leader in Plant-based food, low-carbon food
Mr. Dan Pathomwanich, Chief Executive Officer of NR Instant Produce Public Company Limited, revealed the organization’s vision and goals that NRF will make the world carbon-neutral through transforming the food system. This is stated in everything the organization does, from its vision, policies, and goals to become the world’s largest producer of alternative proteins and plant-based foods by building the world’s most comprehensive manufacturing network, from global brands to startups to supermarkets, to transform into sustainable, low-carbon food production.
What NRF focuses on is supply chain management to understand the organization’s vision and goals by having a clear policy that is transmitted from the top management level to middle management and procurement level personnel to ensure that products with quality meet the organization’s standards.
The NRF CEO also shared an interesting perspective that a major challenge in the food business is the transition from chemical-based farming to non-chemical organic farming, because if this is done, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Thai Wa pioneers Bio-plastic, the first biodegradable plastic from cassava in Thailand
Mr. Ho Ren Hua, Chief Executive Officer of Thai Wah Public Company Limited, said that the sustainability strategy is part of Thai Wah’s vision and core strategy. Thai Wah’s vision is “Developing innovation and sustainability from farm to consumer” through strategic implementation with stakeholders in all aspects throughout the value chain under 4 main pillars: Farmers (Farm), Factories (Factory), Thai Wah Family (Family) and Food (Food).
Thai Wah is going to launch a new product later this year, which is an innovative development of environmentally friendly packaging, such as biodegradable plastic from cassava starch. In addition to being 100% naturally degradable, non-toxic and harmless, it is also environmentally friendly and can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Thai Wah will pioneer the first biodegradable plastic from cassava in Thailand and aims to become one of the leading bioplastic manufacturers in the region to lead the organization’s long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction approach. Currently, the organization’s greenhouse gas emission report is being reviewed and is expected to be completed in the second half of this year.
The CEO of Thai Wah also emphasized that the private and public sectors will drive innovation development together with various sectors of society, just like Thai Wah works with business partners, research institutes, leading universities, and startups to research and develop prototypes of products and services that meet customer needs, create economic value, and even value for society and the environment.
“Sustainability is very important and cannot be created by one person. It has to be the brainstorming and cooperation of all parties, both inside and outside the organization, that will help develop and create new innovations in a short period of time. And of course, it is much better than working alone, as you would never expect.”
The UN Global Compact places great importance on pushing and promoting the business sector to play a serious role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on setting meaningful and measurable science-based targets. As a local network of the UN Global Compact, the Thailand Global Compact Network Association will prepare this for Thai businesses to drive the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and for the sustainable growth of their own businesses, creating new business opportunities and avoiding the impacts of trade measures that may occur in the future.
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