Global crisis affects the quality of life of the people, one of the many pieces of evidence is the rise in poverty. Today, social issues such as climate change, human rights, and labor practices are becoming increasingly important. As a result, businesses need to be aware of the current social issues to ensure that they meet the expectations of their stakeholders and remain a sustainable and responsible business.
BJC, as a responsible corporate citizen, recognizes the significant impact that its business operations can have on the environment and the communities where it operates. The company understands that its activities can lead to potential conflicts with local communities and negatively affect the environment, which can have long-term consequences for both the company and its stakeholders. Therefore, BJC is committed to conducting its business in a manner that is socially and environmentally responsible.
BJC believes the strength of a nation lies in the ability of its people to work together in harmony and develop as part of a strong community. Each year, BJC continued to prioritize community contribution and development as the company realized that in order to achieve sustainable growth and success, it must create business growth while also addressing societal needs and challenges in the communities where BJC’s business operations are located across the country.
BJC even went beyond societal expectations for community contribution and development. To promote education, which the company perceives as the foundation of knowledge and success, BJC did not only support students but also teacher’s capabilities, learning facilities as well as the company’s business partners. For nurturing the environment, throughout the year, BJC constantly encouraged the engagement of its employees, customers, and community members in all environmental activities. Moreover, to support public health and well-being, not only community members and medical personnel received healthcare support, but the company also improved the community’s economy and standard of living through various projects such as upgrading local grocery stores.
Community Development Management Approach
BJC’s group-wide Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy focuses on key areas: Education, Environment, Public Health & Community Well-being, and Religion & Culture. BJC demonstrated its enhanced commitment to community contribution and development by setting ambitious long-term targets for each focus area. By 2032, the company aimed to achieve significant milestones in education, environmental sustainability, public health, and community well-being. Throughout the year, BJC made significant strides toward these targets, with notable progress observed across various metrics. However, the company remains resolute in its pursuit of these targets, recognizing the enduring importance of sustained effort and collaboration in driving meaningful change. BJC remains steadfast in its long-term commitment to community development. Ambitious targets for each focus area guide the company’s efforts.
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As a responsible corporate citizen, BJC recognizes the significant impact its business operations can have on the environment and communities in which it operates. To address this, BJC has been monitoring and evaluating its performance closely to ensure the satisfaction of all stakeholders, particularly community members. In 2023, there were no complaints received from communities regarding its operations and activities.
BJC also recognizes the importance of creating value and enhancing the quality of life in communities in accordance with their way of life and needs. To achieve this, BJC fosters collaboration between communities and employees from the outset of each project. By surveying the opinions, concerns, and needs of communities and identifying issues that impact them, BJC can ensure that its projects truly meet their needs and expectations. BJC continuously monitors its projects and collaborates with employees, communities, and society to make joint improvements. This approach ensures that BJC not only delivers sustainable and responsible business practices but also contributes to the betterment of society.
Community Communication Channels
All of BJC's business units and subsidiaries have prioritized community relations, particularly those surrounding local communities at factories and operating sites. Along with regular CSR and community engagement activities, the company makes certain that all voices in its surrounding communities are heard and that the activities and operations meet their expectations. The standard communication channels where all community members can voice their feedback and concerns are as follows;
Apart from the standard communication channels, BJC also takes proactive approach to ensure two-way communication with its communities, which includes the following actions;
CSR department of each business unit is responsible for the communication channels. The following is a proper process of remediation that BJC follows when it receives a complaint from a community:
Education
BJC has laid out social activities to support education and youth in accordance with the business approach: creating activities that create a full range of benefits from upstream, midstream, and downstream. To enhance the quality of education from upstream or teachers who create the future of the nation, midstream, namely schools and educational institutions, and downstream: youth or students.
Since 2014, the project has been contributing to the quality of education in Thailand by improving teacher competency in innovative teaching methods and recognizing role model teachers. BJC remains committed to driving education to integrate and bringing results to youth, society and the nation. The company continue to follow up on the application of knowledge in the teaching of the trained teachers in all regions. This is to contribute to the creation of academic potential and quality of life for the youth, supporting them to grow up to be good and talented people of families, society, and the country.
In 2023, The trainings on enhancing digital tooling skills have been conducted and resulted in the following benefits;
Environment for Community
Continuously operating every year, BJC’s Responsible Consumption and Production Initiative focuses to promote responsible and sustainable consumption and production at local communities nationwide.
