BANGKOK, 17 July 2013 PTT Global Chemical Company Limited (PTTGC) has suggested the government promote the use of environmentally friendly materials in industrial segment while petrochemical producers plan to establish a bio-plastic factory next year, aiming at making the country an ASEAN hub for bio-plastic production.
CEO of the PTTGC Bavorn Wongsin-Udom stated that Thailand is ready for a leading role in green chemical production, saying that the nation has both agricultural supplies used as raw materials and readiness on the part of manufacturers who will make use of bio-plastic pellets in the production of degradable goods for use in daily life.
He said his company is currently conducting a feasibility study on its prospects to become supplier of bio-plastic pellets and to establish the first bio-plastic factory in the kingdom within this year. If successful, Thailand will also be the first bio-plastic producer in the ASEAN region.
Meanwhile, President of the Thai Bioplastics Industry Association, Pitak Veeratavorn, echoed Mr. Bavorn’s comment, saying that business operators in Thailand have become more adept with the idea of running an environmentally friendly operation.
Mr. Pitak said these business operators possess the equipment and the will to produce bio-plastics-based products, lacking only bio-plastics supplies.
He however mentioned that the cost of producing bio-plastics may be high and the current demand for it is only at 0.5% compared to the general plastics demand. Mr. Pitak added the growth of bio-plastics industry is only at 10%, compared to 20% in general plastics.
