URC Thailand wins awards for sustainability

MANILA, Philippines — The Gokongwei Group’s Universal Robina Corp. has received recognition from the government of Thailand for its waste management process at its production plants in the Southeast Asian country.

URC Thailand general manager Tanant Suwanraks said the recognition confirms the company is on the right path toward meeting corporate social responsibility to protect the environment and reduce waste.

The company bagged three sustainability awards, the 3Rs, 3Rs+ and Zero Waste Achievement Awards by Thailand’s Department of Industrial Works, Ministry of Industry, for its efforts to cut yearly wastes and costs at its factories.

These efforts have proven effective at conserving natural resources, landfill space and energy, URC said.

The 3Rs, 3Rs+, and Zero Waste Achievement Awards recognize companies that use efficient waste management systems that help improve environmental sustainability and encourage ethical business and social responsibility for consumers.

URC Thailand’s factories 4 to 6 won the Gold Level 3Rs+ Award, while its factories 1 to 3 won the Silver Level 3Rs+ Award for three types of new innovation or creation, URC said.

These factories were able to reduce their total waste to 1,000.76 tons cutting disposal cost and lost cost of dough by 1.99 million Thai baht (around P3.074 million). From the waste, the factories generated 762,078 kWh electricity and had 267.47 tons CO2 savings—which are equivalent to sustainable green energies for 94 homes.

URC Thailand was also earlier named as among the “Best Companies to Work for in Asia” for a work culture that values its employees as key resources.

Established over 20 years ago, URC Thailand manufactures and exports brands in Thailand that are also a staple in the Philippines, including Jack ’n Jill, Fun-O, Tivoli, Roller Coaster, Lausanne, Dewberry, Dynamite and Lush.

It has a factory, research and development center and warehouses at the Samutsakorn Industrial Estate, and a head office in Bangkok.