Biodiversity
Management Approach GRI 3-3 (2021)
Human and other living species cannot live without the ecological equilibrium. Biological diversity and natural habitats as an essential part of the ecosystem integrity is crucial for all life on earth, which could lead to impacts on economic, health, and well-being of humankind and other races. GC realizes and fully recognizes the importance of plentiful biodiversity and ecosystem services. Thus, GC has conducted the biodiversity risk assessment on all operational sites throughout value chain to capable of evaluating the risk impact on each area, which could lead to the development of an appropriate management approach. Also, GC have overseen and carefully developed measures through ‘Mitigation Hierarchy Principle’ to prevent, avoid, minimize, restore, and offset environmental impacts on biodiversity throughout our value chain.
Mitigation Hierarchy Principle
- Avoid – GC commits to not operate or conduct any activities in critical biodiversity areas. GC also has Quality, Security, Safety, Occupational Health, Environment, and Business Continuity Policy (QSHEB Policy) that specifies company to strictly control and govern the business operations in order to look after and preserve biodiversity.
- Minimize – GC has implemented and developed many environmental projects, including biodiversity programs, e.g., applying eco-design to improve the product to reduce environmental impacts throughout the value chain, and the development of biodegradable plastic, etc.
- Restore – GC has continuously worked to nourish and preserve ecosystem through various reforestation programs e.g., Huai Mahat Forest Restoration Project and Eco-Forest Rayong Wanarom, etc.
- Offset – GC aims to expand the boundary of company’s current reforestation and ecosystem nourishment programs to other areas that considered as critical damage in biodiversity to sustain the richness of environment.
To ensure the biodiversity management and value integration, GC has commitment, compliance, and monitoring in own operation and suppliers. Any environmental impacts are into the consideration and the business decision process. The mitigations of biodiversity loss and deforestation are integrated and communicated within business activities, and with external organizations.
As abovementioned, GC demonstrate commitment to achieve a No Net Loss (NNL) of biodiversity values within manageable boundaries, including, demonstrates commitment to appropriately maintain current and future operational sites to create Net Positive Impact (NPI), where applicable. GC also commits to No Net Deforestation’ for throughout value chain, including Tier-1 suppliers and business partners, and ‘No Gross Deforestation’ for our own operation’s activities, that also align with the Net Zero Goal (Compensation-Driven) in 2050. GC has defined the commitment and biodiversity targets to be aligned with the Net Zero Goal (Compensation-Driven) in 2050. The relevant material issues have included in the in our Quality, Security, Safety, Occupational Health, the Environment, and Business Continuity (QSHEB) policy and GC Biodiversity Statement.
Engagement and Collaboration with the Biodiversity Network
Regarding biodiversity performance, GC collaborated with a variety of external organization such as communities, government agencies, academic institutions, and private organizations. We have collaboration with Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand Greenhouse gas management Organization (TGO) and local communities for mangrove forestation and conservation covering over 10,000 rai of land to reduce impact of global warming and biodiversity loss. The company also has collaborated with Kasetsart University – an ecological and biological expert, the Air and Coastal Defense Command (ACDC), and the Konrakpa Club under the Charklukya – Huai Mahat community to rehabilitate and conserve ecosystem and biodiversity covering 2,500 rai on Khao Huai Mahat Mountain in Rayong province. Furthermore, GC has cooperated with local community around the Asia Industrial Estate, Ban Chang sub-district, Ban Chang district, Rayong province to conduct plantation project that will increase carbon sequestration. GC has initiated the project of 25-Rai Reforestation for CO2 Storage at GC Chemical Experience Campus as a part of supporting company moving towards Net Zero target by using 25 rais from total 65-rai green space to plant diverse plants e.g., brown salwood , Golden Trumpet Tree , and Borneo mahogany , which is Rayong Provincial Tree. When the plants are age of 5, it could have a potential of carbon sequestration for 74 tons per year (which the sequestration rate is higher than the normal terrestrial plant). GC plans to perform forestation both terrestrial and mangrove forests in the near future.
