CPAXT and NIA Join Forces, Signing MoU to Boost Staff Innovation Capability for Sustainable Organizational Growth

Bangkok - 6 August 2024 - CP AXTRA Public Company Limited (CPAXT) - the operator of “Makro,” a leading wholesaler and “Lotus’s,” a leading retailer has joined forces with The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), represented by the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization), or NIA, to drive the enhancement of employee innovation capability. The MoU encompasses several objectives, including designing and developing innovation programs for CPAXT employees, providing guidelines and advice to enhance the competitive advantage of CPAXT's innovations, and creating a network of agile startups and tech companies. This network will serve as a platform for sharing and disseminating knowledge, leading to innovation development and business expansion for sustainable growth.

Mr. Shaun Wong, Group Chief Transformation Officer - Makro Wholesale Business, CP AXTRA Public Company Limited, said, “In a rapidly changing world, organizations worldwide must adapt and integrate new technological innovations into their management and operations to drive sustainable growth. Realizing this, CPAXT harnesses innovation and technology to enhance efficiency organization-wide while being committed to social and environmental responsibility.

We are moving forward to develop and create ‘sustainable innovations’ to drive positive changes in our products, services, and business processes. By applying various technological innovations, we aim to create long-term positive impacts on society and the environment, aligning with our mission to conduct business according to CPAXT’s 2030 Sustainability Strategies. Our synergy with the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) will support efforts to create added value to eco-friendly products, promote the production of goods from recycled materials, and strengthen employee capabilities to drive business in response to future changes in the business environment.”

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization), or NIA, stated, “NIA's significant role is to promote the creation of innovations for commercialization by applying knowledge and leveraging networks to develop an innovation ecosystem. Cultivating an innovation mindset among employees is pivotal to building a competent workforce to drive positive change and enable the organization to create outstanding innovations. To achieve this, NIA has collaborated with CP AXTRA Public Company Limited to design and develop innovation programs for CPAXT’s employees. These programs aim to equip employees with innovative thinking and skills and engage them in activities that transform innovative ideas into practical applications, enhancing the value of products and services. The collaboration seeks to make a difference, offer new experiences to customers, respond to potential challenges, and meet current customer expectations and trends.”

“This collaborative effort will be a key mechanism for driving product creation and advancing innovation and technology processes that benefit people and contribute to the Thai economy and society. It will also help develop Thailand's workforce by enhancing their knowledge and innovation capabilities, leading to increased innovation output nationwide. Furthermore, we will provide consultancy on organizational development and serve as a coordinator for both policy and implementation, resulting in an improved innovation system and corporate culture. NIA sincerely hopes that this collaboration will elevate CPAXT's staff's capability to develop innovations while contributing to the sustainable development of the organization and society.”

The MoU signing event featured an exhibition of CPAXT’s innovative products, showcasing creativity and product development, including:

• The potato burger with buns made from fresh potatoes and imported meat without chemical used, makes it healthy, and environmentally friendly.
• The label-free bottled water highlights an eco-friendly concept by utilizing PET bottles and aluminum labels with laser marking technology instead of ink. It is 100% recyclable, reducing the use of new plastic by approximately 11.6 tons per year.
• Employee uniforms made from recycled PET bottles: In 2022, the company collected up to 2.4 million PET bottles and recycled them into 120,000 uniforms, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 73.92 tons of CO₂e*.
• Recycled garbage bags are made from recycled plastic pellets, reducing the need for new plastics. They help decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 652,943 kg CO₂e and reduce landfill waste by 35.72 tons**.
• New early-season jasmine rice is stored at a cool temperature to preserve its quality before being packed in metalized bags. Advanced technology is used to preserve its fragrance, softness, and shiny, fresh appearance throughout the year.

Notes: * Twenty 600ml PET bottles can be recycled into one employee uniform.
**Calculated based on sales data from February 2020 to December 2021