Key Stakeholders: Shareholders/ Communities/ Customers and Consumers/ Government and Civil Society Sectors
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Target
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Performance
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Receipt of serious environmental complaints*
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No serious environmental complaints received*
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No serious environmental complaints received*
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Water Withdrawal
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Decrease by 5%
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Increased by 20.7%**
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*A serious environmental complaint refers to significant social opposition involving a large group of people, which prompts the activation of a business continuity plan or an order to cease operations under Section 39 of the Factory Act B.E. 2535.
**In 2024, the volume of water withdrawals increased due to an expansion of the data collection scope to encompass newly added companies.
The Board of Directors has established a clear policy on security, safety, occupational health, and the environment* and has allocated the necessary resources to support the development of preventive, monitoring, and corrective measures, as well as the inspection of environmental systems. Each factory has a dedicated environmental unit responsible for driving these measures, providing knowledge and understanding, and promoting environmental conservation among employees, farmers, communities, and other stakeholders. Joint meetings with senior management from the sugar and affiliated power sectors are held at least once a month to monitor environmental issues, gather feedback, and exchange information. Internal and external stakeholders are provided with multiple channels to report information, submit recommendations, or lodge complaints regarding environmental impacts. In other business groups, monthly meetings are convened between factory management and the Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) Committee to address both safety and environmental issues. For large factories, the Company has established a trilateral committee in accordance with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements, while for power plants with a capacity not exceeding 9.9 MW, a Community Committee has been formed. These committees, comprising representatives from factories/plants, the government sector, and communities, serve as a platform for sharing opinions and offering recommendations aimed at improving the sustainability of the environmental management system and the effectiveness of environmental development.
The Company’s environmental management complies with the international ISO 14001 standard, which includes setting an environmental policy, formulating a plan to address the policy, understanding the organization as well as its context and stakeholders, assessing environmental risks and issues, supporting implementation and operations, monitoring and corrective actions, and carrying out continuous review and improvement. The Company has established the following guidelines for identifying environmental issues and assessing their impacts.
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The Management
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Setting a policy, allocating resources, delegating authority to Environmental Management Representatives (EMRs), and establishing an Environmental Management Committee, with the EMRs serving as the key drivers of the system.
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Engineers/Section Managers /Responsible Persons
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Identify problems and assess environmental impacts to determine levels of severity and mitigations to reduce problems and impacts. Environmental problems are listed below.
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EMRs and Engineers/Section Managers /Responsible Persons
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Identify key issues for environmental protection, and establish environmental goals, objectives, and plans. This includes preventive and mitigative measures implemented by the Environment Committee, which is responsible for reviewing, approving, monitoring, and reporting on performance to management for continual improvement.
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Section Managers /Department Managers/Working Committee/ Responsible Persons
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Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of measures, review and address environmental issues, and present the outcome to the management at least once a year.
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By implementing these guidelines, the Company is able to identify stakeholders, analyze and assess risks and opportunities related to pollution prevention and environmental protection, strengthen environmental management, ensure compliance with legal and other applicable requirements, and achieve environmental objectives, enhancing transparency and fostering trust among stakeholders.
Mitr Phol analyzes both the impact of its operations on water resources and the dependency of its business activities on water, from upstream to downstream, using the ENCORE (ENsemble for CO-Re-Analysis) tool. This includes assessing the effects of the Company’s water use. In addition, the Company evaluates water-related risks through the World Wildlife Fund’s Biodiversity Risk Filter (WWF BRF) tool, focusing on aspects such as water availability and water quality. These assessments help the Company understand how its business depends on and affects water resources, and how the degradation of these resources could create business risks—supporting more informed planning and management. The Company also studies the potential impacts of El Niño and La Niña on agricultural yields, particularly sugarcane, by reviewing precipitation forecasts and rainfall data from the Meteorological Department. This analysis is used to forecast water availability in the fields and to manage water resources efficiently and effectively, ensuring sufficient support for optimal sugarcane growth. (For further details, please refer tothe Farm and On-Farm Water Management chapter).)
In industrial production processes, water that has been used and contaminated through systems or internal operations within a factory is collectively referred to as wastewater. The Company has implemented a variety of wastewater treatment systems tailored to the quality of the wastewater and the plant location, such as oxidation pond systems and activated sludge treatment systems. The treated effluent must meet the standards set forth in the Ministry of Industry's regulation on the standards for the discharge of industrial effluents, B.E. 2560, and the Notification of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment No. 3 (B.E. 2539), Re: Effluent standard for factories in industrial estates.
In 2024, Mitr Phol planned to develop wastewater management at the Mitr Phu Khiao Sugar Mill in Chaiyaphum Province, making it the second facility to improve wastewater quality for reuse. The project involves upgrading the mill’s wastewater treatment system to an activated sludge process, a biological treatment method that relies on aerobic bacteria to decompose organic matter in the wastewater. Once implemented, the system is expected to enable the reuse of approximately 2,000 m³ of treated water per day for the Company’s plantations and recycle about 3,500 m³ per day for park irrigation.
