Suntory Beverage & Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd. advances the “Poa Rak Nam” Community Forest Restoration Project into its third year, joining forces with government agencies, the private sector, and local communities to conserve natural resources and raise awareness that environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility. Building on the project’s origins in community forest restoration in Chonburi Province, Suntory has expanded its focus on “water and forests” into an urban context, highlighting how nature continues to play an important role even in the heart of a major city by supporting water resource management, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and enhancing people’s quality of life. This year, Suntory has expanded its restoration efforts from community forest restoration to “urban green spaces” at Benjakitti Park in Bangkok, while promoting greater understanding of the role of green spaces and wetlands in water resource management, enhancing people’s quality of life, and strengthening resilience to climate change. This is in line with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s environmental policies. More than 60 Suntory executives and employee volunteers joined government representatives from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), its Environment Department, and private-sector partner the Environmental Education Centre (EEC), along with teachers and students from the Khlong Toei community. In total, over 80 participants took part in on-site activities promoting the sustainable stewardship of natural resources and the environment. In addition, Suntory extended its efforts to create social value by donating a water cooler to Soonruamnamjai School, Khlong Toei District Office, Bangkok, to improve access to clean drinking water, promote good hygiene, and enhance the quality of life of students, teachers, and communities surrounding Benjakitti Park.
Mr. Omer Malik, Chief Executive Officer, Thailand and Indochina, Suntory Beverage & Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd., stated: “The ‘Poa Rak Nam’ Community Forest Restoration Project reflects Suntory’s core values of ‘Growing for Good’ and ‘Giving Back to Society,’ which reflect our commitment to operating responsibly and creating positive impact for the environment and communities. ‘Growing for Good’ reflects our belief that conserving and restoring forests and green spaces plays an important role in protecting water, one of the most vital resources for both living things and our business. Meanwhile, ‘Giving Back to Society’ focuses on empowering employees to create value for society by sharing knowledge and strengthening communities’ capacity to sustainably care for natural resources. Building on two years of community forest restoration, Suntory has expanded the project into ‘urban green spaces’ to create a broader positive impact and demonstrate that the conservation of forests, water, and the environment must be addressed holistically across the ecosystem. For Suntory, true success is not measured by the number of trees planted, but by fostering collaboration, inspiration, and continued engagement in caring for forests, water, and the environment for future generations.”
Miss Sasiwan Wongsiriprasert, Director of Arboriculture and Urban Landscape Division, Green Area Management Office, Environment Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), stated: “As part of the Environment Department of BMA, we place great importance on developing and restoring green spaces alongside strengthening urban ecosystems to enhance people’s quality of life and build resilience to climate change. The third year of the ‘Poa Rak Nam’ Community Forest Restoration Project clearly demonstrates how the public sector, private sector, and local communities can work together to protect and enhance urban green spaces for the long-term benefit of the environment and the public. We welcome collaboration from all sectors as we work to create a livable and sustainable city for everyone.”
Mr. Alexander Simon Rendell, Chief Executive Officer, Environmental Education Centre (EEC), stated: “Hands-on learning is key to building environmental awareness and understanding of water resources. In its third year, the ‘Poa Rak Nam’ Community Forest Restoration Project has designed hands-on learning experiences around three key activities: ‘Understanding the Value of Water,’ which aims to deepen understanding of the role of water sources and the importance of conserving water resources; ‘Nurturing Soil, Caring for Trees,’ which focuses on improving soil quality and tree health; and ‘Growing Seedlings, Creating Green Spaces,’ which supports soil conservation and strengthens ecosystem health. These activities allow participants to understand the interconnectedness of water, soil, trees, and green spaces, while fostering environmental responsibility through hands-on experience. The initiative aims to inspire youth and volunteers to apply the knowledge they gain in their daily lives and organizations, and to extend its impact across society in a sustainable way.”
The “Poa Rak Nam” Community Forest Restoration Project was launched in 2024 to enhance employee engagement in water and environmental conservation efforts, while raising awareness of the connection between forests and water sources through forest restoration activities in Chonburi Province, where the company’s plants are located. Over the past two years, nearly 200 employees, students, teachers, community members, and government officials have participated in the project. In its third year, the project has expanded from upstream community forest restoration to “urban green spaces” at Benjakitti Park in Bangkok, promoting environmental learning and engagement in an urban context through collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, educational institutions, and local communities. Over the course of three years, the project reflects Suntory’s commitment to advancing its work under the values of “Growing for Good” and “Giving Back to Society,” creating shared value for society, the environment, and future generations through sustainable engagement with employees and partners.
