ThaiBev Sustainability

ThaiBev’s Sustainability 2025

Home / Environmental

Waste Management

Humanity generates more than two billion tonnes of waste globally each year, with municipal waste accounting for a significant proportion. The continuous rise in waste generation is driven by population growth, urbanization, and changing consumption patterns—all of which place increasing pressure on natural resources and ecosystems worldwide.

Current waste management trends indicate that up to 37 percent of waste is still disposed of via landfill, including both controlled landfill and open dumping. Although landfill disposal remains popular due to its low cost, it has far-reaching environmental impacts, such as leachate contamination of soil and groundwater, loss of productive land, and the release of methane—a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential many times greater than carbon dioxide.

In response to these challenges, ThaiBev has adopted the circular economy concept and the 3Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to minimize the amount of waste sent to landfills. The company is committed to achieving zero waste to landfill from its production facilities in Thailand and Myanmar by 2040.

Management Approach

ThaiBev recognizes the importance of effective waste management in mitigating environmental impacts and creating value for society. The company is committed to implementing the Circular Economy approach and the 3Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to efficiently utilize resources, reduce waste at the source, and expand opportunities for creative reuse and recycling.

ThaiBev has also initiated various projects and collaborated with stakeholders across all sectors to drive waste reduction within production processes, improve post-consumer packaging management, and support the use of waste for renewable energy production— all of which help reduce reliance on natural resources and mitigate long-term environmental impacts.

Within its operations, ThaiBev focuses on the efficient use of resources and the reduction of waste generation throughout production processes. This approach not only conserves natural resources but also reduces environmental impacts and waste management costs.

To ensure systematic and effective waste management, the company applies the Waste Management Hierarchy, which consists of six key stages:

Prevention – Improve and optimize production processes to reduce waste from the outset by using fewer materials and avoiding unnecessary resource use.
Minimization – Reduce waste across the entire value chain through more efficient product design and production processes.
Reuse – Promote the continued use of items and materials to reduce waste, conserve resources, and preserve value throughout the supply chain.
Recycling – Collect and process unused materials for reuse as raw materials in new products, reducing both natural resource consumption and the volum e of waste requiring disposal.
Energy Recovery – Convert non-recyclable waste into alternative energy sources such as heat, electricity, or fuel to maximize the usable value of waste.
Disposal – Properly and safely dispose of remaining waste in compliance with environmental protection and public health standards.

These initiatives reflect ThaiBev’s strong commitment to conducting business responsibly toward the environment and society, while creating long-term value and promoting sustainable growth. The company believes that effective and sustainable waste management is not only a corporate responsibility but also a key driver in advancing the global green economy—paving the way toward a better future for all.

Targets

Zero Waste

to Landfill (in Thailand and Myanmar)

by 2040

Key Projects

Zero Waste to Landfill Project

Through its Spirits Business Group in Thailand, ThaiBev has implemented the Zero Waste to Landfill Project which aims to reduce landfill waste to zero, in line with the company’s environmental targets. The project has been successfully piloted at Athimart distillery in Buriram Province, Thailand, and encompasses waste management across the entire value chain—upstream, midstream, and downstream— through the following key initiatives:

Waste reduction at the source: Promoting environmental awareness among employees and encouraging the use of eco-friendly packaging such as foam-free food containers and reusable cups. Waste segregation: Implementing waste separation systems both in factories and in employee housing to ensure efficient management of all waste types.
Organic waste management: Utilizing food waste for composting to support the factory’s self-sufficient agriculture plots and to produce biochar for use as fuel and odor-absorbing material.
Recyclable and hazardous waste management: Selling recyclable materials and ensuring hazardous waste is properly treated by licensed waste management contractors.
Community engagement under the concept “Sustainability from Factory to Community” the waste management team conducted training sessions for 130 students from Ban Srakosai School and Ban Sai Ngam School, as well as for local residents in Ban Sai Ngam community. The sessions aimed to promote knowledge on waste segregation and recycling value enhancement, along with donating recycling bins to the schools.

The Zero Waste to Landfill Project of the Spirits Business Group serves as a model of integrated waste management, not only reducing waste sent to landfills but also fostering a sustainable corporate culture and extending its positive impact to surrounding communities.

Spent Malt and Yeast Project for the Animal Feed Industry

In the beer production process, malt and yeast are the primary raw materials. After brewing, these materials become by-products known as “spent malt” and “spent yeast.” Both by-products retain nutritional benefits for agricultural use and can be used as feed ingredients in the animal feed industry. Spent malt and yeast are rich in protein, making them ideal for use as feed for various types of animals such as dairy cow, beef cattle, poultry, and pets. In 2025, the breweries successfully managed and utilized a total of 39,285 tonnes of by-products from the beer production process for use as animal feed, comprising 38,281 tonnes of spent malt and 1,004 tonnes of spent yeast.

