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Continue readingTG Celebrates ISCC PLUS and GRS Certificates Receival
Flexible Packaging Manufacturer Delivers Value as a Sustainability Advocator
Thong Guan Industries Berhad celebrates the acceptance of ISCC PLUS and GRS certifications with a small yet significant ceremony on Monday, the 7th of February 2022.
This highly anticipated milestone is very significant for the Thong Guan family.
Our sustainability efforts began over 20 years ago and subsequently the official opening of our recycling plant in September 2011.
Over the years, we have slowly but gradually increased our efforts in creating impact in this industry.
These certificates come in the wake of many recent initiatives and accomplishments, including:
- The launching of #LiveGreen, our green initiative programmes, in April 2021
- The release of NanoGreen, our first 30% recycled machine film with high containment force
- The achievement of higher than 50% recycled content in our flexible packaging with consistent quality performance
Suffice to say, today it is and will be our continued mission to advocate for sustainability.
The private ceremony was attended by our distinguished guest, Mr Supun Nigamuni, the General Manager of Control Union Malaysia, who also presented us with the certificates.
Officiated by Dato’ PK Ang, Executive Director of TGIB, it was a short luncheon ceremony to commemorate the milestone achieved.
On our recent acceptance of these green certificates, Thong Guan Group Managing Director Dato’ Ang Poon Chuan noted that
“This momentous milestone is significant for us as it solidifies our commitment towards sustainability. In contributing to preserving our environment and reducing our carbon footprint, we are helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals as well. We will continue to increase our sustainability efforts and innovations towards a circular economy for the industry.”
Quantifying our sustainability efforts
“Improved assessments and frameworks, like ISCC and GRS, have made advocating circular economy possible for us as a plastic film manufacturer. As such, this marks a significant milestone for Thong Guan to charge forward with quantifiable sustainability impacts and innovative solutions,”
– Dato’ PK Ang, Executive Director of Thong Guan Industries Berhad
Aptly spoken.
With the standards and systems designed by organisations like ISCC Association and Control Union, companies like ours can easily quantify the impacts of our sustainability efforts.
As a flexible packaging manufacturer, part of our sustainability advocacy is to demystify what was once thought impossible or misconstrued as the creator of pollutants.
As we cannot stress enough that plastic is not the problem.
Plastic waste management is the primary factor in our threatening situation.
That is why we ensure we have our in-house recycling plant and continually find ways to reuse plastic wastes in closing the loop without compromising the quality of our products for our customers.
The efforts benefit not just us but also our customers in achieving their own set of sustainability goals.
Inspiring changes and creating impact
Embarking on the path to closing the loop is not an easy journey.
Many changes and sacrifices have to be made—from the way we run specific processes to the mindset of the people influencing change in partners and customers.
Amid challenges, our determination and the beliefs of our stakeholders in us have driven us to achieve one milestone after another.
We hope our work inspires others in our industry—partners, customers and stakeholders—to attempt at closing the loop.
Everything is possible when we do it together.
In this industry, when all stakeholders, namely resins makers, equipment makers, plastic converters, packagers, policymakers and regulators, and brand owners, communicate, work and brainstorm well together, we can achieve wonders.
So let’s do it for the sake of posterity.
You may check out our previous articles on how our obtainment of ISCC PLUS & GRS certificates will impact you positively.
Leave us your comments and thoughts at info@thongguan.com.
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Continue readingTG acquires ISCC PLUS certificate solidifying sustainability commitment
Officially awarded with an ISCC PLUS certificate in December 2021, Thong Guan takes on the commitment to ensure justifiable sustainability not just for the company but for their customers as well.
Climate whiplash, a matter beyond climate anxiety
Climate change is happening. Biodiversity is diminishing.
Ocean pollution, plastic pollution and greenhouse gases emissions are real. And they are part of the biggest threat to life on Earth.
It is a morbid reality we have a role in.
As such, the role we want to take should be on seeking practical solutions that contribute to the development of the circular economy and bioeconomy.
It is time we put our hands together in addressing these global problems.
The increasing need for more responsible handling of materials, products, wastes and residues is apparent with the emergence of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and EU’s Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy.
Thong Guan recognises the need to be involved and be responsible for our materials, products, wastes and residue handling. However, just doing it and advocating it isn’t enough.
That is why we seek guidance from a globally-recognised leading sustainability standard body for our steps forward.
Hence, the ISCC PLUS certification.
So, what does this certificate entails and what does it mean to our valuable customers?
What is ISCC?
ISCC, which is the initialism of International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, is internationally recognized for its sustainability certifications programs.
It is an independent multi-stakeholder organisation that aims to contribute to the implementation of environmentally, socially and economically sustainable production and use of all kinds of biomass in global supply chains.
Their global leading certification systems offer credible solutions to address sustainability requirements for the chemical industry, packaging, industrial applications, and even food, feed and energy markets. It is for all types of agricultural and forestry raw materials, waste and residues, non-bio renewables, recycled carbon materials and the respective supply chains.
The implication of getting ISCC certificates
A company awarded with an ISCC certificate means the feedstock used in their materials are fully traceable and deforestation-free.
So, when you see products with the ISCC logo, it means behind the scenes engineers have gone through the painstaking process of calculating GHG emissions and savings of the materials used in the product from source to market.
You may refer to their market applications for more information about the logo.
These certifications mean the sustainability of raw materials and products used is ensured.
ISCC PLUS Certification System
ISCC PLUS is a sustainability certification program covering bio-based and circular (recycled) raw materials for markets and sectors not regulated as transportation fuels.
It is a credible certification scheme for the circular economy and bioeconomy.
The standard includes circular and bio-based materials like plastics, food ingredients, animal feed, chemical and bioenergy, technical substances and other areas where biomass is used.
It also includes the sustainability and traceability criteria of all types of agricultural and forestry raw materials, like crops and wood used in the production of biofuel.
Many recognise the ISCC PLUS standard for the recovery of waste and residues that provide feedstock for circular plastics, chemical intermediates, and a wide variety of consumer-facing products, where most importantly to us, the packaging.
A step towards solidifying our sustainability commitment
In Thong Guan, obtaining the certificate matters to us significantly.
Since we embarked on this green journey, we have been advocating sustainability not just in our culture and policy, but also in our products.
We believe that all of us play a role in ensuring the continuity of our business ecosystem by protecting our environment.
With the ISCC PLUS certification, we can guarantee the traceability of the raw materials we used and audited, also the whole supply chain is in conformance with established ISCC standards.
You will find our first few products with the ISCC PLUS logo, which are Maxstretch Green and NanoGreen, where both products contain 30% recycled materials.
Moving Forward
Every little action matters to the grand scheme of things.
In supporting us, you are participating in this vital journey of change for the future.
We will continue to invest our resources into creating more ISCC PLUS certified products with retained or better quality for your packaging needs.
Look out for these on our products moving forward.
To understand more about our ISCC PLUS certificate award, please contact us at info@thongguan.com.