| External Partner / Institutions | Collaboration in Biodiversity |
|---|---|
| Department of Marine and Coastal Resources | Supported and cooperated the activities in the coastal areas, and the participation in the activities with local communities. |
|
Kasetsart University Air and Coastal Defense Command (ACDC) Konrakpa Club under the Charklukya – Huai Mahat community |
The long-term development initiative with a 10-year timeframe from 2013-2023. The objective is to rehabilitate Khao Huai Mahat’s 2,500 rai ecosystem |
| Ban Chang local community | Cooperation in the implementation of the Rayong Wanarom Ecological Forest Project under the supervision of GC Group |
| On Nut Solid Waste Disposal Center Kasetsart University | Cooperation in the improvement of On Nut Solid Waste Disposal Center into 55-rai green space under “The More You Plant, the Better” project. |
Biodiversity Highlight Programs
In many recent years, GC has conserved and fostered biodiversity through many projects that are environmentally benefit. The examples of the biodiversity projects are “The More You Plant, the Better”, Huai Mahat Forest Restoration, Eco-Forest Rayong Wanarom, and Marine Resource Conservation along the Rayong Coastline projects.
The More You Plant, the Better
On November 1, 2022, Bangkok joins hands with GC to launch “The more you plant, the better” project. The project aims to plant trees to create green spaces for the natural absorption of carbon dioxide by forests, including eco-forests and mangrove forests, in many provinces across the country, including in the Bangkok area. The initiation of “The More You Plant, the Better” project with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration was performed on the the 55-rai On Nut Solid Waste Disposal Center, which the area has long been used as landfill site, where soil condition is deteriorated.
In addition to improving the lung health of Bangkok-dwellers, the trees will also help to reduce PM 2.5 pollution that increases biodiversity and improves the environment. The project is in line with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s policy to increase urban forest areas.
Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Bangkok Governor, and Mr. Kongkrapan Intarajang, Chief Executive Officer and President of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited or GC, attended the ceremony at the landfill area of the On Nut Solid Waste Disposal Center, Prawet Subdistrict, Bangkok.
This reforestation can help to absorb an average of 165 tons of CO2 per year and will release an average of 120 tons of oxygen into the atmosphere each year.
Huai Mahat Forest Restoration Project
This eco-centric project came together through the collaboration of four organizations – GC, Kasetsart University, the Air and Coastal Defense Command (ACDC), and the Konrakpa Club under the Charklukya - Huai Mahat community. Together, they are
Rehabilitating and conserving
ecosystems covering
on Khao Huai Mahat mountain in Rayong province. Their shared aim is to rehabilitate the Khao Huai Mahat to be plentiful watershed forest that could help enhancing quality of life, economy, and local society. GC also encourages and support people in community to cooperate in forest and environmental conservation that favor in principles and sustainable manners.
Eco-Forest Rayong Wanarom
GC Group, led by GC Estate, joined the sustainable Eco-Forest Rayong Wanarom plantation project to increase carbon sequestration at the Asia Industrial Estate, Ban Chang sub-district, Ban Chang district, Rayong province. A survey indicated that the plantation area, which consists of a 80-rai plot, can store 1,270 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
A survey indicated that the plantation area, which consists of a
Can store
of carbon dioxide equivalent
Marine Resource Conservation along the Rayong Coastline Project
As GC recognizes the importance of rehabilitating marine resources, the ‘Marine and Resource Conservation along the Coastline of Rayong’ project was implemented to build a balanced and fertile ecosystem that supports marine sustainability in Rayong’s seas. It’s important not to overlook the local fishery which is essential to local residents and incorporates the provinces geography of beautiful coastline. The project’s activities encompass multiple dimensions to support both terrestrial and marine biodiversity. The qualitative and quantitative results of the improvement programs for the marine ecosystem including:
Building marine habitats using fish traps
Building coastal habitats for marine animals can help improve aquatic biodiversity along the coastline of Rayong province through the use of fish traps which provide a barrier allowing a fishery conservation area. This supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.
Project Operations and Performance: Building marine habitats using fish traps more than
Releasing marine species
GC, in collaborating with PTT Group, released marine species in suitable sea conditions including sea bass, spotted babylon, soft cuttlefish, black tiger prawn, and banana shrimp.
Project Operations and Performance: Releasing marine species more than
Reforesting mangrove forests
Growing mangrove trees, including spurred mangroves which are common in Rayong province, particularly along coastal mangrove forests in Ta Than and the Gon Peek estuary, for the development and conservation of coastal fishery resources.
Project Operations and Performance: Mangrove trees were planted more than
Establishing the ‘Secondhand Engine Oil Bank’ Project
Reducing any environmental impacts caused by the inefficient management of used engine oil and generating income for the Fisheries Promotion Fund led by a local small fishing boat community in Rayong.
