Amid today’s rapidly changing world, marked by accelerated technological transformation, economic volatility, supply chain disruptions, and the growing impacts of climate change and global warming, countries around the world are increasingly aware of the urgent need to adapt and collaborate on solutions. This has led to intensified global efforts such as international climate forums like the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) and the establishment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, businesses are being called upon to take concrete action and adapt their strategies to ensure that the global economy can continue to grow while preserving the environment for future generations.

“Sustainable development” has therefore become a priority agenda worldwide. Large organizations are taking on increasingly important roles by setting clear goals to conduct business responsibly while contributing to social and environmental sustainability. “Mitr Phol Group,” a leading player in Thailand’s sugarcane and sugar industry, is among the global organizations that have clearly defined and consistently pursued sustainability-driven operations. The company’s sustainability performance, assessed by S&P Global, reflects this commitment. Over the past four years, Mitr Phol has steadily climbed the rankings in the global Food Products industry, rising from 17^th place to become one of the world’s leading companies in sustainability performance, clear evidence of the organization’s strong vision and genuine commitment to sustainable development.

Buntoeng Vongkusolkit, Chairman of Mitr Phol Group, shared his perspective on sustainability: “Running a business with a clear commitment to sustainable development across the economic, social, and environmental dimensions helps strengthen a company’s competitiveness. It enables businesses to respond effectively to sudden changes while also contributing to the development of society and the protection of the environment. Ultimately, sustainability creates new opportunities for the world to move forward in a more balanced and lasting way. Mitr Phol operates within the agriculture and food sector, an industry that is closely connected to many stakeholders, from farmers and local communities to consumers and the environment. Therefore, achieving real sustainability can create benefits for a wide range of people.

The agricultural sector is a key source of food security and can also be further developed into green energy and environmentally friendly bio-based products. This aligns with the growing demand from both manufacturers and consumers for bio-based raw materials as alternatives to petroleum-based products, helping reduce environmental impacts. We see strong potential for the agricultural sector to play a major role in advancing sustainability. That is why we focus on developing raw materials from the upstream stage throughout the entire value chain, ensuring high-quality sugarcane and sugar that can be further developed into various products. Most recently, our ethanol production has been certified under the global sustainability standard Bonsucro EU-RED.”

Buntoeng Vongkusolkit, Chairman of Mitr Phol Group, further stated: “Although Mitr Phol is not a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, we have a clear commitment to advancing our operations in line with global sustainability standards. We continuously seek opportunities to learn and elevate our practices by adopting internationally recognized sustainability assessment frameworks aligned with the criteria used by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). For this reason, we have participated in corporate sustainability assessments conducted by S&P Global for more than five consecutive years.”

The sustainability strategy of Mitr Phol Group is built upon three key pillars, covering economic, social, and environmental development. These efforts are aligned with and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on creating growth and shared value for all stakeholders across the entire business value chain. In addition, last year Mitr Phol announced its environmental sustainability vision, setting a target to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. This commitment supports both Thailand’s national climate goals and international efforts to address global climate change.