Sustainable Water Strategy, Target and Performance
SDGs Targets
| Targets in 2025 | Progress in 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total net freshwater consumption | 2% compared to the base year (2022) | 2.7% |
| Reduced water price per unit compared to 2022 (base year) | 3% compared to base year (2022) | 2.98% |
Challenges and Opportunities
GC’s production process may be susceptible to the risk of water shortage due to climate change, which may result in business disruption. Moreover, changes in policy and regulation may impact production costs. Therefore, GC has worked closely with networks, government agencies, industries, water users, communities, and all stakeholders to collectively achieve efficient and sustainable water management. The company systematically monitors internal and external water usage and regularly assesses the quality of effluent to ensure that the quality of water discharged from its operations is safe and meets required legal standards.
Management Approach GRI 3-3 (2021), 303-1 (2018)
Water Management and Reduction Strategy
At GC we recognize the critical importance of water as a finite resource. We are committed to responsible water management and continuously strive to minimize our environmental impact as much as possible. Through comprehensive water use assessments, we actively identify opportunities for water efficiency improvements. Our dedicated water management team implements various actions, including upgrading equipment to reduce consumption, optimizing processes, and employing water-saving technologies. We also prioritize improving wastewater quality through advanced treatment methods, ensuring responsible discharge and minimizing environmental harm. To demonstrate our commitment to sustainable water management, the Company has set targets to reduce water use throughout the supply chain in line with the sustainable water management strategy (One Water Strategy) through the following goals.
- Continuously reduce cumulative water consumption every 3 years. The Company currently targets a 2% reduction in total net freshwater consumption during 2023–2025, and a further 2% reduction in the next 3 years (2026–2028) compared to the base year 2022.
- Study technologies and assess the feasibility of a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) project to achieve zero wastewater discharge from 2026 onwards.
- Implement cross industrial estate water management and diversify backup water sources to enhance water security.
- Drive the implementation of water scarcity risk assessments and mitigation plans, and promote best practices in water management across the entire supply chain.
GC focuses on integrated water management by improving production efficiency, reusing water in its processes, promoting investments in relevant technologies, and encouraging the reuse of treated wastewater (water recycling) to increase water reuse and minimize discharges from the system as much as possible. The Company also emphasizes enhancing employee capabilities (Empower Our Employee) through awareness raising and training on effective water management, fostering a culture of responsible water stewardship across the organization. In addition, the Company collaborates with local communities to conserve and restore upstream areas as part of its corporate strategy. To demonstrate transparent operations, the Company regularly communicates its water management plans and performance to stakeholders, communities, and local authorities through appropriate channels
GC Water Management and Reduction Strategy
Water Management Governance GRI 3-3 (2021), 303-1 (2018)
GC has clearly identified the position of the individual with responsibility for water-related issues and effective water management, in order to ensure that the water resources is managed efficiently and in line with the target achievement.
| Position of individual | Role and responsibility |
|---|---|
| Board Chairman |
Board Chairman holds the highest power and authority in the board of directors. Board also provides leadership and governance to create the conditions for overall Board’s and individual Director’s effectiveness, and ensures that our business has a clear picture of its exposure to water related risks, such as water strategy impacts and opportunity for water management, covering water crisis solution, water efficiency, and water innovation. The Board endorses policies, strategies and sustainable development goals under the framework of sustainable business practices that aims to balance economy, environment and society. The Board approves, supervises and monitors KPIs and corporate goals and plans. |
| Board-level Committee |
Water-related issues are included under the direct responsibility of the Corporate Governance and Sustainability Committee and Risk Management Committee (RMC), which are appointed by the Board of Directors. Water-related issues such as water conflicts, water consumption and water discharge quality related laws and regulations that affect the whole company are evaluated and reviewed by the CG Committee. This includes monitoring of relevant issues (including water efficiency, alternative water sourcing, and water consumption reduction target). The RMC would ensure that corporate objectives are effectively achieved and our key risks including water-related risks are managed. |
| CEO |
CEO as the chairperson of Management Committee (MC) is responsible for the endorsement of the water-related risk mitigation plans proposed by Enterprise Risk Management Committee: (ERMC). In additional, CEO as the chairperson of Rayong Integration Management (RIM), regularly monitors stakeholder conflicts in GC’s operations area. Any concerns encountered shall be reported during the monthly meeting of RIM in order to formulate on effective water management plan to intensively respond and reduce water related conflicts with the community. |
| Water Management Task Force |
The Water Management Task Force consists of representatives from business units related to environment and occupational health, public utility, business development, technology, process innovation, strategy risk management, and sustainability management. The Taskforce is responsible for defining long-term water management strategies to accommodate demand for water in line with future business growth. It also works in collaboration with the government and all stakeholders in tandem with managing potential climate change risks. |
In 2025, GC has identified water-related risks and opportunities and mitigation measures in response to those risks.
Risk Management & Risk Factors
Read moreWater management performance GRI 303-3, 303-4, 303-5 (2018)
| Water Volume (million m2) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Target 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water withdrawal (excluding saltwater) | 48.25 | 48.97 | 52.30 | 47.84 | - |
| Water discharge (excluding saltwater) | 9.81 | 12.36 | 12.64 | 10.08 | - |
| Total net freshwater consumption | 38.44 | 36.61 | 39.66 | 37.76 | 38 |
| Water Consumption Intensity (m3 per ton production) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| 0.00207 | 0.00196 | 0.00205 | 0.00191 |
More information on sustainable water management is available in Sustainability Performance Data 2025