Net Zero Emission is an important mission for many organizations that require modern technology and employee understanding as a driving force to move forward towards the goal of Net Zero Emission.
In the past, humans have measured progress in terms of “increased” numbers. However, when it comes to the abundance of natural resources, the environment, and the survival of future generations, the term “Net Zero” is the one that is brought up, and it makes us measure success in terms of “decreased” numbers.
Every activity that happens on this planet releases greenhouse gases that increase the average temperature of the Earth’s surface. When the Earth warms, natural cycles, especially the climate, become disrupted. Rain does not fall in season. The more severe the natural disasters are, the harder it is for humans to survive.
And that is why we need to change our lifestyles, business practices and activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero (Net Zero Emissions). It may sound difficult and far-fetched, but today in Thailand, there are many groups of people and organizations that are actively driving this issue.
The Practical invites you to talk with Khun Kwan-Tida Kwan Phannarawong, Senior Consultant, Office of Sustainability Management, Governance and Corporate Communications, Charoen Pokphand Group Co. , Ltd. , about the challenges of working to push operations towards Net Zero, including the results of greenhouse gas reduction that are starting to become clear, serving as a model for other organizations to follow. Even if you are not a large organization, you can apply these lessons because Net Zero is the mission of all of us.
Race to Zero
“As a business, we recognise that greenhouse gas emissions are emitted throughout our supply chain, which contributes to global warming. It is our duty to be socially and environmentally responsible. Only when economies, people and the planet thrive together can sustainable progress be made.”
Khun Kwan explained that Charoen Pokphand Group has announced its commitment to become a carbon neutral organization by 2030 and aim for Net Zero Emissions by 2050. Although it is a challenging goal, as a worker, Khun Kwan said that it is an achievable goal because the entire organization has carefully planned its strategy to move the entire group forward together.
Charoen Pokphand Group also participates in the Race to Zero initiative initiated by the UN Global Compact to encourage businesses worldwide to compete to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to zero by setting measurable, science-based targets.
Khun Kwan said that in the past, Charoen Pokphand Group has collected greenhouse gas emission data from various businesses located in many countries around the world and strictly reported the numbers through annual sustainability reports.
“The challenge of working in this area is the diversity of the group’s businesses, each with its own format and different measurement methods. And once we have the sustainability data, every year a third party will come in to verify and certify the data.”
Reduce greenhouse gases with technology
Today, Charoen Pokphand Group’s direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions throughout its supply chain are estimated at around 63 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. To move towards this goal, the Group has developed a six-pronged action plan focusing on innovation and new technologies that will enable it to continue producing goods for people, but with lower greenhouse gas emissions.
“Starting with the shift to more renewable energy, we now have a renewable energy share of 12 percent, especially using solar cells and biomass energy to replace our reliance on fossil fuels. We are also reforming the use of new energy to be as efficient as possible, so that there is no more energy loss than necessary. Last year, we saved more than 700,000 gigajoules of energy.”
“In terms of waste management, today 90 percent of waste generated from our operations
can be reused, such as by being turned into biogas or composted. We have developed our transportation and distribution systems by switching to electric vehicles, including low-carbon transportation, and also supporting the installation of electric vehicle charging stations for employees and visitors.”
Khun Kwan said that they are currently developing an environmentally friendly Smart Farming system to enable the agricultural sector, which is the source of raw materials for the production of consumer goods, to emit less greenhouse gases. They are also restoring and increasing forest areas, which are sources of carbon storage. Charoen Pokphand Group has set a goal to plant 20 million more trees by 2025.
The heart of change is people.
While technology is a key mechanism for reducing greenhouse gases, another equally important piece of the puzzle is the people who drive it. Kwan said that CP Group prioritizes creating understanding to ensure that all employees know who we are making these changes for and how each person’s role can help alleviate social and environmental issues. When everyone understands, there will be a drive from within, not just because they are told to.
“We established the We Grow project, Planting for Sustainability, to have employees from various units join together to plant trees, which are important sources of carbon. We are so serious that we record the results of our tree planting via an application. Another project is Say No to Plastic Bottles, which installs high-quality drinking water machines in office buildings so that employees can bring their own bottles to fill with clean drinking water, replacing the use of single-use plastic bottles.
“Today, it can be said that each employee is much more aware of the environment and sustainability. Everyone knows that sustainability is an important part of the business. They understand that for a business to be successful in the long term, it must be based on environmental and social responsibility, especially environmental issues that are important to people all over the world right now,” Khun Kwan said enthusiastically.
What can we do?
Looking back on herself, Khun Kwan said that working directly in sustainability has made her aware of sustainability in every aspect of her life.
Khun Kwan smiles, “When we go shopping, we don’t just carry a cloth bag to the supermarket. We read every product label to make sure that the product has an eco-label or a sustainable packaging label to make sure that we are supporting an environmentally conscious brand. Of course, this behavior is passed on to the people around us who we have shared our knowledge with, whether it’s our family or friends. We are proud to work in sustainability, and to be a small part of helping to make the world a better place.”
The issue of climate change is no longer a distant concern. The world’s temperature has risen,
droughts, floods, or seasonal fluctuations have all affected people’s daily lives, caused the risk of animal extinction, and resulted in lower agricultural products or yields. Therefore, we all should work together to solve the problem of climate change.
Khun Kwan concluded by saying, “If you don’t know how to reduce greenhouse gases in your daily life, start with the 5Rs: Reduce, reduce the use of unnecessary products such as plastic bags; Reuse, use things repeatedly until they are no longer usable; Recycle, learn to separate waste to make it easier to recycle; Repair, try to repair things before deciding to throw them away; and finally, Reject, stop using products that pollute the environment.”
We Adapt, the World Changes The Next Generation: Actions to Drive Net Zero Goals
Or you can choose to listen to the program in Podcast format at:
We adjust, the world changes The Next Generation because we all can “change” the world for the better. Meet various ideas and actions from the new generation who have risen up to “adjust” their thinking and take action to jointly create a sustainable world.
Change the world #Everyone can change the world for the better