To ensure efficient water management, Mitr Phol has implemented the 4Rs principle, which includes 1) Resource: Securing surface water and groundwater as backup sources, 2) Reduce: Reducing water consumption in the production process, 3) Reuse: Reusing water generated from the production process, and 4) Recycle: Recycling treated water at sugar mills. Mitr Phol applies the 4Rs principle to mitigate the environmental impact of water usage in its business operations. The following outlines the detailed management approach:
The Company has implemented air quality management measures to control and mitigate air pollution from its source to the point of emission, in order to prevent and reduce potential impacts on surrounding communities. The specific air quality management guidelines for each factory are tailored to its circumstances, with measures categorized into three main approaches:
With a strong commitment to advancing Thailand’s agricultural sector under the concept “From Waste to Value Creation,” Mitr Phol focuses on developing businesses that utilize recycled materials. Waste from one business is continuously transformed to create value for another. For example, bagasse is converted into biomass-fueled electricity, molasses is processed into ethanol for use in gasohol and jet biofuel, and filter sludge and distillation effluent are used to produce fertilizer. The Company also develops bio-based products to replace petroleum-based products. This approach not only reduces waste and minimizes negative impacts across the value chain but also generates new business opportunities for the organization. In addition, Mitr Phol promotes academic and research initiatives for new product development, organizes study visits on waste management practices, and supports indirect financial measures such as establishing reference prices for industrial waste disposal in line with international best practices to ensure operational efficiency.
Mitr Phol has established its waste management strategy based on the waste hierarchy concept, which consists of avoidance/reduction of waste generation, reuse, recycling, and recovery, as illustrated below.
To strengthen its waste management capabilities, Mitr Phol Dan Chang Complex has initiated a systematic study and data collection on waste generation to develop a comprehensive Waste Profile, which will serve as a valuable database for future waste management initiatives. The database will provide complete information on the types, quantities, sources, and management methods for each waste stream, in line with environmental management system standards. The Company plans to promote Mitr Phol Dan Chang Park as a model for a Closed-loop Recycling System through collaboration with other organizations to connect partners across the value chain. This system will maximize waste utilization, reduce the volume sent to landfill, and encourage reuse. In addition, the Company will engage an independent certifying agency to verify waste diversion from landfill, ensuring continuous monitoring and improvement in waste management for maximum efficiency.
In addition to implementing its waste management practices, Mitr Phol is committed to advancing research, development, and strategic investment in innovative initiatives that enhance the value of by-products and waste materials generated during production. These efforts not only improve resource efficiency but also significantly reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills. Currently, the Company has invested in several innovation-driven and R&D projects aimed at minimizing waste and promoting sustainable production. These initiatives reflect Mitr Phol’s long-term commitment to circular economy principles and environmental stewardship. Further details on these projects can be found in Sustainability Report 2024
Training on Environmental Management Systems and Safety (ISO 14001 & ISO 45001)
In 2024, Mitr Phol conducted training programs on Environmental Management Systems and Occupational Health and Safety (ISO 14001 & ISO 45001) for targeted business units.
The objective was to equip employees with practical knowledge in managing wastewater, air pollution, and solid waste, as well as occupational health and safety practices. Participants are encouraged to apply these principles not only in their professional responsibilities but also in their daily lives, contributing to a culture of sustainability and continuous improvement.
Waste Reduction Training
Mitr Phol has conducted waste reduction training for employees in alignment with its Environmental Procedures concerning the management of waste, unused materials, and industrial residues. The training is customized to suit the specific context and environmental conditions of each factory. For instance, at Mitr Phu Luang Sugar Mill in Loei Province, training sessions were held to promote effective waste management practices aimed at reducing the volume of waste requiring disposal, conserving resources, and minimizing environmental impact. The training covered comprehensive waste segregation methods—including general waste, recyclable waste, and hazardous waste—as well as the utilization of by-products as soil conditioners in agricultural applications. Post-training, employees actively implemented these practices through initiatives such as the “Collect and Exchange” project, which involves sorting recyclable waste for resale, composting leftover food from the canteen to produce organic fertilizer and bio-liquid fertilizer, and collecting UHT cartons for donation to be repurposed into green roofing materials for community use.
More importantly, to strengthen and broaden the scope of the Environmental Management System (EMS) in line with international standards, and to ensure consistent oversight and management under a unified policy, Mitr Phol set a target to establish a Multi-site Certification system. This certification covers both the organization’s environmental management system (ISO 14001) and its occupational health and safety management system (ISO 45001).
In 2024, Mitr Phol successfully achieved Multi-site Certification, operating under a single integrated management system across 13 sugar mills and biomass power plants.
Security, Safety, Occupational Health, and Environment Policy
