CP Foods Empowers SMEs for Supply Chain Sustainability

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

An initiative to provide a comprehensive approach to supply chain sustainability to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has been put in place by an agro-industrial and food leader in Thailand, Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods).

This innovative programme known as innovative SMEx Low-Cost, Envi-Caring, will address the environmental concerns created by digital transition by reducing carbon footprint and empowering small business owners thrive in an increasingly complex marketplace by combining technology transfer, environmental stewardship, and business mentorship.

The initiative acknowledges the dual pressures facing modern SMEs: the imperative to digitize operations while simultaneously reducing environmental impact.

For many small businesses, these challenges represent significant barriers due to limited resources and technical expertise.

“SMEs are integral partners in our mission to deliver products that meet escalating consumer demands for quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.

“The SMEx project leverages our organizational expertise to build SME capacity for business transformation aligned with global sustainability trends, particularly greenhouse gas emission reduction,” the Chief Executive of Corporate Engineering at CP Foods, Peerapong Korinchai, stated.

Also, the Director of Industry and Business Development Promotion and Support Division at the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), Chunlop Santipong, said, “Carbon footprint management poses a substantial challenge for SME operators, who constitute the backbone of Thailand’s economic engine.

“The SMEx project provides essential adaptation tools, enabling these businesses to compete effectively in national and international markets.”

SMEx is part of the Partner to Grow…Sustainable Growth Together project initiated by CP Foods’ Thailand operations to further develop the capability of its suppliers, covering both SMEs and large businesses.

It operates through a robust network of institutional partnerships that provide specialized expertise across multiple domains to SMEs.

Chulalongkorn University contributes sustainable development knowledge, while the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) assists SMEs in calculating emissions throughout their production chains.

DEPA facilitates technology adoption, and the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) provides crucial capital assistance for sustainable development.