Resource Efficiency

Reduce electricity consumption per revenue by 30%

Divert waste to landfills by 30%

Importance

Business operations face challenges from the scarcity and degradation of natural resources, which directly impact the continuity of raw material sourcing, supply chain disruptions, delay in deliveries, decreased product quality, and legal risks or complaints regarding pollution and waste management. However, this also brought opportunities to enhance resource management efficiency, such as cost reduction through energy and water savings, the application of green innovations, and the selection of eco-friendly products to meet the consumer demands towards sustainability. This also includes improving waste management processes, maximizing waste recovery and recycling, and gaining access to new sources of funding.

Central Retail recognizes the importance of resource efficiency and has set strategic goals aligned with sustainable development principles. These include reducing electricity consumption per unit of revenue by 30%, achieving 100% environmentally friendly packaging, and diverting waste to landfills by 30% of total waste by 2030. These initiatives reflect Central Retail commitment to improving resource efficiency, minimizing environmental impact, and creating shared values for the society.

Management Approach

Central Retail has established comprehensive environmental policies and practices covering resource management, including the Environmental Policy, the Plastic & Packaging Reduction Guidelines, and the Food Loss & Waste Reduction Guidelines. These policies serve as guidelines for employees and stakeholders across all business units to ensure effective and consistent environmental management. In addition, Central Retail has developed practices in alignment with international standards. Notably, OfficeMate Logistics, a subsidiary of Central Retail has obtained ISO 14001:2015 certification, an international standard for environmental management systems.

Additionally, Central Retail has introduced the ReNEW strategy, an environmental action plan aimed at achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This strategy is based on circular economy principles and systematic resource management, including energy, water, packaging, and waste management, as well as food loss and waste reduction throughout the value chain. Central Retail also prioritizes raising environmental awareness among employees and stakeholders through training programs focused on resource management, climate change, and responsible sourcing. Furthermore, it fosters collaboration among employees, partners, and customers to drive collective action and create long-term positive environmental impacts.

Energy Management

Central Retail recognizes the importance of energy efficiency management in ensuring sustainable business operations. Therefore, it has established an energy management plan to reduce energy consumption, improve operational efficiency, and minimize environmental impact. Central Retail has getrgets to address energy savings, aiming to reduce energy consumption by 30% per person per year and increase the proportion of renewable energy use to 50% by 2030. To achieve these goals, Central Retail has implemented a comprehensive energy management strategy, beginning with energy audits in retail stores and warehouses to assess energy usage patterns and identify opportunities for reducing unnecessary energy consumption. In 2024 Central Retail has conducted energy audits for 26 stores under Central department store and Robinson department store. The audits identified Central department store Rama 3 as having the highest energy consumption, primarily attributed to Chiller systems and well operating the indoor air conditioning. Alongside these audits, Central Retail has undertaken infrastructure improvements, such as chiller systems, well operating the indoor air conditioning and installing smart energy management systems resulting in reduction of 2.90 MWh of energy consumption. Additionally, measures have been developed to reduce energy use within operational processes. Central Retail also promotes employee participation in energy conservation by encouraging changes in energy usage behavior. Energy-saving initiatives are regularly monitored and evaluated to ensure measurable results, analyze energy consumption data, and adjust strategies and action plans to enhance efficiency. Moreover, Central Retail ensures compliance with international standards, as demonstrated by the Central Marketing Group’s warehouse, which has achieved ISO 50001:2018 certification. This certification promotes continuous improvement in energy performance, contributing to cost reduction, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and minimization of environmental impacts.

Beyond energy reduction measures, Central Retail is committed to the use of clean and renewable energy, such as solar power, by installing solar panels in its facilities and increasing the proportion of renewable energy in its operations. Moreover, investments in innovation and technology to increase energy efficiency for Central Retail in the long-term. This includes the adoption of advanced automation systems and explore energy-efficient building materials to further reduce energy usage. Meanwhile, Central Retail emphasizes the importance of employee awareness by providing energy efficiency trainings to ensure that staff members adopt best practices for energy conservation in daily activities. By fostering a corporate culture that prioritizes energy conservation and sustainability, Continously, Central Retail remains committed to developing new initiatives that enhance energy efficiency that align with international sustainable development standards.

