Industrial production process may generate air pollution potentially affecting health of workers, community and environment while the authority imposes more stringent laws and regulations. Therefore, SCG seeks to improve and deploy technology to minimize its pollution emissions, in all aspects particularly dust, gas, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odor. SCG is working towards the target of complete coverage of air quality management in its factories in Thailand and abroad, alongside collaborating with key stakeholders namely communities, local government, and private agencies.

Target

• Reduce dust emissions 8% by 2025 compared to 2020 base year

Performance

• 7.7% dust emissions reduction compared to 2020 base year

Strategy

1. Set air pollution emission targets in line with international standards among peers, and not exceeding legal limit.

2. Use best-in-class technology to reduce air pollution, both at source and emissions, while constantly monitoring air quality.

3. Engage with community and stakeholders regularly to hear their thoughts on air pollution.

Extending Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMs) Coverage

Cement-Building Materials Business achieved 100% coverage of installation of CEMs for dust, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOX) in Thailand since 2020 and in 2023 has completed:

• Installing Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMs) for hydrogen chloride (HCI) and mercury (Hg), on top of the legal requirement.

• Planning and preparing real-time reporting of CEMs data only to the Department of Industrial Works, as the law is being enforced in 2024.

• Collecting CEMs data from factories in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, replacing conventional data collection.

• Continuing at-source air pollution management consistently, controlling production processes to reduce pollution in factories located inside industrial zones and community areas.

• Monitoring and assessing pollution from stacks, to be better than legal minimum requirement to reassure stakeholders particularly community around the factories. 

SCGP (Packaging Business) achieved 100% coverage of CEMs installation in paper packaging factories in Thailand and scaling up in the following aspects:

• Installation of Total Reduced Sulfur (TRS) on top of CEMs among its pulp and paper factors to monitor and reduce sulfur-based pollutants as required by laws. This is to be completed in 2024.

• Paper packaging factories in Indonesia and Philippines 

Control and Reduce VOCs

SCGC (Chemicals Business) continues its commitment to manage and minimize its VOCs emissions by applying best practice and best-in-class technologies including highly efficient incinerator, Vapor Recovery Unit (VRU) and Carbon Canister.

• Thai Plastic and Chemicals PCL (TPC) managed volatile organic compound during legally mandated maintenance and inspection. Prior to the MI shutdown, it collected VOCs sample, conducted VOCs check during MI, properly covered equipment to prevent odor. Furthermore, it conducted check of VOCs in 4 spots around the factory and at 3 community locations. Upon MI completion, it checked for leakage and conducted after action review. Results showed that VOCs level in communities before and during MI, the intensity of Ethylene Dichloride (EDC) and Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) are in compliance 24 hours in all monitoring stations.

Success Cases

Proactive Environment Management Pilot

SCGC (Chemicals Business) is chosen prototype factory in VOCs management to transmit the good practice to various factories of companies joining the pilot CoP (Code of Practice) project in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate. Proactive management and VOCs surveillance are key features in this public-private partnership of air quality management.

Detect Odor & Monitoring (DOM)

SCGP (Packaging Business) continually manages odor from its production, notably through technology to reduce at source and monitoring, resulting in less complaints.