A Catalyst for Sustainable Human and Social Capital

“The focus must be on developing future skills, especially in a manufacturing-based economy like Thailand, where the workforce plays such a pivotal role in determining how well businesses respond to changing conditions,” he added.

With ‘Heart: Living Right, Health: Living Well, Home: Living Together‘ as a guiding principle, Dr Teerapon outlined C.P. Group’s policy on sustainability with reference to the five pillars of organisational transformation:

• Transparency: In this context, transparency involves setting well-defined and clearly communicated sustainability goals that reflect a long-term strategy and alignment with global objectives, and particularly the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Market Mechanism: This includes establishing public-private partnerships to support sustainable objectives, such as CONNEXT ED. This was founded by the C.P. Group in collaboration with the GCNT and the Digital Council of Thailand as an integrated dashboard for schools throughout Thailand to report and display performance against specific measurables.
• Leadership and Talent: In keeping with the importance placed on developing human capital as a driver of sustainable growth, CP employees at all levels are supported in the pursuit of lifelong learning. For example, a target has been set for 40% of the group’s 450,000 employees to have advanced digital skills by 2026. Meanwhile, the CP Leadership Institute (CPLI) was founded in Khao Yai to foster well-rounded ‘new generation leaders’ able to carry forward the organisation’s values in their pursuit of excellence.
• Empowerment: The C.P. Group achieves this through its Synergy framework, which includes initiatives such as CP Seeding Social Impact – focused on growing a network of SME partners each bringing tangible benefits to their community – and the annual ‘CP for Sustainability’ Awards.
• Technology and Innovation: At the many centres of excellence, learning centres, and start-up investments in place within the C.P. Group, there is a shared emphasis on nurturing the forward-thinking, agile and creative talent necessary to steer the Group further into the digital age.

Updating the forum on the progress made by C.P. Group towards its sustainability goals for 2030, Dr Teerapon said that significant strides had been made over the past year, with 17% of these having been met already.

He mentioned, for example, that most CP premises now had solar cell panels installed, showcasing a commitment to sourcing renewable forms of energy. True Digital Park – located at Sukhumvit 101 in Bangkok – houses over 5,800 ecosystem players, including start-ups, SMEs, corporate tenants, venture capital firms, and educational institutions.

The importance of partnership was emphasised, as C.P. Group’s efforts towards meeting the UN SDGs involve extensive collaboration with domestic and international partners.

The Digital Council of Thailand and CONNEXT ED Foundation have pivotal roles in advancing digital society and education respectively, while initiatives like the Seafood Task Force and the SEAcosystem Project aim to preserve and restore marine ecosystems through close cooperation with stakeholders across a range of sectors. The RE4REST project is a collaboration with government and educational partners to increase forest cover and reduce smog in northern Thailand.

Dr Teerapon concluded by underscoring the importance of equipping the next generation with the necessary tools and knowledge for tackling global challenges and ensuring a more sustainable and equitable future: “On the road towards a sustainable world, the private sector, just like the education sector, is faced with many challenges. We should be opening our doors to welcome young people of all ages – as the future drivers towards sustainability – and offer them practical, real-world learning opportunities, even while they are still at school.”

By investing in its workforce and integrating sustainability into its core operations, C.P. Group demonstrates a forward-thinking approach that sets a new standard for corporate responsibility. This commitment, coupled with strong public-private partnerships and international collaborations, positions the company as a catalyst for a more inclusive and resilient future. The path forward is clear: human capital development is the cornerstone of sustainable growth, and C.P. Group is leading the way.