Mitr Phol Group fortifies its potential in sustainable and green ethanol production, succeeding in shaping Phu Khiao Ethanol Plant in Chaiyaphum Province an ethanol producer for sustainability. For the first time ever in Thailand, the plant has recently been certified with world-class Bonsucro EU-RED thanks to its internationally unrivaled standards for sustainable cane and sugar production. Bonsucro EU-RED is another milestone of Mitr Phol Group as it strives to develop the agro-industrial sector towards sustainability throughout the value chain. Moreover, Mitr Phol, as SEA's and Thailand's largest ethanol producer, aims at obtaining the certification to enhance the sustainability competencies of ethanol production by 25% within 2025 in order to bring new opportunities for economic development while also tending society and the environment with the bio-based industry.
Mr. Buntoeng Vongkusolkit, Chairman of Mitr Phol Group, stated that "Generating green energy through sustainable and environmentally friendly ethanol production is one of the key missions prioritized and developed by Mitr Phol Group to reach the operational goal of materializing corporate sustainability alongside social and environmental responsibility. As it has actively cemented the economy and Thai society, Mitr Phol Group adheres to the circular economy principles, which focus on conscious resource consumption, while creating added value to produce without precipitating any impact on the environment through consistently developed innovation and technology. These all proceed with a strong belief that the optimum goal will maintain the balance between the economy, society, and the environment, as well as paving ways for society to achieve stable and sustainable future."
Mr. Verajet Vongkusolkit, Chief Executive Officer, Thai Sugar, Energy and New Business of Mitr Phol Group, said that "With our Phu Khiao Ethanol Plant being Thailand's first establishment certified with Bonsucro EU-RED, a global standard for sustainable ethanol production, it reflects our intention and determination to constantly operate the business for sustainability. Throughout the time, Mitr Phol Group has been focusing on producing ethanol of quality, starting from sugarcane plantation management, production process, employment, as well as logistics throughout the value chain, from upstream to downstream. All of these serve as a crucial tool that helps lift the quality of ethanol to a sustainable level.
On top of that, Mitr Phol's sustainable ethanol production also caters new economic opportunities to the bio-based industry as it acquires initial raw materials from the agricultural sector. This approach accommodates the needs of both consumers and manufacturers in today's era, which increasingly shift to environmental issues. Sustainable ethanol is thus an alternative raw material currently demanded by the market and is key to further development in the green production industries such as the Bio-PE or bioplastics industry, and sustainable biofuel business or Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which tend to secure a great demand globally. With all these, apart from magnifying the competitiveness of national agricultural and industrial sectors on the world stage, it also enhances sustainability competencies among Thai farmers, enabling them to be ready for delivering quality and environmentally-friendly alternative products to society and consumers, as well as reducing environmental impacts and alleviating climate change issues to jointly achieve the true sustainability."
Mitr Phol Group's sustainable ethanol produced by Phu Khiao Ethanol Plant, Chaiyaphum Province, is getting acknowledged with the Bonsucro EU-RED certification as the production process has been built on its existing sustainable sugarcane and sugar production, which has been certified since 2016 based on 5 principles under the Bonsucro Production Standard, with one more principle additionally added for the certification of the ethanol plant as follows:
- Legal compliance Place importance on sustainability in farmland and not encroaching on forest areas while complying with applicable laws and planting canes only on lands with lawful land rights documents.
- Respect for human rights and labor laws Operate the business on the basis of human rights and international labor standards (ILO) without either child labor or forced labor while also ensuring safety of all workers.
- Efficient production factors management Ensure efficient raw material and production process management to achieve sustainable development.
- Biodiversity and ecosystem management Focus on managing biodiversity and ecosystems in sugarcane plantations with a standard to control chemical use in the production process and safeguard the environment.
- Continuous business improvement For example, research and development to enhance sugarcane and sugar production, and research to increase ethanol production rates; employee training for skill development; or waste management for recycling and efficient waste disposal, etc.
In addition to the five principles above, Mitr Phol Group was recently certified with respect to the Ethanol EU RED II criteria: The sixth principle - monitor greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global warming to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Being certified as a producer of sustainable ethanol is part of Mitr Phol Group's comprehensive sustainable development efforts in economic, social, and environmental facets under concept "From Waste to Value Creation." The Group has been consciously utilizing resources and creating added value to the production without contributing to any impact on the environment in order to accomplish the carbon neutrality goal by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050 while also taking an integral part in guiding Thailand towards carbon-free society and sustainably driving the agricultural sector along with providing new opportunities to the bio-based industry.
Source: MSL Group
