packaging  waste management  environment 
Late September, the government of Thailand launched a comprehensive campaign to reduce the use of plastic and foam based on a package of measures put up by academic institutions. On September 21, the Thai cabinet received a report from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment on the implementation of its March-June resolution on the matter.

From April 5 to 10 2004, Park Cleanup Days were held across the kingdom to make national parks free from plastic and foam waste. To date, 131 national parks in Thailand have turned to KU-Green products as food and drink containers, with some 27 million pieces being used.

At the same time, there have been public relations campaigns to create awareness among consumers all over the country.

Thailand’s BOI (Board of Investment) meanwhile has offered promotional privileges for recycling of plastic and foam, with four new applicants in the category. As for the production of food packaging with bio-degradable and natural materials, a meeting will shortly be held to seek clear definitions for bio-degradable materials.

Chulalongkorn University, as the consultant to the project, has drafted legislation to deal with packaging materials right from its design through production, separation, collection, and transportation to disposal. GTZ (German Technical Cooperation organisation) experts have been advising Thai decisonmakers.

Workshops were held at Kasetsart University on June 25 and July 6, with proposals made on the implementation of the campaign as social measures aimed at consumers, department and convenience stores, with the emphasis on environment-friendly materials and recycling.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, through the Pollution Control Department, will launch a major media campaign in October.

At the same time, Kasetsart University will publish the measures on the Pollution Control Department’s website at www.pcd.go.th.

A pilot project will be launched in Bangkok in cooperation with department and convenience stores in Bangkok during October.