Driving Duy Tan with ESG

Beginning of Diverse Background

With a bachelor’s degree in engineering, Mr. Chamornwut started his career at SCG. The company later granted him a scholarship to further his education in the United States, after which he returned to SCG and was assigned to Siam Kubota Corporation.

“I had worked at Siam Kubota for 15 years, during which I learned about various fields of work from engineering, to quality assurance, to manufacturing, and to sales and marketing. My last post at Siam Kubota was as a marketing manager. After my stint there, I was assigned to SCG Paper (during its transformation into SCG Packaging). Under SCG Paper, my first posting was at the Pathum Thani Plant of Thai Containers Group. I then moved on to the Packaging Solutions Department, which started expanding its business to Polymer Packaging. So, I finally landed a post at Duy Tan Plastics Manufacturing Corporation (Duy Tan), its joint venture in Vietnam. Duy Tan has two core businesses: one about Rigid Packaging, and the other about houseware retailing. Working at Duy Tan has allowed me to familiarize myself with various types of raw materials. My posting to Duy Tan was a big challenge in the beginning. But thanks to this challenge, my learning and work experience have expanded.”

Driving Duy Tan with ESG

“In Vietnam, it is hugely important to drive a business with ESG. The country, after all, has positioned itself as a manufacturing and export hub. Recognizing that its export destinations like America and Europe have accorded much importance to ESG, the Vietnamese government has passed laws to require businesses to address environmental concerns. Its proactive approach has given convenience to investors in Vietnam.

“As SCGP also has ESG policy, I have laid down clear ESG guidelines. They cover four aspects:
1) Product Offering, which means our products must be eco-friendly and reduce resource usage without compromising quality. We do so either via an upgraded design or new technology. Our products must also be recyclable. Now, they are 99 percent recyclable. But we will make sure they become completely recyclable in the future. Our manufacturing operations, moreover, have now used recycled content in place of virgin plastic;
2) Operation Efficiency, which means we are pursuing the goal of lowering energy consumption and reducing waste through machinery upgrades over the next five years. With this goal, our manufacturing will consume less energy and emit less carbon;
3) Marketing, which includes our initiative to collaborate with B2B customers in the production of green packaging; and
4) Circular Economy, which materializes in the form of our trade-in program. Duy Tan has produced housewares. For these products, our customers may hand over their old items to trade up. Their old stuff will then be crushed and recycled into plastic pellets, which can be used as raw materials.”

Plan for Every Step, KPI Identified

“The successful implementation of ESG requires a comprehensive policy encompassing trading, manufacturing, and human resources. Based on this policy, Duy Tan has a medium-term plan,
a long-term plan, and annual plans with clear key performance indicators (KPIs) in place for executives and different departments to follow. While different units have different missions to do under the scope of their work, they are moving in the same direction.

“The challenge surrounds educating and communicating with all executives and employees so that they have the right knowledge and understanding. Aside, we need to work with stakeholders so as to mutually prepare clear guidelines. We have made sure our stakeholders understand there are additional costs and procedures for the production of eco-friendly products.”

Fewer Environmental Impacts, Better Quality of Life

“Our ESG-based organizational development has appealed to the new generation. Many young people with environmental responsibility and a sense of sustainability are interested in working for us. Our employees feel proud because Duy Tan is not solely focused on profit-making. For our corporate clients, we have conducted joint campaigns to promote a good corporate image based on ESG. End-consumers, meanwhile, know they are socially responsible when choosing our products. Our approach is friendlier to the environment. With fewer environmental impacts, quality of life gets better and so does our society.”

Proactive Learning & Being Open to Change

Asked about his work philosophy, Mr. Chamornwut said he always did his best so that he would have no regrets later. This executive, though believing much in teamwork, has regularly asked himself, “What can I do here? If yes, have I done it yet?”
“SCGP has expanded its businesses continuously. So, my advice to younger staff is that they should embrace the followings:1) Knowledge: It is necessary to keep learning because the company’s businesses will not be restricted to paper or boxes; 2) Proactive Learning, which will enable them to keep pace with changes or new business trends; 3) Work Efficiency in every aspect, which means they support collaborations and avoid focusing just on their job responsibilities; and 4) Open to Change mindset, which is needed at the time the company is diversifying its businesses.”