January 25, 2021

 

CP Foods reveals sustainability strategy

Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CP Foods) has unveiled its sustainability strategy and targets, emphasising food security and circular economy-based operations that call for more renewable energy consumption, less use of single-use plastics, less food loss and waste, less greenhouse gas emissions and material sourcing from certified suppliers.   

 

Wuthichai Sithipreedanant, CP Foods' senior vice president of social responsibility and sustainability development, said that the company will apply the circular economy concept throughout its value chain. The company is convinced that the concept will prepare it for global trends, business challenges and stakeholders' expectations. 

 

The sustainability strategy and targets are planned be achieved in 2030.

 

This year, CP Foods will proceed with its renewable energy policy that was implemented in 2020. Currently, renewable energy accounts for 26% of total energy consumed by CP Foods' feed mills, livestock farms and processed food businesses. The energy comes from solar panels installed on the roofs of 24 factories and office buildings as well as ground-mounted solar farms at 16 pig farms.

 

The next step would involve all pig farms in Thailand having their own solar farms. 

 

Under its sustainable packaging policy and guidelines, CP Foods aims to further reduce plastic consumption. Under the guidelines, 100% of plastic packaging must be reusable or recyclable by 2025 for operations in Thailand and by 2030 for overseas operations.

 

At present, 99.99% of CP Foods' plastic packaging is reusable and recyclable. 

 

To achieve sustainable food production, CP Foods announced its Food Loss and Food Waste Policy last year. The policy will start with the company's broiler and layer chicken business. Success at the pilot project will be replicated at other businesses.  

 

Sithipreedanant added that in 2020, CP Foods launched actions to achieve environmental sustainability in four main areas. These achievements include:

 

- Energy use per product dropped by 15% compared to the base year 2015;

 

- Greenhouse gas emissions per product fell by 15% compared to the base year 2015;

 

- Water usage per product was slashed by 25% compared to the base year 2015 thanks to CP Foods' aquaculture business's reduced consumption and its shrimp farms' application of water recycling technology;

 

- waste to landfill per product was cut by $30 compared to the base year 2015. 

 

CP Foods also places importance on traceability throughout the supply chain to ensure that its raw materials are not grown on encroached forest areas. To date, all major suppliers of its feed mill, seasoning and packaging businesses are certified for sustainability.

 

In other aspects, CP Foods encourages all suppliers to comply with labor law and human rights principles. It also launches quality of life improvement projects for farmers and entrepreneurs and career development projects for vulnerable groups. These projects involve more than 50,000 people.          

"Amid the outbreak of COVID-19, CP Foods maintains its emphasis on food security. We have implemented maximum safety measures to protect both Thai and migrant workers, suppliers and all in the production process. This is to ensure continuity in production and assure Thai and global consumers of their undisrupted access to nutritional and healthy food in all situations. To play a role in stopping the spread, we also deliver food to medical personnel and people under quarantine," Sithipreedanant said. 

 

CP Foods shapes its operational targets under three pillars of its corporate social responsibility strategy aimed towards sustainability, and these are Food Security, Self-Sufficient Society and Balance of Nature. 

 

- CP Foods