Mr Aswin Techajareonvikul, Executive Vice Chairman of Berli Jucker Public Company Limited said, "BJC conducts business in tandem with the aim of creating a prosperous economy and improving quality of life for communities and society with the goal of "preventing and addressing issues arising from climate change" such as enhancing measures to cope with the impacts of climate change (Adaptation); measuring and striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Group's business operations. (Mitigation); and promoting environmentally friendly behavior of all stakeholder groups in every dimension, for instance, initiatives include using solar energy by installing Solar Roof and focusing on increasing efficiency in energy use, by applying various technologies to help reduce excessive energy in the production process. This involves utilising Artificial Intelligence to control energy usage, using electric vehicles to transport goods including placing emphasis on packaging and equipment used in product distribution and service delivery. For example, shopping baskets at Big C, which are baskets designed to reduce plastic usage, and so forth.
In addition, BJC reinforces its position as a global leader in sustainability by proclaiming success in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the Emerging Markets group for the third year in a row and has been evaluated at the highest global level in the world in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook for the year 2023, BJC is considered as a company that has received the highest score in history in the Food & Staples Retailing industry.
The company aims to be an organization that emits net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the next 28 years or in 2050, which is also in line with UOB Bank's policy that aims to support entrepreneurs to access capital for sustainability under the concept Smart City Sustainable Finance Framework to drive development and promote the use of renewable energy in Thailand."
Mr Tan Choon Hin, President and CEO, UOB Thailand, said, "As policymakers and consumers increasingly call for sustainable practices, we are proud to join hands with BJC. This partnership showcases our shared vision and commitment to setting industry standards for sustainability. UOB is honored to back BJC's sustainability journey, providing the first financing and derivative that are measured against clear ESG performance targets."
Mr Aswin added that "With its roots dating back to 1882, BJC has long championed sustainability as a core value within its diverse operations. The company's foray into sustainability-linked finance demonstrates its ongoing dedication to enhance quality of life while delivering value to all stakeholders, reinforcing its reputation as a responsible and forward-thinking enterprise. In addition, credit support Sustainability linked loan the company has continued to operate since 2022, with a total value of more than 16,650 million baht at present."
"BJC Big C Group aims to be one of the leading organisations in Thailand that is committed to reduce global warming. This reflects our commitment to conduct business with responsibility for the environment, society, and management with good governance principles that is consistent with sustainable development guidelines,"
Source: UOB Thailand