Indorama Ventures Announces Completion of Sustainable Plastic Waste Management Project

The Sustainable Plastic Waste Management Project was launched in 2023 by Indorama Ventures and BMA, aiming to address the challenge of recyclable PET plastics being discarded with general waste. Its goal is to instill awareness of source waste segregation, develop waste management educational materials and school activities, promote the recycling of PET back into the production process, and establish a network of exemplary teachers and students. The program is built around four core activities.

Event 1: Education RoadshowThe roadshow provided training on waste classification and PET recycling to 9,695 teachers and students at 100 BMA schools. The program also distributed 480 copies of the "Correct Waste Classification Teaching Manual," which was co-authored and validated by expert educators to enhance waste management education. Nine manuals were created for primary, junior, and middle school levels, integrating circular economy principles into classroom teaching.

Activity 2: PET TrainerThe program has now entered its second year, training 40 teachers from 20 schools to enhance their skills, knowledge, and acquire effective school waste management teaching tools. Nine exemplary teachers from the first year also shared their experiences to inspire and guide new participants.

Activity 3: Model Schools and Teacher AwardsA total of 164 schools were recognized for their excellence in sustainable plastic waste management: 47 schools received the Excellence Award, 51 schools received the Outstanding Award, and 66 schools received the Qualified Award. Additionally, 14 second-grade model teachers from seven schools were commended, reflecting the project's success in inspiring sustainable educational practices.

Activity 4: PET Collection and Recycling- In collaboration with WasteBuy Delivery CO.LTD., WasteBuy Delivery is a provider of door-to-door garbage collection services through a comprehensive digital waste management platform, promoting the implementation of the BCG economy and ESG model. By 2025, the project aims to collect over 3.5 tons of PET bottles from participating schools, equivalent to a fully loaded six-wheeled truck, reducing landfill usage by more than 11 cubic meters. All bottles are sent to Indorama Ventures' recycling facility in Pathum Thani, where they are reprocessed according to the principles of the circular economy into recycled PET bottles, polyester fibers, and other products.

Mr. Pornphrom Vikitsreth, Advisor to the Governor of Bangkok and Chief Sustainability Officer of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), stated:Effective plastic waste management, especially for PET bottles, is a top priority for Bangkok. If properly sorted at the source, PET can be recycled into valuable new products, reducing landfill waste and advancing the city's "no mixed waste" policy. The program has now entered its third year and continues to achieve strong results—supporting circularity while empowering young people to develop innovative solutions to extend the lifecycle of PET. It reflects the BMA's commitment to building a more sustainable circular economy for Bangkok.。

Ms. Pissamai Rueangsil, Director of the Education Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), added:This year's project showcased the transformative power of education and collaboration. Teachers, students, and schools played a crucial role in translating knowledge into meaningful actions and fostering habits that contribute to building a cleaner and more sustainable Bangkok. We sincerely thank Indorama Ventures for their valuable partnership, as well as the dedicated educators and students who are working hard to shape a more sustainable future for our city."

Ms. Aradhana Lohia Sharma, Vice President of Finance and Wool Business at Indorama Ventures, stated:Indorama Ventures' long-term collaboration with BMA has helped make recycling not just a project-driven initiative but a familiar practice in schools, homes, and communities. This is the essence of shared value—enabling society to systematically manage waste while creating value by efficiently and continuously bringing PET bottles back into the recycling process. It is these collective benefits that make Indorama Ventures unwaveringly committed to the circular economy, further emphasized by our recycling of 150 billion post-consumer PET bottles since 2011.

The success of the third year of the sustainable plastic waste management project not only reflects the close collaboration between Indorama Ventures and BMA in advancing environmental education but also paves the way for further initiatives in the coming years, highlighting the mission of both organizations to support the circular economy.