Bangkok Bank highlights its commitment to be an 'Organization for Sustainable Development' by joining Sustainability Expo 2024

Bangkok Bank joined Sustainability Expo 2024 under the concept of 'Creating Value for a Sustainable Future'. The Bank showcased its sustainability strategy with success stories from projects such as 'Bualuang Save the Earth', 'Rak Tha Chin' and '3R+' together with sustainable financial products including loans, debt instruments and funds while reinforcing its position as an organization that supports sustainable development in every dimension. On this occasion, Bangkok Bank Senior Executive Vice President Chaiyarit Anuchitworawong and Vice President at Public Relations Department Suwit Indrachalerm welcomed Chairperson of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage Thanphuying Putrie Viravaidya, President and CEO ThaiBev, Sustainability Expo 2024's organizing chairman Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi and Group Chief Executive Officer of Frasers Property Limited Co-Founder of Sustainability Expo 2024 Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi to its booth.

Bangkok Bank Senior Executive Vice President Chaiyarit Anuchitworawong said Bangkok Bank, as an organization focusing on sustainable development, featured a booth at Sustainability Expo 2024, Asia's greatest sustainability expo, under the concept of "Good Balance, Better World". At the event, the Bank presented content under the concept of 'Creating Value for a Sustainable Future' to emphasize its responsible business operations that take into account the sustainability of all stakeholders.

The Bank's booth not only featured its financial products and services that promote environmental conservation and energy saving for the long-term benefit of customers, but also promoted its activities that strengthen the stability of communities, society and the environment while emphasizing the participation of all sectors including the Bank's staff, communities in the areas where the business operates, and society at large, such as

1. Bualuang Save the Earth is a pilot project for eco-friendly activities aimed at creating tangible results socially and environmentally, consisting of the following sub-activities
   • Bualuang Save the Earth: 3R+ (reduce-reuse-recycle plus) aims at achieving Zero Waste to Landfill in 2025. The activity was piloted at Bangkok Bank Rama 3 building and launched on May 30th, 2024. The activity focuses on building engagement of everyone in the organization to drive effective internal waste management such as reducing plastic use, separating waste, recycling and installing processors to recycle food waste into soil conditioner.
   • Bualuang Save the Earth: Rak Tha Chin aims at systematically solving the waste crisis flowing into the Tha Chin estuary. After a thorough study of the problem, the Bank installed three litter catchment tools namely buoy-strung little trap (Boom), bamboo cage litter trap, and staking litter trap in the areas of Khlong Luang Sahakon and Khlong Pittayalongkorn, Khok Kham Subdistrict, Mueang District, Samut Sakhon Province since February 2014. Until present (August 31st, 2024), 20,074 kilograms of waste was trapped, preventing it from flowing into the Gulf of Thailand. In the second phase of the project, the Bank has set up community recycling banks to allow the people and recycling companies to buy and sell waste collected in the community to manage waste comprehensively and effectively while providing knowledge to people living in the community and nearby communities to manage upstream waste.
2. 80 years of Bangkok Bank and its projects to support the development of communities and society consisting of
   • Blood donation project "8 million cc x 2", an extension of the 8 million cc for 80 years of Bangkok Bank project has been running continuously since April 2024. The project invites Thai people to be "givers" by donating blood to achieve the target of 8 million cc before December 1, 2024 to mark the 80th anniversary of Bangkok Bank. The project received such good feedback it was extended to the "8 million cc x 2" target. At present, 12,357,600 cc (more than 12.3 million cc) of blood have been collected from 30,894 donors, of which 25,407 are first time donors, saving approximately 92,682 lives (data as of September 20, 2024)
   • The support for Utokapat Foundation and the Bualuang Foundation Joins the Community to Solve Drought project which has been running for the fourth consecutive year to continue His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great's initiatives to strengthen water resource management for sustainable consumption. The project strengthened community water management capabilities through infrastructure support such as building and improving weirs, ponds, solar power pumping systems, gravity water supply systems and drinking water filtration systems for seven communities in six provinces, namely: Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Phayao, Ubon Ratchathani, Phitsanulok and Chiang Rai, covering more than 1,000 rai of agricultural land. This has benefited more than 2,000 households while increasing the amount of water available for consumption by 58,000 cubic meters.
3. Sustainable Finance aims at supporting entrepreneurs and consumers to transform to cope with changes and emerging challenges. The Bank also provides financial support for socially and environmentally friendly activities of the business sector including Bualuang Transformation Loan, Bualuang Green Loan, Bualuang Green Solar Energy Loan and Bualuang Green Financing for Transition to Environmental Sustainability Loan. Meanwhile green loans to support consumers are Bualuang Poonphol Green Loan and Bualuang Green Home Loan.

The Bank also plays an important role in supporting fundraising for activities that promote sustainability in the public and private sectors by being an underwriter of ESG bonds that comply with international standards and being a consultant for green capital raising. In 2023, the Thai capital market had a total value of ESG bond issuance of 37,366 million baht, of which the Bank was the underwriter of 28,366 million baht, or 76% of the total value.

Mr. Chaiyarit added that the success in operating a business in a sustainable and socially responsible manner has also been reflected in the awards the Bank has received e.g. Best Bank For Sustainable Finance in Thailand and Outstanding Leadership in ESG-Related Loans for Asia Pacific awards from the Sustainable Finance Awards 2023, Global Finance magazine as well as Best Sustainable Bank in Thailand from Finance Asia magazine. Moreover, the Bank has also obtained four Cybersecurity Performance Excellence awards from National Cyber Security Agency and a Community Engagement award from Senior Citizen Home Safety Association, Hong Kong.

"Bangkok Bank, as a leading regional financial institution, has adopted a clear sustainability policy in four directions: 1. Risk management 2. Human resource management 3. Good governance and 4. Creating sustainable value for society and environment. These are important principles that have led to successful implementation and sustainability projects. It is a good opportunity to participate in the event such as Sustainability Expo 2024, which is a platform for people who share the same ideology to exchange knowledge and experiences. It also reinforces the Bank's commitment to drive the organization for sustainable growth and promptly develop financial products and services that will support business transformation, like a friend and reliable close friend who joins with partners to create value for a sustainable future," Mr. Chaiyarit said.

In addition, the Bank has invited three SME entrepreneurs to join the booth at the event. In the SX Market Place zone, LG floor, are 1. MACLOEI Macadamia Shop from the Ban Bor Mueang Noi Agricultural Product. Processing Community Enterprise, it creates sustainable growth with ESG concepts by protecting the environment, creating and allocating income fairly for the community, 2. Herbal cosmetics store under the brands "Chivavithi and Sense" which using raw material sources from a network of herbal growers in the northern region, as well as exchanging, learning and developing products together to leverage local herbs leading to sustainable income for the community. In the Food Fest zone, LG floor, is 3. the Tao Luang Food Products Co., Ltd. Shop, producer and distributor of local northern food "Sai Ua Muang Phrae", a 5-star OTOP product that uses innovation to extend the food life to last up to 6 months in the freezer without using any preservatives and also sorting raw materials from the community to support local producers.

Participants can visit the Bangkok Bank booth number D15 located on G floor, Better Community zone, Hall 4 and enjoy fun activity of matching waste to the right bin and win an eco-friendly mug available for one customer/mug (or while supplies last). The booth is open from Friday 27 September to Sunday 6 October, 2024 from 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

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