Granular Ash as Soil Conditioner

The production process at Surabangyikhan Distillery in Pathum Thani Province. generates powdered ash from evaporation and incineration of vinasse, effluent from the distillery process, to produce steam for internal use. This powdered ash is notable for its high potassium content—an essential plant nutrient, which can be used in the production of organic fertilizers or soil amendments.

Community and Social Engagement Waste Programs

Community Segregation & Recycling

ThaiBev has implemented multiple waste segregation and recycling campaigns in communities across Thailand, namely Chiang Dao District in Chiang Mai Province, Central Police Flat Community (Chalermlap) in Bangkok, Sichang Island in Chon Buri Province, and local communities surrounding our production facilities. These programs involve community workshops on waste segregation, training on the value of recyclables, providing waste bins and collection logistics, and purchasing recyclable packaging waste to help generate local income.

As part of Chiang Dao District Area-Based Development Project in Chiang Mai Province, ThaiBev, in collaboration with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage, promotes household-level waste segregation at three pilot villages—Ban Mae Mae, Ban Mae Sai, and Ban Pang Ma-O in Mae Na Sub-district-remote areas that previously lacked access to local waste management systems. More than 220 households have participated in waste segregation activities, leading to a significant reduction in general waste within the villages. As a result, the upstream area is now free from littering and waste dumping in forest areas, while communities earn additional income from selling recyclable waste. The project has a total operational budget of 1.6 million Baht. The ultimate goal is to establish Mae Na Sub-district as a model community for sustainable waste management.
ThaiBev partnered with Central Police Flat Community (Chalermlap) in Bangkok to improve waste management systems. In 2023. ThaiBev has provided waste segregation bins along with collection logistics for recyclable packaging waste, and purchases it through Thai Beverage Recycle Co., Ltd (TBR) to generate income for the local community. In the upcoming year, we aim to increase resident participation and expand segregation of additional waste types for income generation and proper management, ultimately reducing the amount of waste requiring disposal and aligning with Bangkok’s waste management goals.
Extending from the Island Model implemented by TBR to address the unique challenges of managing post-consumption packaging on islands, ThaiBev in collaboration with Siam Cement Group (SCG), is working in tandem with local authorities, waste collectors, scrap shops, and community leaders to set up an integrated waste management system for Sichang Island. The ultimate goal is to establish a scalable waste management model that can be applied to other islands facing similar challenges, while reducing the amount of waste discarded to landfill.

School Waste Management Project

The School Waste Management Project aims to raise awareness, instill environmental consciousness, and promote responsible waste management behaviors among students. The initiative engages participants from the Partnership School Project, Connext ED, and the Our Khung Bangkachao Conservation and Development Project, providing opportunities for students to learn and practice proper waste segregation and sustainable waste management with the goal of achieving zero landfill waste.

In collaboration with ThaiBev, the Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE), provided expert knowledge on effective school waste management practices for students in Buriram Province. In 2025, a total of over 800 students from 106 schools participated in the program, gaining hands-on experience in proper waste segregation. In 2025, the schools participating in this program successfully collected and separated 327 kilograms of recyclable materials. Additionally, students implemented effective food waste management, helping reduce landfill waste by 1,186 kilograms.

This initiative not only strengthens students’ understanding of sustainability but also empowers them to become environmental stewards, fostering a culture of responsibility and circular economy thinking within their schools and communities.

Moving Forward

ThaiBev has begun its journey toward achieving the goal of “Zero Waste to Landfill (in Thailand and Myanmar) by 2040” at all of its production facilities. The company aims to minimize landfill disposal as much as possible by prioritizing waste recovery, reuse, and environmentally sound treatment methods. These efforts have significantly reduced the volume of waste sent to landfill.

By 2026, ThaiBev will establish short-, medium-, and long-term targets, as well as develop a baseline to monitor waste quantities and identify hotspots that require improvement. A clear roadmap and timeline will also be developed to guide the implementation.

In addition, ThaiBev places strong emphasis on the accurate, comprehensive, and systematic management of waste data across its domestic and international operations including the reutilization of waste to achieve the highest possible value. Waste is categorized by type and disposal method to establish a reliable database for strategic planning and performance monitoring. This process forms a crucial part of the company’s long-term strategy to achieve zero waste to landfill.


Read More Information about Sustainable Raw Materials in Sustainability Report 2025