Cement companies achieve Thailand’s highest Green Industry status

Siam Cement (Lampang) and three Siam City Cement plants are among just five factories in Thailand to have been awarded the Green Industry Level 5: Green Network status. Launched by the Ministry of Industry in 2011, the Green Network programme encourages businesses to be more environmentally friendly and socially responsible. Across Thailand, 13 000 factories have been given the Green Industry label, with just 50 making it to level 4 so far, and only 5, as mentioned, reaching level 5. The levels are as follows:

• Level 1: Green commitment – where a company commits to reducing its environmental impact.
• Level 2: Green activity – where a company takes action based on that commitment.
• Level 3: Green systems – the systematic environmental management of a factory, including working towards environmental awards and standard accreditations.
• Level 4: Green culture – the involvement of all employees so that environmental consideration becomes part of the organisation’s culture.
• Level 5: Green network – the demonstration that the company is thinking ‘green’ across its entire network, including encouraging its business partners to enter the accredited Green Industry process.

The Minister for Industry has called for financial help from agencies led by the Board of Investment and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand to provide incentives to factories to join the programme. He hopes to have 35 000 factories achieving Green Industry levels within 5 years.

Speaking to the Bangkok Post, Siva Mahsandana, Siam City Cement Plc’s senior vice president for Saraburi operations, said that the Green Network designation was part of the company’s sustainable development roadmap. He added that SCCC has helped 24 suppliers achieve Green Industry designation so far, with 18 more to be added in a year’s time.

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/22072014/cement-companies-achieve-thailand-highest-green-industry-status-142/