THOME SUSTAINABILITY
Since the publication of our inaugural Sustainability Report in 2020, the Thome Group has made significant progress in aligning itself with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are, therefore, delighted to share with you our second voluntary Sustainability Report covering the year 2021.
The fact that we have been able to make progress on sustainability issues against a backdrop of international sanctions against Russia and the continuing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is a testament to the dedication of our staff. We have successfully embraced a hybrid working style across the group to improve our employee’s work/life balance. This has a positive knock-on effect of reducing work commutes which reduces our carbon footprint overall as a company.
Recent office moves in Mumbai and Singapore have also allowed us to review our office environments with less formal seating arrangements to maximize the available space and encourage more interaction between departments. We have also reviewed our use of paper documents and are actively encouraging staff to reduce the amount of paper in the office by reviewing our processes and reducing the need for paper trails by switching to digital alternatives.
BUSINESS ETHICS
Thome does not engage in any form of bribery or corruption. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations and strive to ensure that our suppliers, contractors, and business partners are aligned with our values and practices.
Thome’s core value of integrity includes engaging in honest, fair, and responsible business practices. We only work with those who share our vision of advocating for our seafarers’ safety and security while protecting our client’s commercial interests. Thome is also a member of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), a global initiative to eliminate all corruption in the maritime industry.
Thome adopts a zero-tolerance stance for bribery, corruption, child or forced labour, and anti-competitive behaviour. We do not permit the giving or receiving of gifts or entertainment to influence anyone’s decision-making. Employees are also strictly forbidden from partaking in activities involving conflict of interest or money laundering.
SUPPLY CHAIN GOVERNANCE
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of a robust and sustainable supply chain. Thome’s core business is to provide best-in-class, competitive, and secure sourcing options to our stakeholders. Strong supply chain governance will ensure that our suppliers deliver dependable services consistently, allowing Thome to always create long-term value for our customers.
Similarly, Thome holds its suppliers to the highest ethical and compliance standards. Thome is dedicated to collaborating with them openly and honestly while mitigating all potential risks.
Thome expects our suppliers and business partners to adhere to their operations’ high ethical, labour, health, and safety standards. As a result of our case and risk analysis, suppliers and collaborators have been temporarily or permanently blacklisted if they are found to have violated any standards. Thome requires all buyers and suppliers to follow our Supplier Code of Conduct, which outlines responsible business practices, as a member of the International Marine Purchasing Association (“IMPA”), which promotes supply chain governance.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
As people perform the core operations at Thome, we put a high priority on routinely monitoring work-related hazards and risks. Therefore, we have strict safety guidelines in place that our employees must adhere to.
Thome’s Safety Management System (“TMS”) includes stringent safety guidelines for every task performed onboard that go above and beyond industrial recommendations. The TMS covers the following key safety aspects:
- Risk Assessment
- Permit to work system
- Office Concurrence for Critical Jobs
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Matrix
PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT
Our employees are essential to the success of Thome. We believe that developing our talents and assisting them in their careers is the best way to retain our employees and ensure the continuity of our business.
As the maritime industry continues to digitise and more emphasis is placed on decarbonisation, our seafarers must continue to upskill. Thome has always been at the forefront of utilising cutting-edge training techniques to enhance our people’s learning and development to keep up with technological advancements.
The COVID-19 pandemic allowed us to incorporate technological advancements into our learning avenues, hastening our transition to learning using information technology equipment. Thome was able to conduct scenario-based training on virtual platforms by utilising technologies such as augmented reality (“AR”) and virtual reality (“VR”).
RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION
Good waste management and environmental regulation are critical pillars preventing Thome operation’s waste from entering the world’s oceans. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (“MARPOL”), an international convention covering the prevention of marine environment pollution by ships from operational or accidental causes, applies to all shipping companies operating in the shipping industry, including Thome.
At Thome, our motto of “Managing Waste to Save the Planet” means we ensure that all waste generated on board is collected and disposed of adequately, following MARPOL’s regulations. These include all kinds of food waste, domestic waste, and operational waste. Where appropriate, recyclable waste will be collected and segregated before being recycled by a third-party service provider. Under current regulations, Thome’s environmental policy ensures that our crew remains conscientious about garbage collection, segregation, storage, processing, and disposal. Placards and garbage management plans are available to the crew, and all waste disposal is documented in a garbage record book. We have tasked our Chief Engineers onboard vessels to ensure proper waste management.
SPILLS AND RELEASES TO THE ENVIRONMENT
We reported only 1 spill and less than 0.01m3 of potentially dangerous oil spills in FY2021, compared to the 3 spills we recorded in FY2020, owing to our robust Environment Management System and the protections we have in place for our maritime operations. The environmental compliance department’s expert team determined that the leak was not substantial, and the necessary corrective and preventive activities were implemented as a result. Despite our accomplishments this financial year, Thome has not met its initial target of no spills in FY2021 and will strive to do so in the following years.
As part of The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (“MARPOL”) reporting requirements, Thome maintains an Oil Record Book (“ORB”). Thome adopts a strict approach towards the management of the ORB, as failure to do so would violate MARPOL’s strict rules. We held online and classroom ORB training to prevent the underreporting of oil spills and ensure that all our seafarers know how to make accurate entries in the ORB.