Food waste and leftovers should no longer be part of the Thai dining culture if the country is serious about tackling greenhouse gas emissions, says Siam Kubota, which has unveiled a new campaign urging people to finish every meal.
The company, a leading manufacturer of agricultural equipment and heavy machines, estimates that if all 70 million Thais stopped leaving leftovers, national carbon emissions could be reduced by as much as 10 million tonnes annually.
In collaboration with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), Siam Kubota has introduced the “Finish Your Food in Every Meal” campaign to foster a culture of mindful and sustainable eating.
The initiative promotes portion awareness and discourages food waste, which contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Launched yesterday to coincide with World Food Day, the campaign supports Thailand’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Ratchakrit Sanguancheewin, manager of Siam Kubota’s Sustainability Development Division, said the company has long worked with farmers along the agricultural value chain to help them adapt to climate challenges through technology and innovation.
“This year, we’re extending that commitment beyond agriculture by raising public awareness under the concept of ‘eat wisely’, promoting zero waste from every meal,” he said. “The issue is challenging, so we began within our own organisation. The response from our employees has been very positive. We want to send a strong message that small actions can change the world, especially when we do them together.”
To mark the campaign’s launch, all 3,374 employees of Siam Kubota participated by finishing their meals, an act expected to reduce over 1,300 kilogrammes of carbon emissions in a single day.
The initiative also aligns with the company’s broader sustainability roadmap, which targets carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization says Thailand generates 9.68 million tonnes of food waste annually, with 49.1% coming from the Bangkok metropolitan area.