TCP surges ahead with responsible initiatives

As a long-standing Thai company, what are TCP Group’s secrets and strategies for expansion and sustainability?

Saravoot Yoovidhya, CEO of TCP Group, Image: TCP Group

With over six decades of experience at the forefront of the beverage and food industry, TCP Group’s priorities have consistently been to serve consumer needs with global quality products while ensuring the sustainable development of the economy, society, and environment.

With five factories in Asia, the company employs 5,100 people across Thailand and other countries. Selling 3.3 billion product units in 2022, TCP Group’s products are exported to 14 countries and through the collaboration with our Austrian partner, Red Bull GmbH, the Red Bull brand is marketed and distributed over 170 countries around the globe.

However, the company is more than just a global Thai enterprise. We are driven by a passion to make a positive impact on the world. To energise sustainability while fostering economic growth for the organisation, the company announced the synergy of its various businesses into TCP Group in 2017.

Our corporate purpose, revealed in 2022, is Energizing a Better World for All, driven by the three key strategies of fulfilling, growing, and caring. In essence, these three key pillars serve as the linchpin to TCP Group’s corporate expansion and sustainable development. Uniformly implemented across markets, they guide our firm’s trajectory as we continue to make a meaningful impact on a global scale.

At TCP Group, what are the main goals in terms of sustainable development?

We are elevating our environmental sustainability efforts with a focus on three challenges, carbon neutrality, circular economy, and water sustainability.

The company has set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality from all operations in Thailand and abroad by 2050, and develop packaging to be 100 per cent recyclable by the end of 2024. The group is actively collaborating with global environmental organisations to support the recycling of used packaging components, including glass bottles, aluminium cans, and plastic bottles.

In 2022, we reduced GHG emissions in Thailand by 4.9 per cent of the total emissions in 2020, more than 211 tonnes of used packaging from Thailand and Vietnam was collected for recycling, and we replaced the packaging labelling from PVC plastic to PET by 83.33 per cent.

For water sustainability, the group is committed to replenishing more water for the environment and communities than it uses by 2030.

In addition, the company has proactively partnered with various key local partners in its operating markets to implement various youth-centric community schemes, making TCP a sustainable business that grows and creates a positive impact on society and the environment.

We recognise and believe that these three main goals of the company can never be successful without the collaborative partnership of every sector. Thus, in Thailand, TCP has held a sustainability forum to exchange opinions with a purpose of holding conversations, brainstorming, and exchanging knowledge and useful recommendations, so every sector can contribute to creating change.

TCP knows how important local community initiatives are

In Vietnam, how does TCP carry out sustainable development and care for the community at the same time?

Following the extended producer responsibility implementation in Vietnam, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and VietCycle, the company has embarked on a pilot initiative focusing on the collection and recycling of recyclable used packaging materials including aluminium, PET, and carton papers since 2022.

This year, the company continued its responsibility with strict compliance to related regulations set by the government, while exploring more opportunities to contribute to environmental protection.

For instance, in collaboration with the Centre for Natural Resources and Environment Communication from the Ministry of National Resources and Environment, TCP Vietnam plans a small-scale afforestation project in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province to enhance environmental conservation, which should be launched early in 2024.

On top of the unwavering commitment to energising the environment, the company’s dedication to the local community is evident in its series of youth-centric activities. Over the years, TCP Vietnam has successfully forged long-term, robust partnerships with esteemed organisations such as the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Central Vietnam Youth Federation (CVYF), Vietnam National Union of Students (VNUS), and Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association to co-host activities to energise Vietnamese youth.

In the last four years, the company has honoured over 130 young people with the Noble Youth Award, and awarded 200 young disabled delegates in the Light of Vietnam Perseverance initiative.

In addition, in collaboration with the CVYF, TCP Vietnam also initiated a series of worker festivals hosted across six provinces and cities across the country. The programme is directly benefiting approximately 50,000 young workers nationwide, providing 16,000 of them with free health check and consultation, and opportunities to engage in sports and entertainment activities, as well as strengthen friendships.

In partnership with the VNUS, TCP Vietnam and the Warrior brand became the co-organiser of the Vietnam University Games 9, marking a new chapter as we bring to life its commitment to the development of young student athletes and stimulating the momentum for sports among students in Vietnam.

Together with the VNUS, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), and others, the company also co-organised a student football tournament in 2023 – the very first tournament for students that was officially included in the annual national competition system of the VFF, igniting a passion for football and discovering talented young players for the nation’s football scene.

What are the plans for TCP Vietnam to improve its branding and cement its long-term commitment in the country?

While delivering TCP’s global values in Vietnam’s market through product innovations, TCP Group will continue to expand its product portfolio in Vietnam on a yearly basis.

In 2023, we introduced Red Bull with additional zinc. With added zinc supporting the immune system, the new product offers a distinctive flavour and a source of long-lasting positive energy, vitamins, and micro-minerals to local consumers, enabling them to overcome challenges and charge ahead.

The company has also successfully deployed multiple activities to grow strong brand trust and maintain brand love. Well-loved by local consumers, Red Bull and Warrior have become household names nationwide. Compared to only 12 per cent in 2021, TCP’s awareness rate is so far 43 per cent in 2023, according to independent market research, meaning more and more people are interested in our programmes here.

In addition, the company has also successfully built a progressive working environment where employees are provided opportunities and empowered to grow professionally while maintaining their wellbeing.

All of these commitments reflect and fulfill our corporate purpose. Driven by the passion to create positive impact in this world for everyone, whoever, wherever they are, TCP’s long-term commitment to Vietnam will continuously be reinforced through innovative products and corporate social responsibility activities.

We will continue to strengthen our existing partnership, scale up our sustainability initiatives, and do our utmost to contribute more to society.