Aiming to increase awareness of proper waste management in communities, Suntory Beverage & Food Thailand arranged a training session at Anuban Wat Klang Don Muang Chonburi School to educate the next generation on how to sort waste and used packaging for recycling.
Focusing on sustainability, the company has demonstrated its dedication to the environment through the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) policy, which considers the entire product lifecycle in its partnership with PackBack network and the Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE) to support Thailand's Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model within circular economy (CE) framework.
For example, the eco-friendly gift hampers are made from 100% recyclable post-consumer recycled (PCR) and post-industrial resin (PIR) plastics for their handles and display stands. The hampers and their components are also reusable. Meanwhile, Brand's bottles are thinner and less plastic is used in the gift sets in favour of more paper-based packaging.
"As the producer of Brand's products that are packaged in glass bottles, classified as high value packaging in terms of recycling, we wish to promote material returns, build awareness and provide the know-how about management of packaging waste," said Mathuvalee Stithyudhakarn, director of regulatory affairs and corporate affairs at Suntory Beverage and Food, Thailand and Indochina.
The company is promoting the return of post-consumer packaging through the PackBack project, which increases the circularity of packaging materials in the manufacturing industry. It focuses on the entire material returns route. Teachers and students will receive training on "Sorting Waste And Used Packages For Recycling" for schools intending to set up a waste bank.
"We are educating lead teachers and student work groups of school-based waste banks in Chon Buri by holding a training event on 'Sorting Waste And Used Packages For Recycling'. It will equip them with useful knowledge and everyday tips on aspects like the current situation of waste problems and how to sort used packaging for recycling. Moreover, we will provide recycling bins to schools to help build awareness and habits of students and teachers in proper waste sorting for recycling," Mathuvalee added.
Duangsamorn Rawootkul, director of Anuban Wat Klang Don Muang Chonburi School said: "Waste management is a major issue in Chon Buri. The PackBack project helps educate the schoolchildren and build their awareness about the need for waste sorting. The knowledge will be a guideline for them to make wider impacts by sharing it with other kids.
"They will appreciate the value of waste and learn about the environment, saving and responsibility. Our school will this year start off our project with club activities before expanding them gradually to classrooms, showing them the benefits of waste sorting to pave the way for a change of habit towards more tangible and sustainable waste management."
