Sustainability through innovation, operations and business operations focusing on Inclusive and Collaboration are important mechanisms leading to organizational sustainability.
When thinking of a petrochemical company that stands out in terms of sustainability, the name of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited should be the first name that many people think of. With its success in being ranked No. 1 in the world in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) 2020 for sustainable development for the second consecutive year in the chemicals sector and driving the Circular Economy together with partners in all sectors, the admin had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang, Chief Executive Officer of GC, about GC’s approach to sustainability in order to decode the success of a Thai company that has created pride on the world stage.
It starts with true belief and understanding.
Dr. Kongkrapan told us that the matter of “sustainability” is something that businesses have been doing for many years and has been continuously developing because it means creating a balance in the business sector between the economy, society and the environment, which is an important matter. He said that working on this matter, the organization must have faith and do it seriously because to make it successful, it must be integrated into the work process in the business by setting it as a Corporate KPI for both management, the board of directors and employees in order for everyone.
Within the organization, there is a part to play in this matter. Before having belief, there must first be a true understanding of what sustainability is, how it can be applied in the organization, and how it must be turned into a business. Each organization has a different context. Therefore, we see the application of the balance between the economy, society, and the environment to business in different contexts.
For GC, Dr. Kongkrapan said that joining DJSI until becoming an Industry Leader is like a training course that helps check that when we have good intentions and have the knowledge to do it, how much do we have to do to meet world standards? And he thinks that awards are not a measure of success because more important success than receiving awards is sharing what we have done for other organizations to understand and do together to create sustainability for this world, which is the heart of GC’s sustainability.
“GC drives its business with integrated sustainability principles, believing that significant success comes from everyone’s cooperation and passing on ideas to other organizations so that they can work together.”
Dr. Kongkrapan Inthrajang
Sustainability is not an expense, but an investment in the future.
When asked that most people think that sustainability is something that requires a budget, so only large organizations can do it, Dr. Kongkrapan commented that in reality, sustainability is not just about expenses, but it is an investment for the future. He gave an example that reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which people see as an expense, is actually an investment to reduce expenses, reduce energy use, and reduce waste, which reduces the organization’s costs in the long run. For example, working from home can actually be considered a matter of sustainability because it reduces travel, reduces carbon dioxide emissions, increases productivity, and improves the quality of life of employees. It can be seen that sustainability is something that every organization can do, not just large organizations.
GC Sustainability with innovation and solutions for everyone
GC believes in and is committed to conducting business in line with sustainability by creating a balance in economics, society and the environment, and selecting sustainability issues that are most tangible, practical and can create a lot of participation. We apply the principles of the Circular Economy called GC Circular Living to create efficient resource management, whether it is Climate, Water or Plastics Waste. There are examples of integrated plastic management that GC drives through the concept of “There must be a solution for everyone”, including:
Plastic recycling (Recycle / Upcycling) emphasizes responsible use, proper separation and maximum efficiency recycling, such as the Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand project, which transforms marine plastic waste into new products with added value such as fashion items, as well as the creation of high-quality plastic recycling plants with advanced technology in Thailand.
The development of bioplastics is an alternative for those who want to use environmentally friendly products while promoting the upgrading of the Thai agricultural sector.
Creating an ecosystem that supports a circular economy society in collaboration with all sectors creates knowledge and understanding in sustainable waste management and can be expanded to a wider audience.
No one should be left behind (Inclusiveness) and ready to help customers adapt to situations and changes in consumer behavior. GC has sustainable solutions for everyone as mentioned above.
Join the fight against COVID-19 with safe and sustainable innovations.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Kongkrapan said that GC handled this situation by giving importance to 4 matters, starting from the safety of employees in the organization, partners in the supply chain must be able to work together, helping society, starting from the community in the operating area, Rayong Province, which is like another home for GC, and communicating clearly to those involved.
The clear example is GC using innovation to combine the concepts of safety and sustainability, and working together with partners to deliver to medical personnel and the public, such as creating collaborations with partners to develop medical protective equipment, including Positive Pressure Protective Suits (PAPRs), gowns made from PE plastic pellets, and face masks, as well as developing Coverall suits under the Greater Care by GC brand made from 100% recycled plastic pellets (rPET), which are Level 2 PPE suits that can be cleaned and reused up to 20 times; the How-to-Separate-How-to-Prevent-Infection project, initiated by GC in collaboration with the government sector and partners to properly separate and dispose of infectious waste in many provinces; and the project to use Bio Packaging in Food Delivery as an alternative to reduce the impact on the environment.
Moving forward with cooperation
Dr. Kongkrapan said that the next step for GC is to be a good sustainability model and expand the Circular Economy concept and create widespread results. The factors for success are: 1) Creating alliances through thought leaders, 2) Developing innovations, 3) Having a business model that can be turned into a business, and 4) Having an ecosystem that is created from everyone’s cooperation to pass on ideas and have all sectors work together.
Finally, we conclude with a thought from a globally recognized sustainability leader: In the COVID-19 situation, we must be cautious and careful.
But more importantly, don’t forget to maintain a balance between risk prevention and growth. Because every crisis is an opportunity, so we have to choose correctly. Some things need to be done conservatively, but some things need to be done bravely and made decisions. In a crisis, it may be an opportunity that leads to new businesses.
Video Interview with Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang, Chief Executive Officer of GC
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