Water Management Partnership
GRI 303-1 (2018)
GC has collaborated with PTT Group Water Management Team (PTTWT)
governments and stakeholders to develop the effective water management strategy and plan through War Room Committee. Additionally, GC has identified the key stakeholders to establish the plan for managing their water concerns. These enable GC to develop water usage plan for all sectors in the next 20 years (2017-2037). Furthermore, GC has monitored the changes in relevant laws and regulations through the working group of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
GC has implemented external water management through integrated collaboration with stakeholders, and water conservation. The example of project that GC has been continuously carried out is Khao Huai Mahat Forest Restoration and Closed-System Groundwater Banks in Rayong province.
GC has regularly implemented water management projects with key stakeholders, which can be summarized as the following
Local Community
GC is striving to restore water source within community areas and conserve the water source sustainably, which consists of Water Related to Community and Water Conservation. For examples
- Innoplus Water Tank Project: GC has provided the Innoplus water tanks to help communities experiencing water shortages or lack of water storage facilities.
- Reforestation and Water Conservation Project at Huai Ma Haad in Rayong Province by collaboration with Air and Coastal Defense Command and the Konrakpa Club under the Charklukya - Huai Mahat community. GC has implemented this project to promote integrated sustainable water management. Additionally, the plastic flapped sacks of GC are used for construction of check dam to restore water sources. In addition, GC encourage community consciousness in resource conservation through reforestation activities.
- Closed-System Groundwater Bank Project: GC has collaborated with Map Ta Phut Municipality and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) to establish a Groundwater Bank in orchard areas of Krok Yai Cha and Nong Taeng Mae communities in Mueang district, Rayong province to solve water scarcity during drought season, flooding during rainy season, and seawater incursion on agricultural lands. The project has been in operation since 2020. In 2022, the Groundwater Bank Project won the Communitas Awards 2022 from USA in the category of Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility for Ethical and Environmental Responsibility (Sustainability).
- Activities to Reduce the Impacts of Flooding and Drought in Rayong: GC has sponsored plastic flapped sacks to minimize effect of flooding, and this activity becomes water management model by using plastic flapped sacks in Rayong.
Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs)
GC has conducted an annual materiality matrix analysis, and considered the stakeholder’s concerns (e.g. NGOs) regarding water use, and level of potential impact on its business. Thus, GC has engaged NGOs to reduce the community’s concerns on water used.
Government Bodies
GC has joined in the working group of the Water Institution for Sustainability and Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) to coordinate and create a sustainable collaboration between government and public sector in water management. Therefore, GC has been part of the rules and regulations amendment regarding water management in Thailand.
Large Water Users
GC actively engages with large water users through participating in the Water War Room of Rayong to reduce water conflict with communities by establishing water usage plan for all sectors for the next 20 years (2017-2037). Additionally, GC monitors water related risks and effectively manage water availability in Rayong.
Customer
GC reports evaluation result of water-related risk to corporate risk management team and marketing team. GC also evaluates water footprint throughout the life-cycle of products. Additionally, GC continuously surveys customer’s demands on water, and regularly analyze critical area that might be exposed to flooding around GC’s main customer.
Employee
Employee is considered as a key internal stakeholder and included in our water-related risk assessment. We strive to continually improve our water performance through training all employees and raising the water efficiency and water saving awareness in organization annually. Additionally, GC has designated potential employee to work in water savings with external parties e.g. Federation of Thai Industries and Office of The National Water Resources.
Supplier
GC has risk management systems for both feedstock and non-feedstock suppliers. This covers processes, such as supplier selection and supervision, capability determination as well as monitoring and evaluation of supplier’s performance. GC encourages employees and suppliers to uphold and abide to Supplier Code of Conduct and engaged with suppliers to promote water conservation. As most of GC’s suppliers are in PTT Group, we can collaborate with them through the PTT Group Water Management Team (PTTWT) to include them in our water risk assessment.
Water War Room Rayong
To promote sustainable water management in the basins and avoid water crisis, GC collaborates with PTT, GPSC, and GLOW to actively engage other key stakeholders to participate in Water War Room Rayong.
The members Water War Room Rayong consist of several sectors, including local communities, government bodies, and large water users such as GUSCO, SCG Group, Provincial Water Authority of Thailand, Utility Group, IEAT, East Water Group, etc. GC has also joined the working group of the Water and Environment Institution for Sustainability (WEIS) and Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) to seek sustainable water management.
Additionally, GC engages with its critical 1st tier suppliers through the PTTWT to prepare Business Continuity Plan against drought. The taskforce conduct impact analysis and monitor water levels and situations in the main basins in Rayong, Chonburi & Chantaburi. As a result, the taskforce successfully maintained the water level of three main basins to remain above 180 million m3. Furthermore, mitigation measures and water usage plan for all sectors for the next 20 years (from 2017 – 2037) were also formulated. As such, the taskforce achieved the target of reducing 10% of water consumption.
Water Management Training for Employees
Electro-deionization (EDI) Technology for Water Treatment
GC organized a training for factory personnel to create knowledge and understanding about the Electro-deionization (EDI) Technology water treatment system in order to enhance operational efficiency and reduce water import volume from external sources.
OZONE Technology for Cooling Water Treatment
GC organized a training for Process Engineer employees to create knowledge and understanding about the OZONE Technology for the Cooling Water Treatment system, which is another technology that contributes to reducing the import of water, optimizing water and energy efficiency, and reducing the company’s operating costs.
Cooling Tower Optimization and Recent Technology
GC collaborated with PTT Group, organized a training program for process engineers to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Cooling Tower systems in various aspects. These include the types of Cooling Towers, principles for selecting the appropriate type, inspection and evaluation guidelines, maintenance practices, and efficient cooling system management. The objective is to minimize potential issues or damages, which will ultimately lead to energy savings and long-term cost reduction in operations.
GC has also monitored water-related risk, including water scarcity, water quality, water-related legal enforcement water pricing structure and community conflict due to the use of water resource on a regular basis. Additionally, GC has prepared the water mitigation measures closely under the collaboration with stakeholders in both short and long-term.