Internal Water Management
GRI 303-1 (2018) 303-2 (2018)
GC optimizes water consumption for the highest efficiency in the production process, utilizing renewable water, building cooperation across the supply chain, by focusing on water saving, applying innovation to water management, and responsible water consumption throughout the value chain. For example, recycling of effluent from wastewater treatment system, and increasing numbers of water reused in cooling system, etc. GC also has assessed direct and indirect water consumption throughout the product life cycle by implementing the Product Water Footprint (PWF) to analyze hotspots and define approaches to reduce water use in the production process, reduce freshwater withdrawal from natural sources. These will contribute to alleviating impact from water consumption by GC’s business operations.
Additionally, GC has regularly assessed water management risks both quantitatively and qualitatively in Map Ta Phut area by using the Water Risk Map, which is developed by the AQUEDUCT Water Risk Atlas and WBCSD Global Water Tool, as a Tool for risk assessment and analysis. As a result, GC has no operating sites in the area with water stress.
Moreover, GC must define proactive measures, drive sustainable water management through the application of high technology to support the acquisition of additional water supply in an effort to ensure water adequacy for our existing productions, which is in line with water management actions in response to climate change, as well as to effectively accommodate future projects at reasonable costs.
GC has enhanced water efficiency in the production process, utilized renewable water, supported investment in water-related technology, streamlined production process, and sought alternative water supply, such as Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) and Wastewater Reverse Osmosis (WWRO), etc.
Wastewater Reverse Osmosis (WWRO)
GC enhances the quality of reclaimed water using the Wastewater Reverse Osmosis (WWRO) system so that it can be reintroduced into the production processes. The project resulted in reduced water consumption by 2.69 million m3 per year from this project.
Sea Water Reverse Osmosis: SWRO
GC has developed a project to enhance the efficiency of freshwater production from seawater to accommodate the company’s rising demand for water supply as well as prepare for drought crisis caused by climate change. GC also supports water management in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) through the installation of the Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Plant which can reduce freshwater withdrawal from external sources by 2.76 million m3 per year.
More information is available in the Integrated Sustainability Report 2022 under the topic of Climate Change Management
Sustainability Report 2022Effluent Management
GC is strictly obliged to monitor its liquid discharges to maintain water quality at all production processes though the establishment and application of environmental policies and plans, namely QSHEB policy throughout the company to drive the environmental performance. We measure our quality of water discharges by complying with governmental environmental agencies and other international standards and obligations, such as Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E. 2535. The Wastewater Discharge Requirements into the Central Wastewater Treatment System in Industrial Estates of Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) are also solely incorporated in the identification and measurement of pollutants. GC is aware of the impact of water discharges to the environment, so currently, the contaminated water was treated in the wastewater treatment to ensure the quality is always within effluent standard, the general effluent monitoring parameters are pH, temperature, COD, BOD, Total suspended solids (TSS), Oil and grease. In 2022, there was no such cases of water effluent that is below standard requirements reported.