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30 May 2023
Bangkok, 18 May 2023 at the Landmark Bangkok Hotel— Continuing its success from the past five editions, the Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Netherlands-Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Swiss-Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with multiple foreign chambers in Thailand have gathered around 300 participants for the Sustainability for Business Forum 2023, a full-day forum aiming to promote sustainable development among business based in Thailand.
For this edition, the Opening Talk was led by Ms. Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Thailand. Her insights through the newly launched report and study about 5 SDGs Mega Trends in 2023 were brought to the floor. The dramatic rise of interlinked global challenges is forcing executives to navigate new levels of uncertainty. Business leaders are building resilience by incorporating sustainability into their core business operations and strategies. She also added that leveraging innovation and partnerships is proving crucial to delivering shared stakeholder value and competitive advantage.
Under the five highlighted sessions, attendees were able to explore
Session 1: Sustainable FinanceThe session focused on exploring investment opportunities within sustainable industries and discovering innovative financial solutions. Ms. Vicky Janssens from Klik Foundation discussed carbon credit trading, highlighting its significance in the realm of sustainability. Mr. Henning Haugerubraten from ResponsAbility shed light on Impact Investment, emphasising its potential for creating positive social and environmental change. Moreover, valuable insights on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) evaluation of companies for sustainable funds were shared by Ms. Marie-Pascale Bonhomme from Amundi Thailand. The session was expertly moderated by Mr. Ben Grozier from the Asian Development Bank.
Session 2: Solutions for Industry
The second session discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainable sourcing across diverse industries. Mr. Bruno Lhopiteau from Bluebee Technologies shared their case study on the implementation of innovative technology for sustainable asset management during operations. Mr. Jagannathan Srinivasan from Signify discussed what they have implemented to be carbon neutral. Additionally, Mr. Poonperm Vardhanabindu from Bureau Veritas provided valuable perspectives on tracking sustainability performance in the food and beverage supply chain. The session was skillfully moderated by Florian Blin from Artelia, who facilitated a dynamic and thought-provoking discussion.
Session 3: Future of Transport
This session shed light on the latest advancements in sustainable transport and unveiled strategies for businesses to drive positive change within the transportation industry. Ms. Isawan Kaeochotchuangkul from Rhenus Air & Ocean discussed how freight forwarders are spearheading the efforts in decarbonising transportation. Mr. Rolan Coppens from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines shared KLM’s path to achieving net-zero emissions through the utilisation of sustainable aviation fuel. The crucial aspect of building the necessary infrastructure for electric vehicles was addressed by Mr. Gianandrea Bruzzone from ABB. The session was skillfully moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Pantip Piyatadsananon from Suranaree University of Technology ensured an engaging and informative discussion for all participants.
Session 4: Inspirational session under the theme of ‘Make Bangkok More Livable’
The session ‘Make Bangkok More Livable’ provided an inspirational platform for start-ups based in Thailand to share their stories of tackling pressing sustainability challenges in the city. The session commenced with Ms. Nantaporn Thiraponphaipoon from Scholars of Sustenance, who presented their innovative approach to addressing the issues of food waste and food insecurity in Thailand since 2016. Following that, Mr. Andreas Wanner from MisterLoo introduced an innovative end-to-end public toilet concept targeting high-footfall locations. Mr. Krisada Kritayakirana from Muvmi then shared their vision of shaping the future of urban mobility through affordable, clean, and safe solutions. Lastly, Ms. Arunee Atipapong from AriAround presented an expanding sustainable ecosystem driven by kindness and sharing as a lifestyle. The session was expertly moderated by Mr. Lars Svensson from Sasin Sustainability & Entrepreneurship Center, fostering an engaging and informative discussion among the participants.
Before attendees moved to the last session, an environment specialist from Baker Mckenzie, Dr. Muanjit Chamsilpa, provided valuable insights to the attendees on the readiness of businesses for sustainability-related laws and regulations.
Session 5: CEO PanelThe panel discussion brought together a distinguished group of CEOs and executives to share their insights and expertise. The panel featured prominent leaders such as Mr. Soonthorn Yongvibulsiri from SCG Packaging Public Co., Ltd, Ms. Anlee Do from Lufthansa Group, Mr. Kongkiat Teekamongkol from Camfil Thailand, and Mr. Sam Yamdagni from Amarenco. The session was moderated by Mr. Bob Fox from JFCCT, who posed thought-provoking questions to the panellists.
The forum featured sponsor exhibitions promoting sustainable products and services, including a packaging exhibition by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP). Sponsors include ABB Thailand, ACOEM, Amundi, Artelia, Baker Mckenzie, BECIS, Bluebee Technologies, Greenyellow, JST Group, KLM, L’oreal, Swiss International Air Lines, MAN Energy Solutions, PALO IT, Poolnologies, Sentinel Solution, Signify, Suranaree University of Technology, and VNU Asia Pacific.
Click here to check out photos from the SBF 2023
Click here to explore outstanding presentations from our panellists
For more information about the forum, please visit www.sustainability4business.com
