Air Quality Management 

Industrial production processes may generate air pollution, potentially affecting the health of workers, communities, and the environment, especially as authorities impose 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 governments, and private agencies.

SCG developed and has been improving strategies for air quality management through a mitigation hierarchy to mitigate risks and enhance opportunities.

SCG is also engaging with local communities and stakeholders, respecting human rights, and collaborating on various projects to address environmental concerns and promote sustainable development. In addition, SCG has established targets and commitments related to environmental and climate management, and it is transparently monitoring and reporting progress using key indicators and metrics.  

Target

Performance

  • 2.15% dust emission increasing by 2030 compared with BAU (business as usual) at base year of 2020

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.

Highlight Success Cases of Air Quality Management in 2024

Extending Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMs) Coverage

SCG Cement and Green Solutions achieved 100% coverage of the installation of Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMs) for dust, sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) in Thailand since 2020. In 2023, they have already completed:

  • Installing CEMs for hydrogen chloride (HCl) and mercury (Hg), exceeding legal requirements.
  • Planning and preparing real-time reporting of CEMs data exclusively to the Department of Industrial Works, as the law has been enforced in 2024.
  • Collecting CEMs data from factories in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, replacing conventional data collection methods.
  • Consistently managing air pollution at the source, controlling production processes to reduce pollution in factories located within industrial zones and community areas.
  • Monitoring and assessing pollution from stacks to exceed legal minimum requirements, reassuring stakeholders, particularly the communities around the factories.

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

  • Installation of Total Reduced Sulfur (TRS) monitoring systems on top of CEMs in its pulp and paper factories to monitor and reduce sulfur-based pollutants as required by law, completed in 2024.

Control and Reduce VOCs

SCG Chemicals (SCGC) continues its commitment to manage and minimize VOC emissions by applying best practices and best-in-class technologies, including highly efficient incinerators, Vapor Recovery Units (VRUs), and Carbon Canisters.

  • Thai Plastic and Chemicals PCL (TPC) managed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during legally mandated maintenance and inspection. Prior to the MI shutdown, it collected VOC samples, conducted VOC checks during MI, and properly covered equipment to prevent odor. Furthermore, it conducted VOC checks at four spots around the factory and at three community locations. Upon MI completion, it checked for leakage and conducted an after-action review. Results showed that VOC levels in communities before and during MI, including the intensity of Ethylene Dichloride (EDC) and Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM), were in compliance 24 hours at all monitoring stations.

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.