Ngern Tidlor is a company with good intentions committed to providing a better quality of life for those who lack access to traditional financing options. The company aims to achieve this through delivery of simple, transparent, and fair products and services. Despite already having a relatively small carbon footprint, the company wholeheartedly embraces the imperative to build a sustainable future for the next generation.
As a corporation, Ngern Tidlor has always been mindful of its responsibilities to the environment and to society. The company has long operated with transparent, auditable management practices even before there was widespread discussion of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) issues in the corporate world.
Throughout the journey from our modest beginnings to a thriving and successful enterprise, they have not wavered from our vision of fostering a sustainable and environmentally conscious economy.
The Modest Beginnings of a Grand Mission
Over time, Ngern Tidlor employees have developed an “ESG Mindset” by creating a core value, A Sense of Ownership. This culture influences both long-term goals and everyday tasks such as water and energy conservation, which not only helps reduce operating costs but is also great for the environment. Since 2017, the company gradually replaced all light bulbs with LEDs. Today, the company uses only LED lights along with motion switches to further conserve energy for less used areas such as the printing rooms. Additionally, more than 300 branches of Ngern Tidlor have installed solar panels to illuminate the building facade, further reducing energy costs. The company aims to install solar panels at all remaining branches in the near future.
A representative of the Business Support and Central Service (BSCS) team described Ngern Tidlor’s approach to creating a green world:
"At Ngern Tidlor, we dare to think, dare to try, and always embrace change. Hence, when breakthroughs such as clean energy emerge, we are quick to assess their potential and adopt them, taking into account the impact they will have on our customers, stakeholders, and wider society. In this way, we aim to deliver measurable benefits and value to all those we serve.
We changed the fuel used by the company's vehicles from gasoline to gasohol and from diesel to biodiesel a while back. Now, there is a new project to switch to electric motorcycles, starting in Bangkok at first, since there are limited charging stations available in other provinces. However, if the feedback from users is positive and external factors align, we will expand the use of electric vehicles to other parts of Thailand. Ultimately, we want to promote improved quality of life along with sustainability."
Increase Momentum Through Partnerships
There are many more joint initiatives towards a sustainable future driven by Ngern Tidlor employees. These include waste sorting projects for recycling and reuse through various campaign activities with partner organizations such as SCGP. In this project, 21,150 kilograms of used paper were sorted to be converted into furniture. We sorted 26 kilograms of aluminum cans and lids to upcycle as prosthetics for people living with a physical disability. We also sorted 748 kilograms of plastic waste to be produced into 924 monk robes and 310 PPE kits for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a collaboration with Green Phahonyothin, the company also joined an E-Waste group to recycle electronic waste. Initially, sorting bins were placed in the headquarters and 2 training centers. Today, all Ngern Tidlor branches in major cities are forming strategic alliances with local e-waste collection centers to encourage recycling and proper disposal of electronic waste. Furthermore, as part of our wider sustainability efforts, we are also actively supporting initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of greenhouse gases through the planting of trees, among other activities.
In addition, the company participated in the Care the Bear initiative of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), aiming to encourage organizations in Thailand to raise awareness, collect data, and review the carbon footprint of each business activity so that the collected data can be used to plan reductions in energy consumption according to each organization's guidelines.
From Understanding to Action: The Impact of Increased Awareness
The intentions and values of Ngern Tidlor employees, combined with dedicated communications efforts, has resulted in greater awareness of environmental issues and a shift to work practices tailored to the duties and aptitudes of each staff member. Ultimately, each team is geared towards the same goal of 'creating a green world'.
“Environmental consciousness is what we, as a company are concerned alongside business, and we strive to integrate this principle into all aspects of our operations, including our innovative product line, such as 'TIDLOR Card’. From a business perspective, the card offers customers convenient access to their available limits. At the same time, the card reduces the need for branch visits, which in turn reduces fuel consumption and improves sustainability. The use of the card to withdraw cash has also helped to reduce paper consumption by 25 sheets per transaction, which translates to a reduction of 198,082 kg of paper consumption per year, equivalent to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 225,813 kgCO2e per year.
Similarly, our E-Billing system promotes the adoption of electronic receipts, reducing paper consumption. Although the full utilization of this system has not yet been achieved, it has already resulted in a reduction of 1,851 kg in paper consumption and 2,110 kgCO2e in carbon dioxide emissions. This aligns with Ngern Tidlor's commitment to delivering technologically advanced services that are both convenient for customers and environmentally friendly while providing customers an opportunity to play their part in creating a more sustainable future.
The BSCS team added, "The key to building a sustainable future is patience. Such transformation requires persistence and a commitment to changing people's behavior. This can be a challenging task, but regular communication and education can raise awareness and drive individuals to adopt more environmentally conscious practices. By working together, all members of Ngern Tidlor help strengthen our efforts towards a sustainable future.”
Maximizing Daily Efforts for Sustainability
At Ngern Tidlor, we take the mission of co-creating a green world very seriously. However, we never forget our DNA, and we value our ability to incorporate fun and foster a creative atmosphere among our employees. Through initiatives such as contests to decorate our branches and work areas with reusable and renewable materials and art contests using waste materials, we strive to balance our commitment to environmental sustainability with a fun and engaging work environment that caters to the diverse interests of our employees.
The 'Go Green Wednesday' initiative, promoted through online channels such as the Facebook Group, encourages employees to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle by appreciating green achievements of their colleagues. This includes simple actions like using cloth bags instead of plastic bags, bringing reusable containers for food, and avoiding the use of disposable foam containers. These initiatives aim to promote a more environmentally conscious culture among NTLers.
“We believe that creating a green world should be a collaborative effort. Solitary efforts are not as fun nor as effective, and that's why we aim to make environmental sustainability a collective and enjoyable experience for everyone to participate in.”
The journey towards a sustainable future begins with good intentions and depends on the power of collaboration. With the strength of the Ngern Tidlor community working together, the path to a thriving green world is well within our grasp.