Siam Makro PLC (Makro) announced its green resolution on World Environment Day 2021, revealing the plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to zero within 2030. Already the company has reduced its emissions by over 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per year. It is also seeking to eliminate use of single use polystyrene foam food containers by the end of 2021.
Dr. Anan Watcharapongvinij, Director-Construction & Facilities of Makro, underlined the company’s philosophy which strives to reduce negative impact on the environment.
“From day one, we began our operations in Thailand with a zero plastic bag policy which has thus far helped the country avoid disposal of over 4,400 million plastic bags in 32 years” the director confided.
“Meanwhile, our race for environmental sustainability via our ‘Makro Go Green’ recycling project, starting in January 2021, turns every 20 empty bottles donated from staff into a new Makro Go Green uniform, thereby exercising greater care for the environment.”
In celebration of the 32nd anniversary of Makro, the ongoing green resolution towards zero greenhouse gas emissions was further accentuated. A clean and efficient energy roadmap has been put in place which has rallied entrepreneurs who are Makro’s main customers to use environment-friendly products, and replace single use polystyrene foam food containers with biodegradable substitutes.
The ‘Say Hi to Bio, Say No to Foam’ project, initiated in 2019 to reduce use of single-use foam containers, has thus far avoided disposal of at least 32.78 million pieces of unrecyclable waste. The policy to stop selling single-use foam containers at all Makro branches will be put into effect by the end of 2021. Meanwhile, Makro has raced to host a number of relevant campaigns to convince restaurants, business operators and entrepreneurs, who are Makro’s main customers, to convert to using biodegradable products.
Dr. Anan added, “We have succeeded in adjusting our operations to reduce environmental impacts. For instance, we have installed solar rooftop panels at 52 branches, thereby reducing our annual CO2e emissions by over 20,000 tonnes, which is equivalent to planting over 1.3 million trees. We have also installed high-quality LED lights in over 26 branches, along with upgraded refrigeration systems and chillers inside 17 locations, resulting in a reduction of electricity consumption by 5,460,000 kilowatt hours and 2,800 tonnes of CO2e emissions annually.
“Dealing with the Covid-19 spread is surely crucial, but we must not forget global warming issues as well. It is everybody’s responsibility to foster positive change for the sake of our future. We hope that our missions and plans will eventually turn us into a green business from end to end. We also hope that our operational changes will help customers realise the importance and consequences of our consumption behaviour that impacts environment,” Dr. Anan concluded.
Makro’s green moves have earned several domestic and international recognitions and awards, including the Low Emission Support Scheme (LESS), the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), the Global Sustainable Energy and Environment (GSEE), the Platinum (Extreme Sustainability) award from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), and three awards from Thailand Voluntary Emission Reduction Program (T-Ver) in 2020.
