Indorama Ventures and BMA celebrate the success of the “Sustainable Plastic Waste Management Project Year 2”

• November 12, 2024

The project encourages students, teachers, and communities across Bangkok to understand the principles of waste separation and PET recycling. The project reached 21,500 participants in 2023-2024, achieving its mission of fostering comprehensive environmental awareness in the city.

At the closing ceremony, 108 BMA schools were honored with Plastic Waste Management Model School Awards for their efforts in systematic waste management. The awards were categorized into three levels: 29 schools earned the Excellent Award, 31 schools received the Outstanding Award, and 48 schools were recognized with the Qualified Award. Additionally, 20 outstanding teachers and 24 model students were acknowledged for their contributions. These awards highlight the project's success in inspiring and embedding sustainable practices within educational institutions.

The awards were based on participation in six activities, which showcased meaningful progress in environmental education and sustainable PET management:

1. Sustainable waste management and PET recycling education roadshows – Conducted across 100 schools under the BMA, involving 9,898 teachers and students, this activity helped students grasp environmental issues and the importance of effective waste management, empowering them to incorporate these practices into their daily lives.
2. Development of Teacher’s Manual – Co-developed with experienced teachers and verified by education experts, to apply in plastic waste management lesson plans, improving teaching efficiency and school waste management. The nine manuals are aimed at three education levels including lower-primary school level (Grades 1-3), upper-primary school level (Grades 4-6), and lower-secondary school level (Grades 7-9).
3. PET Youth Camp – A two-day intensive camp about PET management for youth engaged 40 students from 20 schools, blending activities with fundamental environmental practices and providing participants with leadership development and hands-on experience in sustainability. The camp saw 24 students from 12 schools receiving the PET Youth Award.
4. PET Train the Trainers – A workshop equipped 40 teachers from 20 schools with essential skills and resources to improve teaching efficiency and elevate school waste management, resulting in 20 teachers from 10 schools passing the assessment as model teachers.
5. Sustainable plastic waste management model school competition 2024 – Some 108 schools participated, with 29 schools receiving the Excellent award, 31 receiving the Outstanding award, and 48 schools receiving a Qualified award. This competition helped students and teachers to tangibly manage waste and PET recycling in their schools.
6. Waste drop point installation to promote waste sorting – Encouraging participation in schools and communities and driving PET recycling in line with the circular economy principle. The program provided equipment for drop point installation and facilitated waste collection to the following 5 schools:
1. Wat Khum Thong School, Lat Krabang district
2. Lat Krabang School, Lat Krabang district
3. Surao Thap Chang School, Prawet district
4. Hua Mak School, Suan Luang district
5. Wat Praya Pla School, Nong Chok district

Mr. Pornphrom Vikitsreth, Advisor to the Bangkok Governor and Chief Sustainability Officer, BMA, stated, “Waste management requires collaboration across all sectors, from local communities to national and global levels. Raising awareness about proper waste management is essential, and we are committed to equipping teachers, students, and parents with the knowledge to handle waste responsibly. Waste is a significant issue that demands large budgets for management. Proper waste separation from the source—whether in schools, households, or communities—can significantly alleviate this challenge. We thank Indorama Ventures for being a valuable partner in managing waste and promoting environmental stewardship within Bangkok schools. We commend the efforts of all educators and organizers involved in this impactful project. We hope participants will extend their knowledge to others for a broader positive impact.”

Mrs. Aradhana Lohia Sharma, Vice President at Indorama Ventures, said, “This project exemplifies the transformative power of education in building a sustainable future. We are proud to see Bangkok’s youth and educators actively driving positive change, underscoring the significance of proper waste segregation at the source, which enhances recycling efficiency. This initiative aligns with our long-term vision to nurture sustainable behaviors within society and achieve tangible, measurable results.”

The Sustainable Plastic Waste Management Project promotes responsible waste management towards the circular economy, with a focus on PET bottles. This project builds understanding of the different types of plastic waste and waste separation among educators, teachers, students, and the public. This aligns with Indorama Ventures’ corporate social responsibility strategy to expand knowledge of waste sorting and PET recycling. Since the launch of the company’s first recycling education project in 2018, Indorama Ventures is committed to educate 1 million people worldwide about PET recycling by 2030.