Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CPF) is transferring sustainability knowledge to small suppliers, aimed at promoting social-and environmental responsibility as well as improving their production and management standards which will eventually help them reach out to international-level customers.
Mr. Siripong Aroonratana, Chief Operating Officer - Livestock Business and Head of Sustainable Sourcing Supply Chain Steering Committee of CPF, said that CPF is moving forward through CPF's sustainable sourcing policy and guidelines for suppliers. Suppliers in Thailand are engaged with its development process and the policy is being exercised by its overseas business, to establish CPF's sustainable supply chain measures in the international level.
In the past years, CPF has continually implemented CPF Capacity Building for Partnership programme, whereby knowledge on human rights, labour and the environment is shared with Thai and foreign suppliers. This year's programme engages about 70 suppliers. It is designed to educate them on labour laws and international labour standards as well as the management of resources in the production process like water and electricity for lower environmental impacts, so that they can modify their production process accordingly to customers' specifications. Gaining customers' trust, the suppliers stand to prosper in a sustainable way.
"CPF intends to promote mutual growth. If our suppliers operate at their full capacity and secure contracts from international-level manufacturers, this will mean mutual and sustainable growth for both CPF and our suppliers," Mr. Siripong said.
In this effort, CPF encourages suppliers to complete the Online Self-Assessment, as a way to reduce social, environmental and governance risks in the supply chain. CPF also conducts the assessment of key suppliers, to ensure their compliances to relevant laws and CPF's standards.
"Our suppliers will be informed about modern business trends for qualitative improvement in terms of production, cost management and risk prevention. This will reinforce their business strengths and establish a quality and efficient network of CPF, suppliers and business partners," he added.
CPF's goal is to ensure quality products, food safety and the delivery of economically-, socially- and environmentally-responsible products to global consumers, as guided by the "Kitchen of the World" vision.