It is said that “determination” is one of the wonders that resides within each of us, as it empowers humans with creativity, resilience, and the readiness to overcome all limitations in pursuit of something better. When the determination of a small individual is shared with those around them, it becomes the wonder of each community, transforming lifestyles, reviving opportunities, and creating endless value.

SCGC firmly adheres to four core values instilled from generation to generation for a long time. These values are Adherence to Fairness, Dedication to Excellence, Belief in the Value of the Individual, and Concern for Social Responsibility. When these four ideals are combined with the concept of ESG for sustainable development, they become the guiding principles for SCGC's community projects to improve the community’s living conditions. Under the vision of creating a happy society coupled with a healthy environment, SCGC is poised to pass on these positive values to future generations. Let’s explore inspiring stories from this "Amazing Community."

"SCGC believes in the potential and power within people. Previously, we had an internal campaign named 'Crack Your Cocoon,' aimed at breaking down mental barriers and encouraging everyone to start with themselves. This initiative sought to maximize employees' potential, urging them not to succumb to limitations or obstacles. We have also adapted this approach to our work with communities, aiming to unleash and enhance the communities' capabilities and excellence. We support them in becoming self-reliant, teaching them to 'fish,' so to speak. We believe this mindset contributes to sustainable personal development, enabling communities to grow stronger, foster pride, and create more value for themselves. Once they can stand firmly on their own, we are highly convinced they will inspire others and extend opportunities to those around them and the broader society, creating a robust network of an 'Amazing Community' that supports one another," Namthip Samphaoprasert, Director of Brand Management and Social Enterprise at SCG Chemicals (SCGC), shared her insights with the team.

"Working closely with community members in Rayong Province has allowed us to witness and appreciate the life philosophy of many people here. It was so impressive that I couldn't help but exclaim in my heart, 'Absolutely amazing!' This sentiment eventually became the name of our project, 'Amazing Community,' a title that the younger members of our team helped come up with. To us, the definition of an 'Amazing Community' is a group of people who know how to be self-reliant, are dedicated to their jobs with integrity, are ready to create opportunities for others, share and contribute to the society around them, and take better care of the environment. Anyone who can do this, in my opinion, is truly remarkable. I believe our society has many such amazing people, and we need to acknowledge and encourage each other. Sharing these stories can inspire and motivate those feeling disheartened, empowering them to persevere. We want everyone to unleash their inner magic to create value and opportunities for themselves, those around them, and society at large," Namthip recalled the project's origin.

The three community enterprises featured in this story are driven by three generations and three forces. The first is a community enterprise from the Mab Chalud community, which produces fabric products, a wonder of women's power. This group of housewives, despite facing limitations, has managed to overcome obstacles and stand independently. The second is the Baan Ralin Green Living Community Enterprise, a wonder of the power of the younger generation, creating products from nature, motivated by concern for family members and a desire to improve the environment. Lastly, the Baan Thapma Stingless Beekeeping Community Enterprise represents a wonder of the enduring spirit of the elderly who refuse to retire, passing on the tradition of stingless beekeeping to the forests in Rayong Province.

“We are a women-only community enterprise. Each of us has different responsibilities, but today we have come together to create jobs, and we can rely on ourselves one hundred percent,” said Prakong Kerdmongkol who goes by her nickname “To”, the chairperson of the Mab Chalud Community Enterprise. She spoke with pride about how the enterprise has helped women in the community to stand on their own two feet.

From a widow who took up tailoring to make ends meet, dedicating herself with precision in every stitch, the small sewing jobs were not enough to sustain a livelihood. Therefore, To initiated a plan to change the work model by gathering enough tailors in the community to handle larger projects.

In the beginning, even though the income was not substantial and orders were few, To relied on her fighting spirit and did not give up, gradually producing a variety of work until finally, sales began, and a clear income was generated. “Keep going, never stop,” is what To shared with us about overcoming challenges in the early stages

On the Path to Creating Value: After the Mab Chalud Community Enterprise from Rayong Province had been operating for about two years, SCGC had the opportunity to become a partner and collaborator with the group. Together, they ventured through trial and error, offering support, listening, monitoring outcomes, and, importantly, learning together to design a formula for success. This included product design development, enhancing sewing skills and management knowledge, online marketing, and setting up event booths.

Beyond that, SCGC has served as a mediator for the housewives' group from Mab Chalud Community Enterprise, facilitating collaboration with other community enterprises in Rayong Province within the network overseen by SCGC. This collaboration has enhanced the uniqueness of the group's products, setting them apart from typical fabric products. This includes collaboration with the Batik community enterprise in Ban Chang District, producing naturally dyed fabrics, especially indigo-dyed sea fabric, natural dye from mangosteen peel, and the unique Rayong Province's flying swan print fabric. There is also a collaboration with the San Yai Khon San Witee Weaving Community Enterprise in Pluak Daeng District, holders of the wisdom in weaving fabric from pineapple fiber, known as 'Lukkata fabric,' which is soft, flexible yet durable, suitable for creating various types of products. The uniqueness of these fabrics has been meticulously crafted into finished products by Mab Chalud Community Enterprise, facilitated by SCGC.

