THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

GC forges alliances to push circular living

GC forges alliances to push circular living

PTT Global Chemical Pcl (GC), is reinforcing its circular living concept with partners to support the environment and drive sustainable and efficient use of resources.

 

 

                                                                                          

 


GC will join with ALPLA Group, a global recycler and high-quality plastic packaging solutions provider, to study the feasibility of jointly building a plastic recycling plant to deliver innovation-driven, high-quality plastic solutions. 
GC had recently organised the “Circular Living Symposium 2019: Upcycling Our Planet” to highlight how the circular economy is effective in helping to make the world a better place.
Chief executive officer and president of GC Supattanapong Panmeechao said the company, as a leading provider of chemical innovations, was focused on improving the quality of life. It has long recognised the importance of the resource revolution in line with the principles of the circular economy, which aims to conserve natural resources, he said. 
The company organised the “Circular Living Symposium 2019: Upcycling Our Planet” in partnership with National Geographic, a global non-profit organisation committed to exploring and protecting the planet, to share ideas that contribute to a better future for the world through the principles of the circular economy and by adopting GC’s circular living lifestyle. 
Many leading domestic and international thinkers and experts shared their insights and ideas at the symposium. It also offered opportunities to network with partners from diverse sectors to truly develop a circular economy in line with the Thai government’s policy.
“GC’s internal and external operational practices have applied the principles of the circular economy to optimise resource efficiency,” said Supattanapong. “For example, we are committed to waste management by following the 5Rs throughout our organisation, which are: reduce, reuse, recycle, renewable, and refuse.”
He said GC is also developing bioplastics, a material that is biodegradable and an alternative to single-use plastics, as part of a strategy to end the production of single-use plastic resins within five years, by 2024.
This coincides with GC’s increasing cooperation with several partners to implement effective waste management approaches through several projects and activities. They include “Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand” project in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Ecoalf Foundation, in which a collection of fashionable products were made from upcycled plastic waste collected from the seas around Thailand. The project was important in demonstrating how recycled materials could go through the upcycling process to create value-added products. GC also set up a joint venture with Sarn Palung Social Enterprise Co Ltd to launch the “Upcycling SE” project, which works with communities to conduct effective waste management by transforming recycled plastic bottles using innovative technology to produce value-added fashionable products for sale under the “Upcycling by GC” trademark.
“In addition, GC is focused on developing suitable plastic packaging, along with its proper use and management, as well as reuse in line with the principles of the circular economy to ensure maximum benefits. GC is seeking a variety of partners to research and produce integrated quality circular plastic resin,” Supattanapong said. 
GC has been working with ALPLA, a global expert in the development and production of food-grade plastic packaging solutions, to conduct a study on joint investing in the first high-quality circular plastic recycling plant in Thailand, including materials, namely rPET and rHDPE. “We will review the results of the study to make the final investment decision in the third quarter of this year,” added Supattanapong.
Bernd Wachter, regional managing director of ALPLA Southeast Asia, said, ALPLA has been “a world leader in the development and production of plastic packaging solutions” over the past 60 years, with operations in 176 manufacturing locations worldwide across 45 countries including Thailand. He said the company is expanding its business to PET recycling. “With our considerable experience and advanced technology, ALPLA will support GC’s integrated plastic recycling plant, which will have the capability to produce quality recycled plastic resin and will serve as a model for the country and region.”
GC wants everyone to take part in protecting the environment by adopting a circular living lifestyle that supports the efficient use of resources, Supattanapong said. “This can easily be done by reducing and separating waste, as well as maximising the use of plastic by reusing, recycling, and upcycling through creativity and innovation, and also choosing eco-friendly products,” he added.

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