Rak Pan Sook Project: A Solution to Plastic Waste Issue
Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited
INTRODUCTION
Bangchak, Indorama and SCG have signed a memorandum of understanding for the ‘Rak Pan Sook’ Project, a sustainability project supporting the recycling of used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and used lubricant containers. This is to raise public awareness of plastic recycling and help recycling more convenient.The project invites consumers to drop off used PET bottles and lubricant containers at over 250 Bangchak’s gas stations around Bangkok and metropolitan areas to encourage people to help keep the environment clean. PET bottles are recycled by Indorama Ventures (IVL) and turned to useful items for good causes; hats, bags and book cover.
To this day, 600,000 PET bottles have been delivered to Indorama Ventures, changing an afterlife of PET bottles into usable products. The Group believes that ‘Rak Pan Sook’ will gain more public attention, therefore to educate and contribute more benefits to society at large.
FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGY
Upstream energy represents Bangchak’s core businesses leading to national energy security while generating the new era of energy to ensure a sustainable innovative business development. The Group has set inclusive and sustainable business in harmony with the environment and society.Bangchak has collaborated with Siam Cement Group (SCG) and Indorama Ventures (IVL) to reduce plastic waste by encouraging customers to bring their used PET bottles and empty lubricant containers for recycling; thus, promoting the circular economy concept.
Bangchak act as the centre of donation point, collecting bottles and forwards the bottles to Indorama Ventures for recycling process. After receiving the end products, the bottles are then given away to those who are in need.
‘Rak Pan Sook’ is an effective way to turn plastic garbage into actual and useful items. This project collects tons of bottle water distributed upon refuelling as a promotional campaign. It reduces single-use plastic waste and avoids the leakage of it into nature. It is also a passageway for wildlife crossings through careful planning on the planting of trees and shrubs to create a multi-layered canopy structure. The Group leads by example, pledging to sustainability by participating in the actual process of tree-planting and this is highly aligned with NooTrees’s mission of conserving natural habitats through a reduction in deforestation activities.
ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPACT
In the initial phase, Bangchak delivered hats made of recycled PET items to officials (street cleaners) of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Pattaya City. To reflect the Circular Economy concept in the Group, some items of Bangchak’s New Year gifts and children’s day bags, given to kids on National Children’s Day in January were made from these recycled PET items as well.The project has received well response from the public as 600,000 PET bottles have been donated within a year since the project was launched. These bottles have been recycled to be 12,400 hats, 14,400 reusable bags and 7,500 diary covers that have been contributed to employees, partners and those who are in need in society.
FUTURE DIRECTION
While COVID-19 situation has impacted the level of public participation as well as the activities that had been planned for ‘Rak Pan Sook’ this year, the Group is still determined to continue its effort in promoting Bio-Circular and Green economy model through various activities including ‘Rak Pan Sook’. Though as many on-ground activities may not be able to be executed, the Group’s plan to continue working with partners to reduce trash as much as possible.
Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited, the leading Greenovation group
for a sustainable future, operates in 5 main businesses areas; Refinery and Oil
Trading Business, Marketing Business, Green Power Business, Bio Based
Products Business and Natural Resource Business. Bangchak Initiative and
Innovation Center ( BiiC ) has been established to promote a green ecosystem
that promotes innovation and supports the leap of green energy and bio products
to ensure national energy security and sustainability.
