With the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, Thai Beverage Plc (ThaiBev) has accelerated a push into green businesses such as recycling and renewables amid a global and local decarbonization push by organising Sustainability Expo 2022 (SX 2022), ASEAN’s largest sustainability event of the year which saw a tremendous success with over 280,000 visitors joining in.
“Climate change is recognised as a clear threat to all of us,” explained Mr. Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, President and CEO of Thai Beverage Public Co., Ltd., who is also the Chairman of the SX 2022 Organizing Committee. “Food and water security, as well as biodiversity degradation are at the top of the environmental agenda. To cope with such issues, impactful and worldwide collaboration and innovation are required. And those are the expo’s main objectives.”
Mr. Thapana also said, “I would like to thank all related agencies and participants who joined SX 2022 to help create a sustainable world. While the expo is concluding, we are just at the beginning of a new strong and powerful cooperation to create long-term sustainability in our society. Just to emphasise, SX 2022 has been organised in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Goals (UNSDGs) which declare 2020-2030 the Decade of Action for Sustainability.”
SX 2022, organised from 26 September to 2 October, spanned over 40,000 square metres of space at the newly renovated Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC). Over 100 Thai and foreign companies joined the event and over 150 business leaders and experts served as speakers sharing their views and visions. Participants got updates about and gained insights into a cornucopia of sustainability-related trends, innovations and technologies via the expo’s exhibitions, seminars and activities tailored to people of all ages and genders.
The week-long expo was organised under the theme of “Sufficiency for Sustainability” by Thai Beverage Plc (ThaiBev) in collaboration with leading corporate sustainability leaders in Thailand including Frasers Property Ltd (FPL), PTT Global Chemical Plc (GC), The Siam Cement Plc (SCG), and Thai Union Group Plc (TUG). Themes covered seamless innovation inspired by Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP), green business models, inclusive green collaboration, green community, sustainable solutions to climate issues, youth, food, health & wellbeing, and commitment day.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sumet Tantivejchakul, Secretary of the Chaipattana Foundation said that “Development is endless. We all have to continue it together and adapt green models to all changes.”
Showcases by international and domestic organisations were divided into four zones: SEP Inspiration, Better Me, Better Living and Better Community. Models of sustainable value, including future food, agricultural technology, electric vehicles, smart city models, circular economy concept, healthcare innovations, and many more were displayed.
Planet Kids Playground and Sustainable Marketplace gained much attention, as did SX Food Festival on the LG floor featuring over 100 booths highlighting celebrity chefs and their work in the area of sustainable food, ranging from alternative proteins to functional food.
The expo also featured inspiring live talks and interactive programmes in three locations: the Grand Plenary Hall, Talk Stage and Youth Stage, and received good feedback as numerous visitors were seen joining forums, panel discussions, workshops and career advice in sustainability.
Many other highlights included a demonstration of “Dinsaw Robots” by medical experts and specialists that care for patients. Plus presentations on how to prevent kidney diseases and keep heart disease at bay, healthcare tips from Dr Tanupol “Amp” Virunhagarun from BDMS Wellness Clinic, and relaxing with traditional massage to cure office syndrome, migraine and paralysis.
Mr. Jeremiah Pitakwong CEO Media & Event Business AMARIN GROUP, said that “SX Expo 2022 reflects the full potential of business sustainability in businesses of all sizes.” Meanwhile, Mr. Tassana Vanchana Jitkarnngarn, Editor-in-Chief and founder of Urban Creature magazine, mentioned that “Today, sustainability is not just about using an ecofriendly bag, it has now completely become part of people’s lifestyle and business context.”
The expo also saw over 1,770 kg of food waste processed into fertilizer, saving 4.5 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere. 117 kg of fertilizer processed from food waste composer “Oklin”, reducing the amount of 4.5 tonnes of carbon. In addition, food was served from the Punsook refrigerator as part of the food conservation project by SOS Thailand project to 760 people in 8 communities, totalling 3,154 meals which reduced carbon by 1.9 tonnes of carbon.
Ms. Tongjai Thanachanan, Director of the SX 2022 Organizing Committee and Senior Vice President and Chief of Sustainable Business Development, ThaiBev, summarised that, “This sustainability exhibition was held on an area of more than 40,000 square metres at QSNCC. The event featured 100 leading organisations and 150 speakers who are experts in various fields. The 126 food shops and organic market shops recorded total sales of around 15 million baht. Meanwhile, 294 green product shops and sustainable business networks generated sales of over 9.3 million baht from selling local loincloths and other sustainable products from community shops from 50 provinces.”
“Across the seven days, move than 253,000 visitors joined SX 2022. Of these, over 150,000 attended SX Food Festival and 42,000 shopped in the SX Marketplace. Over 26,000 parents and youths visited the Kids Zone. Some 8,000 students from 30 universities and 500 students and teachers from primary schools were welcomed.”
Altogether, the SX 2022 showcased a cornucopia of health and sustainable best practices, to empowering people to become agents of change in caring for the environment and considering how their behaviours impacts the environment and sustainable business life cycle, thereby helping to drive sustainable national advancement going forward.
SX 2022 has grown out of TSX Expo or Thailand Supply Chain Network (TSCN), an annual event held in the previous two years. This year, five leading sustainable organisations, namely Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited or GC, Thai Union Group Public Company Limited, SCG Public Company Limited, and Frasers Property Limited joined forces to upgrade the event to the regional level under the name SX 2022.
