SWAT (The Solid Waste Management Association, Thailand) is launching their Plastic Footprint Reduction Project under the framework of the United Nations Environment Programme’s SEA circular project, initiated by the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), and supported by the Government of Sweden to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans.
Every year about eight million tonnes of plastic waste escapes into the oceans. Plastic pollution has a direct and deadly effect on marine life and our environment. It is predicted that by 2050 the oceans will have more plastic than fish, causing incalculable damage to our planet’s ecosystem.
To express its commitment to plastic footprint reduction, SWAT and participating organisations are signing a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC).
Marine plastic pollution is a major global issue, and we need to take action urgently
One of the cornerstones of the SWAT’s Plastic Footprint Reduction Project is reducing the use of plastic and increasing recovery and recycling of plastic waste to support circular economy. It works with companies and organisations all over Thailand to help them to look at their current plastic footprints and to identify plastic hot spots where actions can bring about significant results.
‘Marine plastic pollution is a major global issue, and we need to take action urgently. We hope that these pioneering companies and organisations will go on to be ‘catalysts’ for further transformation in Thailand for years to come’ said Dr Chindarat Taylor, Chair of the Plastic Footprint Reduction Project, Vice President of SWAT and CIWM Fellow.
Pioneering plastics reduction
SWAT works with companies and organisations representing key sectors in Thailand: food & beverage, manufacturing plastic and packaging, hotels and hospitality, municipalities as well as universities and schools.
These companies and organizations include: S&P Syndicate Public Company Limited, SAPPE Public Company Limited, Cosmos Brewery (Thailand) Co., Ltd., TPBI Public Company Limited, The Sukosol Hotel, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Doi Kham Food Products Co., Ltd., SITEX Industry Corporation Co., Ltd., Wieng Theong Municipality, Mae Fah Luang University, Wat Soi Thong School and Mater Dei School.
The Ocean Recovery Alliance (ORA), an environmental organisation based in the US and Hong Kong, is providing support and training in the methodology for measuring plastic footprints.
Shared learning and the exchange of ideas are important aspects of this project and we will organise future events such as roundtable discussions and sharing of best practice sessions when we are further down the track with this project
The companies and organisations participating in this project are pioneering the process for reducing their plastic footprints.
‘Shared learning and the exchange of ideas are important aspects of this project and we will organise future events such as roundtable discussions and sharing of best practice sessions when we are further down the track with this project’ said Khun Patarapol Tularak, Project Manager for Plastic Footprint Reduction Project.
‘This is an important project for the environment and sustainability in Thailand and I am pleased to see the formal launch of the Plastic Footprint Reduction Project today as we have been working on this project since last year right through the Covid 19 pandemic’ said Prof. Dr. Orathai Chavalparit, President of SWAT.