Food Loss and Food Waste Management

Key Stakeholders: Shareholders/ Suppliers/ Customers and Consumers/ Government and Civil Society Sectors

Food loss and waste can occur at all stages of manufacturing, from agricultural production to food consumption. Food loss refers to the decrease in edible food mass intended for human consumption and occurs throughout the supply chain, from cultivation and harvesting to processing and transportation to the final destination. Food waste, on the other hand, takes place at the final stages of the supply chain, including retail and final consumption.

As a world-leading food producer, Mitr Phol places great importance on addressing food loss and waste. The Company is well aware that these issues represent a waste of investment and lead to the loss of valuable resources such as water, agricultural lands, and labor. Additionally, food loss and waste contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, which cause global warming. Reducing food loss will positively impact the global climate, preserve agricultural lands, and ensure efficient use of resources.

2023 Target and Performance

	Target	Performance
The ratio of total food loss and food waste to the total amount of sugar sold.	0.17 tons/ton of sugar sold	0.18 tons/ton of sugar sold

Management Approach

Committed to becoming a world-class sugar producer with high efficiency, Mitr Phol has issued the Food Loss and Waste Policy and formulated practices for employees, to ensure that food loss and waste management aligns with the sustainable production and consumption principles throughout the value chain as follows:

Reduction of Sugar Loss Before Crushing

The cane logistics system at Mitr Phol oversees the transportation of chopped sugarcane from farm to mill, with a goal of achieving a cut-to-crush time of 4-6 hours, and not exceeding 8 hours after harvesting. To facilitate this, Mitr Phol has implemented GPS tracking to monitor the locations of sugarcane trucks, allowing for efficient route management, including the shortest routes, and minimizing unnecessary stops. This system ensures the delivery of high-quality sugarcane for sugar production by preserving its freshness, weight, and commercial cane sugar (CCS) content, which helps reduce sugar loss and increases selling prices for farmers.

Reduction of Sugar Loss During Production

Mitr Phol has created a database of sugar losses as required by the Cane and Sugar Board. The Company collects, measures and tracks data on sugar losses from various causes, including bagasse, filter cakes, molasses, leakage, and unknown causes such as sucrose losses due to microorganisms and heat and losses to effluent. These data are reported in real-time on a dashboard, which facilitates analysis and the development of production plans to improve efficiency. The sugar loss is illustrated in the diagram below.

Food Loss and Waste Diagram

Reduction of Sugar Loss During Transportation

The Company selects high-quality packaging materials that are durable for transport and storage. It utilizes technology to seal the packages tightly during transportation and storage, preventing leakage or damage to the sugar. All suppliers are encouraged to obtain quality assurance certifications or implement quality assurance systems such as ISO 9001, GHP, and HACCP. Moreover, the Company regularly checks and tests the quality of the packaging to ensure it effectively protects the products.
Provide training on appropriate and safe transportation practices for truck operators to prevent loss during transportation.
Utilize a modern logistics management system and efficient route planning, such as GPS tracking, to enable quick detection and response to potential problems.

Furthermore, the company collaborates with sugarcane farmers to control transportation loads, preventing product loss along the way. Mitr Phol also designs and develops packaging dimensions that fit consumers’ and customers’ behaviors to reduce food waste.

Food Loss and Waste

Food Loss and Waste	2020	2021	2022	2023	Target 2023
The ratio of total food loss and food waste to the total amount of sugar sold.	0.263	0.222	0.196	0.18	0.17

Unit: tons/ ton of sugar sold

Related Policy and Statements

Food Loss and Food Waste Policy

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