What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2020 Sustainability Report C.P. Group identified a range of material issues, such as corporate governance, climate change management, health & well-being, leadership & human capital development. Among these, promoting sustainability across its supply chain stands out as a key material issue for C.P. Group.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups C.P. Group engages with:  

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees and Families	·      Digital Communication or Reports ·      Meetings, Discussions, Activities, Collaborative Projects ·      Complaints or Suggestions Channels ·      Academic Service and Counselling Centre ·      Satisfaction Survey
Customers and Consumers	·      Digital Communication or Reports ·      Meetings, Discussions, Activities, Collaborative Projects ·      Complaints or Suggestions Channels ·      Academic Service and Counselling Centre ·      Satisfaction Survey
Farmers	·      Digital Communication or Reports ·      Meetings, Discussions, Activities, Collaborative Projects ·      Complaints or Suggestions Channels ·      Academic Service and Counselling Centre
Business Partners	·      Digital Communication or Reports ·      Meetings, Discussions, Activities, Collaborative Projects ·      Complaints or Suggestions Channels ·      Academic Service and Counselling Centre
Communities and Societies	·      Digital Communication or Reports ·      Meetings, Discussions, Activities, Collaborative Projects ·      Complaints or Suggestions Channels ·      Academic Service and Counselling Centre ·      Satisfaction Survey
Governments	·      Digital Communication or Reports ·      Meetings, Discussions, Activities, Collaborative Projects ·      Complaints or Suggestions Channels
Shareholders, Investors and Creditors	·      Digital Communication or Reports ·      Meetings, Discussions, Activities, Collaborative Projects ·      Complaints or Suggestions Channels
Non-governmental Organisations	·      Digital Communication or Reports ·      Meetings, Discussions, Activities, Collaborative Projects ·      Complaints or Suggestions Channels
Media	·      Digital Communication or Reports ·      Meetings, Discussions, Activities, Collaborative Projects ·      Complaints or Suggestions Channels
Competitors	·      Digital Communication or Reports ·      Meetings, Discussions, Activities, Collaborative Projects ·      Complaints or Suggestions Channels

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics C.P. Group surveyed stakeholder opinions across its value chain to identify the sustainability topics most important for stakeholders.

What actions were taken by C.P. Group to promote sustainability across its supply chain?

In its 2020 Sustainability Report C.P. Group reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability across its supply chain:

• Implementing a Supplier Code of Conduct
• P. Group has announced the implementation of a Supplier Code of Conduct as well as provided training on and shared this set of rules and relevant videos with its suppliers, so as to enable their acknowledgement and strict compliance. The primary target audience in communicating the Supplier Code of Conduct are currently C.P. Group’s critical tier-1 suppliers, who have all acknowledged and been educated on the Code.

• Managing supplier risks
• P. Group manages supplier risks across its entire supply chain in order to identify suppliers with high sustainability risks, covering suppliers of raw materials, packaging, and services. Supplier risk management is not only limited to tier 1 suppliers with direct purchasing relationships with the Group, but also includes non-tier 1 suppliers. The assessment is conducted from the process of planning through to follow-ups on corrective actions and performance reviews. This is to ensure that suppliers have continuous and effective sustainability risk management.

• Assessing suppliers
• P. Group has incorporated social and environmental issues into the Supplier Selection Process, requiring suppliers to conduct Supplier Self-Assessments and undergo assessments by companies within the Group or by reputable third-party agencies. Meanwhile, social and environmental requirements have been included into contracts. Additionally, the Group has instructed all suppliers to complete a sustainability assessment at least once every 3 years. In 2020, 72% of new suppliers were screened using environmental and social criteria.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

2) Disclosure 308-2 Negative environmental impacts in the supply chain and actions taken

3) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

4) Disclosure 414-2 Negative social impacts in the supply chain and actions taken

 

Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 308-2 Negative environmental impacts in the supply chain and actions taken does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

Disclosure 414-2 Negative social impacts in the supply chain and actions taken corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

This case study is based on published information by C.P. Group, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.cpgroupglobal.com/Portals/0/PDF/CPGSR2020_EN.pdf

Note to C.P. Group: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report C.P. Group identified a range of material issues, such as leadership and human capital development, corporate governance, responsible supply chain management, health and well-being. Among these, protecting biodiversity stands out as a key material issue for C.P. Group.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups C.P. Group engages with:  