“The Baan Ralin Green Living Community Enterprise” embodies the ethos of the new generation eager to conduct good business with environmental conservation in mind while generating sustainable income and employment opportunities,' says Ranyana Chancharoen or Por, the chairperson of the Baan Ralin Green Living Community Enterprise group. She spoke of the young generation's commitment to caring for the planet through green businesses.

From a family immersed in organic farming practices to creating the organic brand “Baan Ralin,” the initial intention was to provide family members with safe, allergy-free, high-quality products. Por began seriously studying the formulation of natural products, including cleaning products and food seasonings. After seeing positive results, she started sharing them with people around her to try, eventually realizing that this was her version of “Green Living,” a lifestyle that could help make the world a better place, starting with herself.

What makes Baan Ralin's products safe for consumers is using 100% natural ingredients. Even the wastewater from their products is environmentally friendly. With meticulous attention to selecting toxin-free raw materials, Por began building a network with local farmers to supply organic, pesticide-free ingredients for Baan Ralin's products.

Baan Ralin's products can generate hundreds of thousands of baht annually. While it may not be a large sum, it is considered valuable compared to consumers' access to high-quality organic products. Baan Ralin's customers are satisfied with the safe, chemical-free products that are beneficial for health, leading to repeat purchases. Every time Baan Ralin's products are supported, it also means support for the farmers and villagers in the community.

On the Path to Creating Value: Product standard certification is a crucial aspect of developing a consumer goods brand. SCGC has played a part in obtaining certifications from various organizations, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There have been product quality tests and collaborative development of natural extracts to endlessly enhance value, along with branding, logo design, and marketing efforts. It's akin to opening doors for the Baan Ralin Green Living Enterprise to meet consumers directly.

Throughout Baan Ralin's growth journey, SCGC has recognized the strong environmental ethos of the younger generation. Thus, we have joined forces to amplify this intention, making it more potent and impactful. Furthermore, we have partnered with the Baan Ralin Community Enterprise to develop an e-Commerce platform named “Baan Numee,” selling local products from Rayong Province, with SCGC acting as a mediator to link the community to the platform, passing on opportunities and generating income for other community products as well.

“Our community enterprise group is a mix of traditional wisdom blended with modernity, capable of revitalizing the elderly in the community, giving them a vibrant life once again," said Prapai Kotcharin, the chairperson of the Baan Thapma Stingless Beekeeping Community Enterprise. She spoke about the group's mission, which, despite being composed of the elderly, aligns with the changing current situation.

Who would have thought that the small, bothersome insects buzzing around the farms and gardens in Rayong Province could significantly improve the community's quality of life? Driven by Prapai's interest in beekeeping as a hobby after retirement from civil service and through her research, she discovered the "stingless bee," an economically beneficial insect. Since then, a few small wooden boxes in her backyard have expanded to several communities in Rayong Province, bringing joy, fulfillment, and a sweet old age to the enterprise group.

Stingless bees are small insects, capable of only short-distance flights, classified as tiny yet mighty creatures because they can forage for food from common flowering plants. If the area is fertile, these stingless bees are not difficult to find, acting as indicators of the environmental quality of their habitat. Especially when raised in organic farming areas, the honey produced is organic, offering numerous health benefits.

Although the strength of the elderly in the group expands the stingless beekeeping house bit by bit, through collaboration, there are now more than 50 stingless beekeepers, creating over 400 stingless bee habitats and building a strong community of elderly with high spirits, which is the most crucial aspect of the enterprise group.

“What the elderly like us can do, everyone can do,” is not just a slogan or an advertisement but a statement of pride from the elderly in the area, making stingless beekeeping a tangible success.

On the Path to Creating Value: From raising stingless bees in backyard gardens and sharing knowledge among the elderly to the day when the enterprise group allowed SCGC to help manage the network of stingless beekeepers, the group became more widely recognized. The result was not only an increase in the number of stingless beekeepers but also wider recognition of the enterprise's products. SCGC brought in experts to expand knowledge, tested the properties of the honey produced, and prepared to elevate the products to become signature goods of Rayong Province.

Furthermore, SCGC acted as a mediator connecting the enterprise group with the Ban Map Chan community, where we had previously developed water management solutions, making the area fertile again. It collaborates with the Rayong Provincial Botanical Garden, a center for research and collection of plant species from the eastern region, to cultivate and expand stingless beekeeping. When these small creatures are surrounded by nature, they can thrive well, contributing to a rich ecosystem, uplifting the spirits of the local people with smiles, and marking a shift towards organic farming in the community.

SCGC is committed to enhancing the quality of life of people in the community, incorporating the Low Carbon, Low Waste approach to foster sustainable value creation. The outcome is the wonder of small individuals standing up on their own, persevering for a better environment, and committed to delivering endless value to society.