Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand is promoting the concept of bioeconomy,which encourages the use of renewable resources and waste products to makevalue-added products, to support the country’s ambitious plan to make Thailandthe biochemical industry hub of ASEAN by 2027.

Not only does a bioeconomy emphasise an environmentally friendly view ofeconomic development, it also promises healthy revenue for farmers and businessopportunities for plastics producers and other agricultural entrepreneurs.

ThePlastics Institute of Thailand (PITH) is forecasting bright prospects for theindustry next year, thanks to strong demand in segments such as food andbeverages, personal care and computers and electronics.

PITHpresident Veera Kwanloetchit believed the global plasticmarket, particularly the packaging segment, will expand next year as plasticpackaging and other plastic-based products have become an essential part of thedaily lives.

Plasticconsumption increases during the pandemic, and it seems in contrast to thecampaign against the plastic waste, he said.

Thegovernment launched a campaign to reduce plastic usage on January 1 this year, preventing shops fromhanding out single-use plastic bags to customers. But almost one year later,the demand for plastic beads, a raw material needed in various industries, hasincreased. An economic recovery will only intensify the demand for plastic,according to PITH.

Thailand is the largest producer of plastics in ASEAN. Factories, mostly based in the Map Ta Phut IndustrialEstate in Rayong, produce a range of plastic materials from polypropylene (PP)and polyethylene (PE) to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for domestic andoverseas sales. There are around 3,000 plastic conversion companies in thecountry.

The government has a policy to promote manufacturing processes that are morefriendly to the environment and, PITH believes, the plastics sector can followthis policy under the bioeconomy concept.

PITH, a state agency under the Industry Ministry, supports innovations thatwill put the Thai plastics industry on a path of sustainable growth.
One missionis to connect the development of plastics in tandem with the sugar industry.The government aims to support sugar cane farmers by increasing cane prices anddeveloping high value-added products, said Ekapat Wangsuwan, secretary-generalof the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB). The production of bioplasticsusing sugar offers a good deal of promise, he said.

Thailand isthe world’s fourth largest sugar producer and the second biggest exporterfollowing Brazil. Its sugar cane plantations cover 11.4 million rai in 47provinces of Thailand. There are 57 sugar mills in the country, with a capacityof 983,587 tonnes per day./.