(1) The Green Shelter Project: Improved from The Green Roof Project established in 2010, In collaboration with Friends in Need (of “Pa”) Volunteers Foundation the project has been producing roofing sheets from recycled beverage boxes shelters of victims and communities in need, across Thailand.
Social/Environmental benefits:
Business benefits: positive image and brand awareness have been created among local communities all over Thailand and via Facebook fan page https://www.facebook.com/ThaiGreenShelter/, reaching almost 80,000 people. These people in the fan page are engaged with the activity and likely to become Big C’s potential customers.
(2) Exchange Silk Tissue Project: BJC Cellox has been encouraging surrounding communities of its factories (Bang Pli and Prachin Buri) to separate waste and reduce waste. After waste separation, the communities then exchange paper waste with Cellox tissue products. BJC then uses the waste as raw material to produce more tissue products.
Public Health & Community Well-being
BJC believes that everyone should have fair access to healthcare and safety. Moreover, to contribute to a stronger nation, not only promoting healthcare and safety, the company also enhanced the standard of living and the economy of its surrounding communities through various projects.
1. Don Jai Project
The traditional grocery stores are one of the oldest businesses in Thailand and the largest group of retail businesses, accounting for more than 40% of the market. Currently, there are over 440,000 traditional grocery stores spread throughout the country. In the past, the type of store was popular among both business owners and consumers because they provided access to a wide variety of products for all groups of consumers. Therefore, these stores have been ingrained in the Thai way of life for a long time and play a significant role in the country's economy, generating income to support communities for a long time.
Currently, the traditional grocery store business is impacted by the growth and expansion of modernized convenience stores, resulting in increased competition and numerous challenges. For example, lack of knowledge and understanding in store management planning, technology, tools, and essential information to help manage various aspects such as store arrangement, product selection, and inventory management are among the significant challenges faced by traditional grocery store businesses. These factors make it difficult for them to compete and survive in the market. Therefore, it is necessary for these businesses to adapt and make changes to remain competitive and survive in the market.
BJC recognizes the importance of small local businesses in communities and their potential to drive sustainable economic growth in Thailand. As a result, the Don Jai project was launched with the objective of helping to address the challenges faced by local grocery stores today.
Building a Strong Ecosystem
BJC has a network of over 3,000 suppliers, with more than 30 strategic key suppliers, which offers a wide range of product options. Stores under Don Jai project have access to over 8,000 specially selected products at special pricing arrangements. One of the main benefits of linking suppliers to the Don Jai project is that manufacturers can make use of the customer data available in the store's sub-databases, such as demographic and buying patterns. This data can be leveraged to develop and produce products that better meet customers' needs, resulting in increased customer satisfaction.
Moreover, the project also serves as a channel for small and medium-sized manufacturers to distribute their products, which helps them increase their market base and improve sales growth. In addition, the manufacturers can also leverage the Don Jai project's network to promote their products effectively and conveniently to both the domestic and international markets. The Don Jai project has thus created a mutually beneficial ecosystem for both the suppliers and the stores.
Store Assistance
The Don Jai project provides assistance to local grocery stores by providing knowledge on systematic and standardized store management, supporting them with tools and technology (Smart SME POS system) and essential information to help store owners manage their stores more efficiently. For example, the store owners can utilize the system to manage their customer relationship management (CRM) and implement a loyalty program for their customers in their own unique format. Moreover, the system can help the owners to manage daily sales for each product category, inventory management, product recommendations, and most importantly, track daily profits from sales. Thus, the stock can be managed more efficiently without causing shortages or unnecessary excesses.
Moreover, Don Jai also provides a delivery service directly to the stores, allowing store owners to receive their products without having to leave their stores to purchase them elsewhere. Don Jai offers various investment models for store owners to choose from, depending on their suitability in terms of location, store size, and the owner's needs. The project also assists in designing the store layout to make it modern and appealing, as well as helping store owners to consider the appropriate store size. To conclude, Don Jai is a partner in investing in the store, with a contract for business operations that is predetermined, and the store owner is not burdened with any obligations to share profits beyond this contract.
In addition to the various forms of assistance mentioned above through the Don Jai project, BJC has also established a dedicated team to work closely with Don Jai stores across all branches. This team provides guidance, suggestions, and assistance with various tasks to ensure that the stores under the project can compete effectively with both large and small markets and benefit the community in the long run by promoting sustainable growth and contributing to the country's economic development.