Briefs

It’s through the initiative of PTT Global Chemical, a subsidiary of PTT Group, which operates the Jiffy stores. As part of its corporate social responsibility, PTTGC worked with the Nong Fab community in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, in the manufacture of the soap, its packaging and distribution. Veerasak Kositpaisal, chief executive officer of PTTGC, wants the next step to be making Luffala a cosmetic product.
“Under the creative economy strategy, our mission is to make Luffala successful, so that the community earns sufficient income to stand on its own feet,” Veerasak said.
Made with extracts from natural ingredients like mangosteen peels, aloe vera and tamarind, the soap is the result of research by Mae Fah Luang University's science office.
　
　
Chevron aids community support project

Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Ltd is continuing its global corporate community engagement Triple E programme with a Bt13-million funding for the Population and Community Development Association (PDA)’s community support project in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Pairoj Kaweeyanun, president of Chevron Thailand, said that the financing is for the operations during 2012-2014 with a focus on flood-affected areas. This funding has strengthened the partnership between the two organisations, which started in 2010.
The first phase (2010-2011) of the Chevron-PDA community support project in Chumphon was a success. In the second phase, the project aims to enhance knowledge, skills and capabilities to tackle the socio-economic impact from natural disasters and better prepare for future crisis in selected communities.
The project also aims to promote the savings habit in local communities by setting up village development banks for villagers to manage and build on, which will lead to skills, career and other development projects and educational assistance in their villages.
　
Coca-Cola’s rebuilding effort

The Coca-Cola System Thailand is continuing efforts in the “rebuild” phase of its sustainable flood-relief programme, in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Thailand.
Under the “Reunite to Relieve and Rebuild Thailand” programme, during weekends in January and February, Coca-Cola employees and more than 3,500 volunteers join forces to repair and rebuild damaged schools and houses in four flooded provinces – Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok. The programme aims to restore more than 600 houses and 25 schools by the end of April 2012.
Pornwut Sarasin, vice chairman of the Coca-Cola Foundation in Thailand, ThaiNamthip, the Coca-Cola System in Thailand and Coca-Cola Foundation in the US have pledged Bt40 million to Habitat for Humanity Thailand which will bring a team of housing specialists and builders to advise on the restoration of damaged houses and schools.
“More than 3,500 volunteers have been mobilised to take part in the programme,” said Pornwut.
Chainarong Montienvichienchai, chairman of Habitat for Humanity Thailand, said those earning a household monthly income of not more than Bt15,000 will qualify for assistance. It will also repair school classrooms, playgrounds, football fields, libraries and common rooms.
During this month, the programme aims to cover 80 houses and three schools.
Donations to support the Habitat for Humanity Thailand are welcome.
　

Mangrove reforestation

CIMB Thai Bank and Rotary Club of Bangkok have successfully raised enough money to buy 3,000 mangrove seedlings.
Under the mangrove forest planting project, both took more than 200 volunteers to Bang Poo, Samut Prakan, where all helped grow the plants in the destroyed area.
CIMB president Subhak Siwaraksa, Pawinee Armarttasn, the director of Pathumwan district, and Songsak Boonrapongcharoen, the president of Rotary Club of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, believe the reforestation should help turn the area into a habitat for young marine lives and improve the ecological system.
　
Buildings that consume less energy

One year after the inauguration of Bayer MaterialScience’s emissions-neutral office building in Greater Noida, 40 kilometres southeast of the Indian capital New Delhi, Bayer has successfully balanced the energy consumption of the building.
The energy generated was 72,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) with the help of the photovoltaic system installed on the roof, whereas the building used nearly 64,000 kWh over the same period. The net result is a surplus of more than 8,000kWh.
“The building is designed to use 50 per cent less electricity than comparable buildings in our region,” said Ram Sai Yelamanchili, who heads Bayer MaterialScience’s EcoCommercial Building programme in India. The objective of this global network of experts is to support responsible parties in the construction industry with the planning and erection of energy-efficient buildings and rehabilitation of existing buildings for greater energy efficiency. It is part of the sustainability programme of Bayer Group.
Thanks to the solar power, the cubic, two-storey building with roughly 900 square metres of floor space could cut carbon emissions by 67 metric tons which corresponds to the CO2 emissions of about 20 vehicles.