Collaborative global efforts in mitigating climate change, Thailand included, have taken shape as a network alliance announcing their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% within 2030 and set forth a long-term framework to achieve Net-Zero by 2065. However, tremendous cooperation among all sectors is necessary to engineer solutions to aforementioned issues.
In the food sector, Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited, or CPF, a leading integrated agro-industry and food business, with investment in 17 countries and exports to over 40 countries, whose business conduct adheres to the principle of social and environment responsibility, has announced it aspires to achieve its goal of becoming a Net Zero company by 2050.
The CPF pathway to Net-Zero focuses on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction throughout the value chain. This includes animal feed manufacturing, farming and food processing, coupled with innovative and technological implementation alongside BCG economy model, otherwise known as Bio-Circular-Green Economy, under the collective banner of economic model towards sustainable development.
The first and only company 100% ending fossil fuel consumption
Peerapong Krinchai, Executive Vice President, CPF Group, stated, “CPF vows to adhere to Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) in driving the business sector towards the goal of establishing GHG mitigation frameworks, referencing climate science in compliance with the Paris Agreement in limiting the average global temperature to be within 1.5 °C. The 2020 CPF global greenhouse gas emission data is set as the baseline year, for the planning and setting of CPF global targets to reduce greenhouse gas emission towards Net-Zero.”
One of the most critical sources behind greenhouse gas emissions is fossil fuel combustion, which makes up to 15% of the entire global GHG emissions. CPF is the first company in Thailand to terminate 100% of fossil fuel consumption in the operations, thereby reducing GHG emissions by 190,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The amount is equivalence to planting 18 million trees or 88,000 rai. CPF opts for wood chips-based biomass as alternative fuel for stream-generating boilers, replacing coal usage in all 12 of CPF animal feed factories. The wood itself comes from equatorial fast-growing trees.
Renewable energy makes up 27% of CPF’s total energy consumption
CPF has engaged in innovation and technology in manufacturing processes to enhance capacity, further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as promoting renewable energy. Currently, renewable energy makes up to 27% of total energy consumption. This reduces GHG emissions by 690,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, which can be equated to planning 73 million trees. CPF is recognised as one of top five food business in Thailand with the highest proportion of renewable energy usage. CPF utilizes renewable energy, comprises biomass, biogas and solar energy, in production process. It is forecasted that, this year, CPF will be able to produce 65 megawatts electrical power, with the aim to achieve 100 megawatts by 2025.
Biogas deployment in swine farms and egg complexes
CPF encourages renewable energy usage in swine farming through conversion of animal droppings to biogas. This serves as a best practice for other business units and conveys knowledge to farmers in contract farming projects. This helps drive livestock sector forward by contributing to the efforts against global warming via a sustainable mean. This sustainable power transformation has since helped reduce electricity costs in swine farms by 50-80%, including 96 farms and seven egg complexes located in Chiang Mai, Pitsanulok, Nakhon Ratchsima, Roi-et, Udon Thani, Chantaburi and Songkla where biogas is converted from chicken droppings to electricity power usage, helping mitigate odour and GHG emission as well as reducing electricity expenses by 70-80%. Total GHG emission from swine farms and egg complexes installed with biogas operation systems have been reduced by 490,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
Commitment to global warming reduction production
CPF commits to value chain development to achieve low-carbon products in all product segments, including pork, poultry and animal feed. Over 700 product ranges are certified with carbon footprint reduction label approved by Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO). Another 30 products are certified with Carbon Footprint Reduction labels. Altogether, this recognises products that reduce emission of 1.483 million tonnes of CO2 and equivalent. Some 25 CPF fresh egg products, including cage-free egg and organic egg ranges in all sizes, have recently been awarded Carbon Footprint Reduction Label recognised for GHG emission reduction of 532,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
Carbon footprint measurement and carbon footprint reduction labels have driven the company to achieve 33% of CPF Green Revenue in 2022, remarking excellent progress along the road to Net-Zero by 2050.
Highlight biodiversity against deforestation
In the Company’s pathway to Net-Zero transformation, CPF has highlighted biodiversity conservation. Concerning this topic, the Company has announced it 100% zero-deforestation by 2030 alongside sustainable raw material procurement, such as corn for animal feed. Such will only be sourced from eco-friendly origins with no risks of deforestation involvement. This is expected to preserve 2 million rai of forest. By 2033, other raw materials such as palm oil, soybeans and potatoes will only be obtained from deforestation-free supply chains with evident traceability throughout all processes.
