Cutting down on waste
On the occasion of the World Environment Day tomorrow (June 5), Siam Discovery is hosting a campaign “Strawless Challenge” by inviting people to take action against the singleuse plastic straw until June 30.
“One of the environmental problems close to home includes rubbish from plastic straws, which is now a serious environmental issue on the world stage and has a dramatic effect on marine life as well as coral. Statistics indicate that the number of plastic straw rubbish thrown away into the oceans across the globe, in the current year, totals 513 million tons among 20 countries worldwide,” says Usara Yongpiyakul, chief executive officer of Siam Piwat Retail Holding.
Thailand is ranked among top 10 countries that the worst marine pollution. And studies done by Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) show that due to marine waste segregation, plastic straws are found most, secondary to plastic bags.
To raise people’s awareness, 5,000 stainless steel straws will be given away to customers from tomorrow onwards while all the shops at Siam Discovery will join by not using plastic straws throughout this month. To get a stainless straw, interested people are required to take a photo of any product at Ecotopia zone on the fourth floor and share it on social media with hashtag #Ecotopia SiamDiscovery #Strawlesschallenge.
A series of DIY workshops to produce chic stuff from debris will also be held on weekends. The topics include making a organic lipstick, DIY a wallet and key ring from wasted sacks, painting an auspicious doll with black spinel, enjoying natural indigo tiedyeing, upcycling your favourite jeans with used clothes, learning how to make bath cream from tea leaves and natural salt, and making a key ring from cocoons.
