Material Topics
Sustainable Water
Impact Level
Medium
Stakeholders
Public Sector
Supplier and Business Partner

Targets

  • GC has set the target to reduce water consumption intensity by 10 percent, based on Business as Usual (BAUs), within 2023 compared to base year (2013)
  • Halve dependence on current water sources by 2032

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)

Sustainable Water Management Framework

GC is well aware that water is a critical resource. GC has prompted the efficient utilization resource. We have strictly committed to ensure our responsible use of water along the entire value chain to avoid water shortage that may affect our operations and stakeholders.

Water Statement

GC has established the One Water Strategy, which promotes integrated water management, enhances water efficiency in the production process, utilizes renewable water, supports investment in technology, streamlines the production process, and secures alternative sources of water supply. GC also builds cooperation with communities to conserve and restore upstream areas as well as regularly communicates its operating plans and performance to stakeholders, communities, and local authorities through appropriate channels in order to effectively meet established plans.

Governance

Managing water through the Water Management Taskforce to drive implementation of integrated water management as well as define the 10Y Water Management Strategy with the target to reduce dependence on current water sources by at least 50 percent, to support water consumption demand aligned with business’s growth meanwhile sustaining competitiveness and mitigrating risk from climate change

Water Stewardship

Optimizing water consumption for the highest efficiency in the production process, utilizing renewable water, building cooperation across the supply chain, developing and encouraging investment in cutting edge technology to achieve water saving and reduce freshwater withdrawal from natural sources, such as Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) and Wastewater Reverse Osmosis (WWRO) which contribute to alleviating impact from water consumption by GC’s business operations.

Resilience

Building network with the public, private and industrial sectors, playing key role and taking part in planning and water management locally and nationally to drive sustainable water management as well as jointly conserving and rehabilitating water sources, such as the Khao Huai Mahat Forest Restoration and Water Conservation Project, etc.

More information on other highlight projects is available in GC Integrated Sustainability Report 2022, such as

  • Reduce Water Injection at Oxidation Unit to reduce water usage and sodium carbonate in the Oxidation Reactor and reduce wastewater generated in production processes
  • Treatment of Wastewater from the Wastewater Treatment System using Wastewater Reverse Osmosis (WWRO) technology
GC ISR 2022

Water Management Governance GRI 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 Taskforce

The Water Management Taskforce comprises of representatives from related departments including center of excellence, base and intermediate chemicals, value added products, sustainability, quality safety occupational health and environment, utilities, and technical engineering and maintenance. The Taskforce is resposible for defining short-term and long-term water management strategies to accommodate the demand for water in accordance with future business growth, preparing action plans and budget to prepare for droughts, and studying new technologies for sustainable water management. It also collaborates with the government sector and all stakeholders while managing potential risks from climate change.

In 2022, GC has identified water-related risks and opportunities and mitigation measures in response to those risks.

Risk Management & Risk Factors

Read more

Water management performance

2019 2020 2021 2022
Water Consumption Intensity
(m3 per ton production)
1.95 2.06 2.01 1.98

More information on sustainable water management is available in

Sustainability Performance Data 2022