Water Management

Efficient water resource management is a crucial factor in ensuring sustainable business operations. Central Retail is committed to reducing water consumption, improving wastewater quality, and promoting water recycling to maintain long-term water resource sustainability. To achieve this, Central Retail has established targets to reduce water use, aiming to decrease water consumption by 30% by 2030 while increasing the proportion of recycled water. Central Retail has implemented comprehensive water management measures by identifying areas facing water scarcity, and developing appropriate measures to optimize water use. In 2024, Central Retail continued its water consumption assessments at 3 priority locations being Robinson Lifestyle department stores in Surin, Sakon Nakorn, and Phetchaburi provinces. In response, new water efficiency initiatives such as water reuse plants that treat wastewater from toilet flushing system were introduced. Central Retail plans to expand its water consumption assessments to additional priority stores in the future to further enhance water efficiency. Additionally, Central Retail has undertaken actions to reduce water consumption, such as installing water-efficient fixtures like automatic faucets and high-efficiency sanitation systems, optimizing cleaning and maintenance processes to minimize water usage, and promoting employee awareness to encourage responsible water use in daily operations.

Beyond water conservation efforts, Central Retail also focuses on actions to improve wastewater quality by installing high-efficiency wastewater treatment systems to ensure that discharged water meets the environmental standards and by reducing the use of chemicals that could negatively impact water sources. In 2024, Central Retail continues to regularly inspect the chemical and physical properties of wastewater from treatment facilities at department stores directly operated under Robinson Lifestyle, ensuring that all parameters remain within acceptable levels in accordance with local regulations. Nevertheless, in the case of inspection results showing wastewater quality going beyond acceptable levels, Central Retail will develop monitoring plan and enact improvements as necessary until the wastewater quality becomes satisfactory. Moreover, Central Retail has implemented water recycling initiatives by reusing treated water in operational processes, such as cooling systems and landscape irrigation, to reduce Central Retail’s dependency on natural water sources. To further strengthen these efforts, Central Retail provides awareness training to employees on water efficiency management programs, ensuring that all staff members understand and adopt best practices for sustainable water use.

Packaging Management

Central Retail recognizes the importance of sustainable packaging management by transitioning to environmentally-responsible business operations. It is committed to reducing the packaging wastes, increasing the use of reusable and recyclable packagings, and promoting innovative alternatives to minimize environmental impact. Central Retail has set a target to phase out single-use plastic packaging and achieve 100% environmentally friendly packaging by 2030. The following packaging management measures have been implemented:

Phase-Out of Single-Use Plastic Packaging

"Say No to Plastic Bags" initiative to eliminate single-use plastic packaging. This program promotes the adoption of environmentally friendly alternatives and establishes policies to reduce and phase out plastic bags and single-use plastic packaging.
Increase the Use of Reusable Packaging

"Bring Your Own Bag" campaign, Central Retail encourages customers and employees to use reusable packaging, such as fabric bags and refillable containers. This initiative aims to reduce packaging waste and avoid single-use materials.
Increase the use of recycled-material and recyclable packaging

"Bag for Life" program supports the adoption of packaging that can be reused multiple times and recyclable, including packaging made from recycled materials. These bags are designed with increased thickness for durability, enabling multiple uses. Once worn or damaged, they can be recycled and reproduced into new bags made from recycled materials. This initiative reduces the environmental impact of packaging waste.
Packaging Waste Collection for Recycling and Upcycling

Collaboration with external organizations to develop recycling programs and upcycled products that transform used packaging into new products or materials. These efforts enhance the efficiency of the recycling process and promoting a sustainable circular economy.
Research and Development in Sustainable Packaging Solutions

Allocate resources to develop innovative sustainable packaging solutions. These efforts focus on creating biodegradable materials, improving the properties of recycled materials, and designing packaging with less materials while maintaining strength and performance.

In 2024, both “Bring Your Own Bag” together with “Say No to Plastic Bags” campaigns had been able to reduce the use of single-use bags and helped avoid 10,247,345 plastic bags or 153.7 tons of packaging waste.

