Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), a Thai real estate developer focused on comprehensive lifestyle solutions, has signed a partnership agreement with two leading organizations, "Ikigai", experts in sustainable food supply chains with a creative business model from farm to table, and "Scholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS Thailand)", the first food rescue foundation in Thailand specializing in managing and reducing food waste by donating surplus quality food to communities. Both organizations are partners of AWC in the "AWC Alliances for Better Future" project, aimed at driving the circular economy to maximize the benefits of food management and surplus food while creating true holistic value for the environment, society, and communities.

Naowalapa Traisorat, CEO and Managing Director of Asset World Corp Public Company Limited, stated, "It is a great opportunity for AWC to collaborate with "Ikigai" and "SOS Thailand" to enhance the food supply chain management of AWC's hotel business group, making it stronger and more comprehensive. AWC believes that collaboration from all sectors will create true value for the environment, communities, and the country towards holistic sustainability and stable long-term growth. AWC invites visionary partners to join forces to 'create a better future' under the "AWC Alliances for Better Future" project to expand sustainability efforts across all dimensions and elevate Thailand to a global sustainable destination.

In the past, AWC has recognized the issues of quality food scarcity in communities and food waste, thus committing to the continuous development of food management cooperation projects across its hotel chain, such as The Athenee Hotel, Bangkok, which was the first hotel in the world to receive the 100 percent All-Star award from The PLEDGE on Food Waste, and Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok, which received the Food Waste Hero Excellence Award 2021 from Scholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS Thailand). AWC believes that the development of sustainable management must be comprehensive from start to finish and driven by partnerships with shared visions to create holistic value for all stakeholders, starting from sourcing ingredients from local farmers for AWC hotels to reducing food waste by donating surplus nutritious food from hotels to communities and vulnerable groups in Bangkok, Phuket, Hua Hin, and Chiang Mai, as well as sorting food waste for animal feed and composting to address the issue of food loss and disposal from AWC's various projects, aligning with the circular economy concept and the organization's goal of achieving zero waste to landfill by 2030.

Mr. James Douglas Noble, founder of Ikigai, said, "Ikigai aims to drive sustainability in environmental conservation for future generations through a creative business model that strengthens sustainable food supply chain management. Ikigai has collaborated with AWC hotels and initiated various projects, such as the 360° Cuisine program, agricultural tourism, and the Farm-to-Table restaurant concept. With my experience as a former Michelin 2-star chef turned sustainable farmer, we have integrated this commitment into Ikigai to create new cooking concepts and farming ideas while providing consulting and developing new food and beverage services. We will source organic ingredients from local farmers and use local products to minimize carbon emissions. In December, Ikigai will open a restaurant in Chiang Mai to promote fresh, clean, and pesticide-free food while supporting community and environmental contributions. For this collaboration with AWC, Ikigai has developed a food sustainability program for AWC hotels and aims to expand cooperation to cover hotels in Bangkok and other provinces in Thailand."

Mr. James Layson, Managing Director of Scholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS Thailand), stated, "The collaboration between SOS Thailand and AWC began with both organizations sharing a vision to create value for communities and society by managing surplus food from AWC hotels to deliver to communities lacking quality food, which SOS has been operating in various areas nationwide. This collaboration also aims to reduce food waste going to landfills by transferring nutritious food to communities. Additionally, SOS Thailand promotes knowledge and skills among hotel staff in AWC's chain to align with the United Nations' food waste and loss management measures. SOS Thailand has previously collaborated with several AWC hotels, such as Marriott Marquis Queen's Park and The Athenee Hotel, Bangkok, to deliver surplus food to over 178 communities, providing 158,580 meals to ensure equal access to quality food. SOS Thailand aims to deliver 40 million meals of surplus food to communities by 2025, supported by AWC, which has expanded its food management cooperation to cover all hotels in the AWC chain located in Bangkok and extend to the retail business as well."

"The 'AWC Alliances for Better Future' project is one of the initiatives under AWC's sustainability strategy, focusing on three pillars: BETTER PLANET for a better environment, BETTER PEOPLE for improved quality of life, and BETTER PROSPERITY for a better economy, delivering benefits and holistic value to communities and society sustainably. AWC invites local community partners and organizations with shared visions and commitments to create true value and a better future for Thailand," Naowalapa concluded.

AWC operates under a continuous sustainable development framework and has joined various sustainability standards both domestically and internationally, such as being selected as a member of the S&P Sustainability Index (from the Sustainability Yearbook 2022) for the hotel, resort, and cruise industry, as well as being listed in the Thailand Sustainability Investment (THSI) by the Stock Exchange of Thailand and receiving an MSCI ESG Rating of "AA" for sustainability.