Thais and corporate citizens need to build resiliency, efficiency, and competitiveness to achieve a sustainable supply chain management network, according to Setha Thavisri, Direct Material Procurement Director, Pan International (Thailand), an integrated and centralised procurement company under Thai Bev Group.
He recently spoke at a seminar entitled "The future of sustainable supply chains: purpose and practicality", at SX Sustainability Expo 2022 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
Mr Setha explained how the Thailand Supply Chain Network website was launched three years ago, with founding members including Thai Bev Group, Charoen Pokphand Foods, Berli Jucker, Siam Cement Group, Global Chemicals, Thai Union Group, Srithai Superware, Bangkok Bank and TBC.
The goal of the network is to exchange knowledge on product procurement and distribution through the use of digital technologies, innovation, financial services, and other related services, he said, adding that SMEs can also join the platform and benefit from the network.
A display of woven cloth and other handmade products from the Na Muen Sri Weaving Group in Trang's Na Yong district.
With over 3,000 local partners, Thai Bev Group said it is aware of the importance of -- and the incentives required -- to drive sustainability in the long run as consumer behaviour continues to shift toward more environmentally friendly and sustainable development.
Government stimulus strategies also exist, as do compliance requirements and the global trend toward the Bio-Circular-Green Economic Model, as well as international standards on sustainability which are widely imposed and regulated.
Different types of traditional mudmee silk clothes made by the Ban Sarik Mudmee Weaving Group of Amnat Charoen's Phana district.
Based on the World Economic Forum's "Global Risks Report 2022", environmental risks dominate concerns in both the short and long term. The top five concerns are climate action failure, extreme weather, biodiversity loss, a natural resources crisis, and human-made environmental damage.
Climate action failure is considered the most critical threat with the most potential to severely damage societies, economies and the planet.
Weenarin Lulitanonda, co-founder of Thailand Clean Air Network, said PM2.5 pollution is one of the key climate action failures in the kingdom and has been a structural problem for years.
She said the government is obligated to take serious action on this in order to safeguard people's basic right to breathe clean air.
ThailandCan.com was set up recently to encourage and create public awareness and action on environmental protection.
High-quality products sourced from local materials promoted under the PatPat brand, which markets products made by various Chaipattana Foundation sustainable projects.
She said the latest campaign supports the enactment of the Clean Air Act Thailand with three papers: the Clean Air White Paper (a guide to the fundamental problem of air pollution), Clean Air Blue Paper (insights on the impact of air pollution and its root causes), and Clean Air Green Paper (proposed solutions by experts to come up with clean air).
Sriprapha Petcharamesree, advisor of the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Mahidol University, said most Thai companies do not have a human rights due diligence (HRDD) process.