Central Love the Earth: Beat Plastic Pollution

Plastic recycling initiative to create zero waste and adding value through design to help conserve the environment

Research and Development for Sustainable Packaging

Waste and Food Waste Management

Central Retail implements systematic waste and food waste management to reduce waste generation, improve waste handling processes, and maximize recycling and reuse. Various comprehensive measures have been implemented, including waste audits to identify opportunities for improving waste performance. The waste audits are conducted via online interview, on-site surveys, and questionnaires covering all business units to determine waste sources and analyze potential reduction strategies. Through the waste audits, Central Retail has identifies operations under the Food Business Category to generate the highest quantities of waste in 2024. To achieve waste minimization, Central Retail has developed action plans to reduce waste generation by optimizing production processes, using raw materials efficiently, and minimizing unnecessary materials. Additionally, Central Retail emphasizes waste reduction training provided to employees and stakeholders by organizing awareness programs. Employees are encouraged to participate in waste reduction at every stage of operations. Waste sorting stations have also been established in the offices, shopping centers, and department stores to promote waste segregation from the source among employees and customers.

Central Retail has invested in innovation and the research and development, adopting advanced technologies for efficient waste reduction and management. Central Retail has developed an application for waste data collection to identify waste sources, measure waste volume, and manage waste effectively. This application facilitates efficient data collection and waste management. This digital tool enables the integration of recycling programs to reduce the waste sent to landfill by facilitating better waste sorting and repurposing efforts. Furthermore, Central Retail actively promotes a circular economy approach in waste management. For example, wooden pallets used in distribution centers are returned to suppliers for reuse, cardboard boxes are reused until they deteriorate and are then recycled, and plastic film is collected for recycling. Central Retail also collaborates with external partners on research and development of alternative biodegradable packaging for food products, ensuring compromise food preservation quality.

Aside from managing waste from internal operations, Central Retail also addresses food loss and waste from surplus products, which account for a significant proportion of total waste. To tackle this issue, Central Retail has implemented programs to measure food loss and waste, systematically tracking and categorizing food waste by type, including bakery, Ready-to-Eat meals, fresh meat, fresh packaged food, seafood, fruits and vegetables, and snacks. This breakdown of food loss and waste volumes by food category enables Central Retail to develop effective waste reduction strategies and targets. To reduce the total volume of food loss and waste, Central Retail has invested in artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify near-expiry products, apply dynamic pricing strategies, and determine the most appropriate handling methods for each product. This innovation improves inventory management and supply planning, helping to minimize waste at the source. To further prevent food waste, Central Retail collaborates with platforms such as Yindii, offering surplus food at discounted prices and selling "Surprise Bags" containing edible but near-expiry food at Tops Supermarket and Tops Daily. Additionally, Central Retail partners with external organizations such as SOS Thailand, VV Share Foundation, The Mirror Foundation, and CAS to donate surplus food in good condition to vulnerable communities. Central Retail also engages in programs aimed at using food loss and waste for alternative uses, working with JAIKLA to recycle surplus food into insect-based animal feed.

Project Highlights

Material and Packaging Management Project

Central Retail demonstrates efficient resource management by replacing single-use plastics with eco-friendly alternative materials in marketing and promotional production processes. Central Marketing Group (CMG), a leading global brand distributor, has transitioned its media production from using PP board to honeycomb paper. This material is fully recyclable and lighter in weight, which helps reduce resource consumption and plastic waste. This initiative has resulted in a reduction of PP board usage by a total of 410 square meters and has decreased greenhouse gas emissions by 1.16 tCO₂e. This represents another significant approach to reducing plastic use in operations and supporting sustainable resource management.

Promoting Waste Management and Circular Economy Concept

Tops, a subsidiary of Central Retail, has implemented the ‘Pretty Ugly Bag’ project to promote efficient resource utilization and reduce waste from used materials by upcycling used storefront advertising vinyl banners into long-term reusable shopping bags. This project transforms waste materials into new value while supporting the Circular Economy concept. In its initial phase, the project produced over 20,400 bags from used vinyl, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2.87 tCO₂e compared to production from new materials. Furthermore, the concept of offering free lifetime replacements for new bags helps extend the lifespan of resources, reduces waste generation, and promotes responsible consumption behavior. The ‘Pretty Ugly Bag’ project serves as an example of resource management that achieves tangible environmental results while engaging consumers in reducing environmental impacts in their daily lives.