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees and Families	·      Intranet and internal magazine ·      Employee surveys ·      Meeting with executives ·      Open dialogues ·      Presentation on innovation ·      Volunteer programmes ·      Channels for voicing opinions
Customers and Consumers	·      Customer surveys ·      Customer visits ·      Website and newsletters for consumers ·      Meetings ·      Consumer complaint centre ·      Consumer centre
Shareholders and Investors	·      Quarterly meetings ·      Annual general meeting ·      Visits ·      Office of Company Secretary ·      Office of Investor Relations ·      Other communication channels such as website
Business Partners	·      Meetings ·      Visits and open dialogues ·      Joint initiatives to create innovation ·      Audits, and advisory and academic services ·      Capacity-building programmes
Communities and Societies	·      Public participation forums ·      Ongoing dialogues and visits ·      Complaint channels ·      Initiatives to promote quality of life
Governments	·      Joint initiatives, projects and activities ·      Participation in public policy-making ·      Meetings ·      On-site visits
Creditors	·      Letter to creditors ·      Meetings ·      Knowledge sharing
Non- governmental Organisations	·      Open dialogues through various channels and meetings to facilitate collaboration ·      Networking
Media	·      Public relations activities through multiple communication channels ·      Media tours ·      Participation in media events ·      Executive interviews
Competitors	·      Participation in industry organisations, such as the Federation of Thai Industries ·      Obtain information from the media and public forums

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify material topics C.P. Group carried out interviews with external stakeholders and, to prioritise the topics, conducted an online Materiality Prioritisation Survey, to seek opinions and views from executives across all Business Groups and representatives from various stakeholder groups.

What actions were taken by C.P. Group to protect biodiversity?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report C.P. Group reports that it took the following actions for protecting biodiversity:

• Assessing biodiversity risks
• C.P. Group carries out a biodiversity risk assessment in both Thailand and overseas, using internationally recognised tools. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to ecosystem and biodiversity protection, in 2017 C.P. Group introduced readiness assessment and track progress activities for sustainable development in various countries, using the SDG Dashboard. Additionally, C.P. Group utilises WBCSD’s (World Business Council for Sustainable Development) Global Water Tool (GWT) to assess biodiversity risks in the different areas where it operates. The GWT is used to assess biodiversity risks of terrestrial and aquatic (both freshwater and saltwater) plants and animals.

• Promoting traceability of raw materials for animal feed
• Traceability of key raw materials for animal feed is an important mechanism for C.P. Group to manage significant environmental and social risks, particularly ecosystem and biodiversity protection. C.P. Group’s business partners have to continuously operate in accordance with the traceability system developed by the Group, to ensure raw materials for animal feed come from sources that have a legal title deed and are not from restricted areas or conservation areas. The Feed Ingredients Trading Business Group collaborates with supply chain stakeholders to enhance their understanding of issues related to raw materials for each animal feed, develop policies and criteria for sustainable sourcing of animal feed raw materials, supply raw materials from sources that do not harm the environment, conduct Life Cycle Assessments in order to understand the environmental impacts caused by each farm, implement the Maize Traceability Programme established in 2016, and continue implementing these measures.

• Preventing impacts on ecosystem and biodiversity from products and services
• C.P. Group tries to prevent impacts on ecosystem and biodiversity that potentially arise from its products and services, including chemical residues in the ecosystem that could affect biodiversity. Accordingly, C.P. Group has developed chemical product safety data sheets and promotes the correct and safe usage of products. This ensures customers’ safety and maintains ecosystem health and biodiversity.

• Conserving and restoring the ecosystem and biodiversity
• Responsibly operating its business by participating in and supporting the conservation of the environment and biodiversity is one of C.P. Group’s priorities. Examples of this include site selection of business partners’ facilities, raw material sourcing, and delivering products and services to customers. C.P. Group carries out activities and projects to drive, protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems, forests, and marine ecosystems, and also participated in the Pracharat Initiative, a public-private collaboration to protect the ecosystem. The organisations with which C.P. Group has cooperated include, among others, the Royal Forest Department, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and the Marine Department.

• Conserving marine resources
• C.P. Group focuses on the protection and conservation of natural marine resources through various projects related to conservation, development, restoration and protection. These projects aim to reduce impacts from pollution, promote and develop the conservation and management of fishery and marine resources along with equal access to fishery resources, and reduce marine impacts due to climate change.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored

2) Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

 

Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
• Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• Business theme: Marine biodiversity
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
• Business theme: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria does not correspond to any SDG.

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by C.P. Group, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to C.P. Group: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.