Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) Public Co (STGT) is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of rubber gloves. It is the largest manufacturer in Thailand with 13 production plants and a total of 213 production lines with an installed capacity of approximately 55 billion pieces per annum. STGT’s main products are powdered natural rubber gloves, powder free natural rubber gloves and nitrile gloves. As an established player in the rubber glove industry, the group employs strategies incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, distributing high-quality rubber gloves to more than 170 countries worldwide.
1. What is Sri Trang Gloves STG ’ strategy to position itself as a leader in sustainability within the healthcare industry?
STGT’s Clean World Clean Gloves (CWCG) brand strategy focuses on six main pillars: sustainable sourcing, logistics management, environmentally friendly manufacturing, human dignity and social responsibility, clean natural products, and clean optimisation. The integration of these pillars throughout our supply chain enables us to create a sustainable business that delivers essential life-saving products while minimising our environmental impact and upholding social responsibility.
As a responsible sustainability steward, we have implemented a net-zero target and strategy which we continually track and review to ensure we are minimising our environmental footprint and accelerating climate action.
By adhering closely to international standards and laws, we ensure compliance with quality, safety, and sustainability regulations. This commitment to responsible business practices further strengthens our position as a sustainable leader in the healthcare industry. The recognition and support that we receive from our business partners also helps to generate sustainable value for all our stakeholders and build confidence in STGT over the long haul.
2. Can you share about the group’s sustainability approach and how it has been integrated into the business operations?
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The six pillars of the group’s CWCG strategy are integrated throughout our entire supply chain:
First, sustainable sourcing: As most of the raw material used is natural latex, we created a convenient and fairtrade platform that ensures transparent and real-time transactions for the natural rubber farmers, known as the Sri Trang Friends Rubber platform. It enables us to trace the origin of the latex used in the manufacturing process, ensuring that it comes from responsible forests and avoids any risk of human rights violation.
Second, logistics management: By strategically locating our facilities near raw material sources, we aim to reduce transportation costs and ensure a stable supply of natural latex. This also helps to reduce carbon emissions associated with long-distance logistics and reduces any need for chemical preservatives during transportation.
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Next, environmentally friendly manufacturing: By implementing state-of-the-art water treatment systems and waste management practices as well as adopting the concept of circular economy, we are working towards the goal of becoming a zero-waste company by creating value out of manufacturing by-products. All our factories operate entirely on biomass renewable energy, which reduces carbon emissions by over 70% compared to fossil fuel usage. This contributes to a low carbon footprint and supports local businesses, as biomass energy is generated within the local area. We are also investing heavily in solar energy and our facility in Trang has installed 1MW of solar power. We plan to install 4MW of solar power across our plants by 2024 and this helps reduce electricity purchases and decreases our Scope 2 carbon emissions.
Fourthly, human dignity and social responsibility: We prioritise local employment and embrace diversity with a 50:50 gender ratio. To ensure the well-being of our employees, we place high priority on our accommodation, welfare and health and safety measures. STGT complies with various performance and labour standards (see Question 5), solidifying our position as a leader in social responsibility.
Fifth, clean natural products: We have been focusing more on latex gloves as natural latex is a renewable raw material with a low carbon footprint and is less pollutive. The latex production process also creates job opportunities and serves as a source of carbon absorption. As natural latex gloves are biodegradable, the use of such gloves reduces waste in the long run, thus contributing to a cleaner world by promoting the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials.
Last but not least, clean optimisation: We invest in innovative technologies to make our gloves more environmentally friendly. This includes reducing energy consumption during the manufacturing process, minimising the use of chemicals, and decreasing pollution associated with production. We also focus on enhancing the properties of our gloves, such as increasing resistance, strength, and expanding their applications. By continuously optimising our products, we provide users with a comprehensive range of green supply chain options that deliver both superior performance and sustainability benefits.
3. Are there any green innovations or developments that the group is working on?
Our research on green innovations and development is currently focused on enhancing our range of natural latex examination gloves. While nitrile gloves are widely used due to their hypoallergenic, and chemical and heat-resistant qualities, they are produced using non-renewable crude oil and contribute significantly to waste generation upon disposal. In contrast, latex is a renewable material with a low carbon footprint. We are dedicated to improving the properties of latex gloves so that they become a viable alternative to nitrile gloves.
One of our breakthrough products is the world’s first non-detectable protein latex gloves. These gloves have successfully been tested according to ASTM D5712-15 and ASTM D7427-16 and have been found to have non-detectable levels of the four principal allergenic proteins. This means that individuals with protein allergies can use our latex gloves without any concerns. Our goal is to make latex gloves a sustainable choice across a wider range of applications.
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We are dedicated to promoting green innovations and development in the area of hand protection, ensuring a more sustainable future for the healthcare industry and beyond.
4. Could you elaborate more on the group’s recent MOU with Siam Cement Group and how it aligns to the group’s ESG efforts?
Our recent memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Siam Cement Group (SCG) and its subsidiary, The Concrete Products and Aggregate Co (CPAC), builds upon a previous agreement we had signed in August 2022 with another SCG subsidiary, Siam Refractory Industry Co (SRIC).
The latest MOU outlines a framework for regular knowledge sharing, skills exchange, and collaborative efforts in managing used materials and industrial waste. The partnership specifically focuses on studying the conversion of waste materials, such as sludge, which are generated from wastewater treatment, into alternative fuel for cement production. This waste-to-energy initiative represents an expansion of our ongoing waste-to-raw materials collaboration with SRIC.
As part of the existing collaboration with SRIC, the group has already delivered 557 tons of used glove formers to SRIC for repurposing into refractory materials. This figure is projected to increase significantly to 1,600 tons by end-2023. The MOU with CPAC also seeks to further enhance our waste management practices and explore innovative solutions to maximise the value of waste materials.
By sharing expertise and collaborating with SCG and its subsidiaries, we can leverage our knowledge in managing used materials and industrial waste effectively. Overall, the MOU with CPAC strengthens our efforts in sustainable waste management, supports the transition towards a circular economy, and enhances the group’s overall ESG performance.
5. What internationally recognised accreditations did STGT attain last year and can you elaborate more about it?
The group has achieved several notable internationally recognised accreditations, demonstrating our commitment to various aspects of sustainability and business excellence, including:
• International Labour Organisation (ILO): This accreditation recognises our efforts in promoting employee welfare. By clearing all 11 indicators, we have demonstrated our commitment to upholding human rights and providing fair and safe working conditions for our employees.
• Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI): We have been accorded the A Grade for all our audited facilities, in which the BSCI audits assess areas such as working conditions, health and safety, and fair remuneration. This recognition underscores our dedication to social responsibility, ethical practices, and compliance with international labour standards.
• Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (SEDEX) SMETA: We comply with SEDEX SMETA, a globally recognised ethical audit methodology, which covers labour standards, health and safety, environmental performance, and business ethics, affirming our commitment to transparency, ethical sourcing, and responsible supply chain practices.
• “Best New Green Bond” award at the Asset Asian Triple A Awards: This recognition highlights our dedication to improving our sustainability efforts and our commitment to financing projects that have a positive environmental impact.
Emelia Tan is a research analyst with the Singapore Exchange S68
5 in 5 features with SGX-listed companies with a focus on sustainability. Designed to be a short read, 5 in 5 provides insights into SGX-listed companies’ sustainability efforts through a series of five Q&As with management. Through these Q&As, management will discuss the company’s sustainability journey, governance structure and commitments, material ESG topics and many more. This report contains factual commentary from the company’s management and is based on publicly announced information from the company
