Carmakers shift into higher gear for green ambitions

 
Led by Wail Farghaly, managing director and Amnat Saengchan, vice president of manufacturing, the automaker has officially opened the second Native Garden at General Motors Powertrain (Thailand) facility in Rayong. The executives also planted trees during the opening ceremony.
The Native Garden is not just a recreational area. It also provides knowledge about native plants and protects wildlife in the area.
The initiative is part of a drive to enable GM plants around the world to receive Wildlife Habitat Council certifications by 2020. GM leads the industry for such certifications.
General Motors Thailand was among industrial facilities chosen to participate in the Wildlife Habitat programme for certification since September 2015. The project is a collaboration between internal and external parties. The result is the Native Garden in General Motors Thailand’s plant and, with continued support by GM, the second Native Garden was developed at General Motors Powertrain (Thailand).
General Motors Powertrain (Thailand) has also been certified for its project aimed at protecting natural resources and the environment around the plant. One particular project high on the priority list is the restoration of mangroves at Paknamprasae, Glang, Rayong. GM has been helped by employees, the local government office and locals who joined the mangrove planting activities. The activity is important to protect the mangrove forest in the coastal area.
Nanta Boonchuaylua, Municipal Clerk of Paknamprasae Subdistrict, said the activity helped develop the community and it was good to see the private sector taking part in conservation of natural resources and environmental protection. The cooperation between locals and private sectors would create more efficiency. There were growing numbers of tourists visiting the area and the activity enhanced a tourism industry too. It also created income, boosted local economy and enhanced the wellbeing of locals.
The Wildlife Habitat Council certification was an important milestone for environmental protection projects. Nanta said the subdistrict was committed to continue working hard to improve its communities and environment together with local business.