Covestro Partners with SWU Launching ‘Green Team’ under “Hands For A Brighter World X SWU” campaign to Drive for Zero Waste Initiatives And Be a Role Model for Bangkok’s Asoke Area
Covestro (Thailand) Company Limited, a global leader in polymer materials, in collaboration with Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) and Less Plastic Thailand, has organised a social initiative through the campaign “Hands for a Brighter World X SWU”. The campaign aims to promote efficient plastic waste management in universities, support the circular economy concept, and help turn the Asoke area into one of a model zone for waste management in Bangkok.
The issue of global plastic waste has become a growing concern. According to statistics from 2021, Thailand ranked 5th among the top 10 countries contributing to marine plastic debris, with approximately 22.8 million kilograms of waste. India topped the list with 126.5 million kilograms, followed by China with 70.7 million kilograms. Thailand has implemented policies promoting the circular economy as a guiding principal for businesses and all sectors to push the nation towards an environmentally friendly and sustainable economic system.
Realising the importance of environmental conservation and committed to fostering sustainable development in line with national policies and organisational strategies, Covestro (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has partnered with Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) and Less Plastic Thailand to launch the “Hands For A Brighter World X SWU” campaign. The campaign’s primary objective is to raise awareness and promote actionable steps, fostering collaboration across the stakeholders in the value chain for efficient waste management. The main activities include;
- Establishing “Green Teams” across the university to engage the student community in defining waste management plans, initiating source-separation of waste, and disseminating knowledge to influence behavioural change within the university and the Asoke area.
- Provide waste-separation equipments to the university. For this initiative, four waste sorting stations were donated to the university to be installed and utilised across various locations.
- Building a collaborative network with entities in the value chain sharing similar objectives, including the ‘Less Plastic Thailand and Recycle Day’ These collaborations focus on knowledge-sharing activities and engaging students and university staff to emphasise the importance of proper waste segregation. This step is vital to reintroducing plastic waste into a beneficial cycle, aligning with the circular economy concept.
- Offering opportunities for the general public, especially the Asoke community, to participate by accepting recyclable waste donations. This initiative follows the circular economy principles and will take place on 14th September 2023.
Dr. Timo Slawinski, Managing Director of Covestro (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said, “With the mission of Covestro to promote innovation and growth with profitable products and technologies that are also beneficial to society and reduce environmental impact, we strive to deliver value and sustainability for future generations. We are committed to the organisational vision of being ‘fully circular’. This activity aligns well with the vision and objectives of the ‘Hands For A Brighter World’ project by Covestro.”
Asst. Prof Dr. Nittalin Phunapai, Assistant to President for Student Development of Srinakharinwirot University, stated, “SWU has implemented projects aimed at improving overall well-being through the Asoke Model project, which encompasses various aspects. Waste management constitutes a crucial component of enhancing both social and environmental well-being. Over the past two years, the university has been diligently pursuing ambitious operational goals, anticipating successful outcomes. We are delighted to collaborate with all stakeholders, made possible by the generous support from Covestro. This collaboration involves the orchestration of educational activities to raise awareness among students and staff, as well as the provision of equipment to facilitate efficient waste separation at SWU. Additionally, it extends opportunities for individuals interested in contributing by donating recyclable waste. Our aspiration is that this collaborative effort will not only aid SWU but also propel the Asoke area towards becoming a model for waste management within inner Bangkok.”
“The ‘Hands For A Brighter World’ project is one of Covestro’s social activities to address plastic waste issues and support giving value back to plastics waste. It aims to foster long-term sustainability in society, focusing on expanding collaborations with partners with similar objectives, such as SWU and ‘Less Plastic Thailand.’ Collaborations from various sectors to join hands are key in making the world a brighter place, in line with the project’s concept idea,” added Ms. Khawissara Wattanapisit, Head of Communications ASEAN, Covestro (Thailand) Co,. Ltd.
Source: Midas PR
