Industry leaders call for cooperation on BCG green goals

Thailand’s top industrialists have called for closer cross-industry cooperation to achieve the goal of building a bio, circular and green (BCG) economy, and cited recycled plastic roads as a prime example of paving a pathway to a more sustainable Thailand.

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) recently signed an agreement with 18 state agencies and private companies to promote and adhere to principles that advance the BCG economy.

“Thailand has the potential to adopt BCG, but it requires close cooperation from all sectors,” said Federation Chairman, Supant Mongkolsuthree.

Building bio and green economies are integral parts of Thailand 4.0, the 20-year National Strategy to propel the Kingdom to a higher development level through technology, innovation, and research and development. The circular economy is in line with those goals. It calls for wiser use of resources, reuse and recycling.

SCG, the Kingdom’s largest building materials company, has been championing the circular economy and has pioneered recycled plastic roads in Thailand.

To foster the cooperation the Federation is looking for, it has founded a three-way partnership to facilitate wider adoption of building roads with recycled plastics in the Kingdom. The FTI’s project for this unites government transport officials, university researchers and private companies.

Sarawut Songsivilai, Director-General of the Department of Highways, said the goal is to turn plastic waste into value-added materials for road construction and for the Department to use this method in building and repairing roads.

SCG worked with Dow, the United States chemical company, to develop a formula where recycled plastics are mixed with asphalt to pave road surfaces. The companies claim roads built with this formula are more durable, water-resistant, and safer to drive on.

Photo courtesy of https://www.nxpo.or.th/th/en/