Bangkok--22 Nov--ABM
PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), a leading innovation and chemical company in Thailand, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Spain's ECOALF Foundation, is celebrating the success of the "Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand" project with the launch of the first collection of fashion items made from waste plastic bottles. The project, which promotes the optimum use of renewable resources under the concept of "Circular Living," is creating a new era for Thai industry by introducing the "Thailand Collection" for the very first time, offering high-quality fashion items upcycled from waste plastic bottles at affordable prices. All items will be sold officially at the Circular Living Festival event that takes place starting Friday, November 23, 2018, at Siam Discovery. Total proceeds from sales of the fashion items will be contributed to the Chaipattana Foundation with no deductions of expenses.
The "Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand" project was established in February 2017 as a collaboration involving GC, the TAT, and the ECOALF Foundation. The project received tremendous support from local residents and volunteers who collected plastic bottles and other plastic waste from the beaches and seas around Samet Island and Phuket. Twenty tons of plastic waste was collected over a 20-month period. Upcycling this waste into raw materials and applying creativity transformed it into the first collection of upcycled Thai fashion items, including T-shirts and a backpack made from PET plastic waste, as well as a tote bag made from polyethylene plastic waste.
Mr. Supattanapong Punmeechaow, President & Chief Executive Officer of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited, or GC, said, "Today, GC has uplifted Thai industry by upcycling plastic waste to the next level with the launch of the Thailand Collection under the 'Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand' project, a prototype for transforming waste plastic bottles from the seas around Thailand into fashionable items. The first lot gives Thais an opportunity to experience upcycled fashion items that offer high quality similar to other fashion items, available at affordable prices. The items in the Thailand Collection are perfect for unique New Year's gifts as they are made from upcycled plastic waste. We will present the proceeds from the sales of the products, without deducting any expenses, to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to support the Chaipattana Foundation's mission. I am confident the new Thailand Collection will inspire Thais to live their lives by following the Circular Living concept, using renewable resources in the most efficient way to preserve the environment and costal marine areas, ensuring their beauty for the young generation."
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said, "The TAT is very delighted to help drive the success of the 'Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand' project. The plastic bottles we collaborated to collect from beaches and by diving under the sea have successfully gone through the process to transform them into value-added items. This can be considered as a new era for Thai industry, since the project is a good role model to encourage preserving the environment and keeping Thailand's seas clean and beautiful. This will promote a positive image for the country while helping to develop a sustainable tourism industry that operates responsibly over the long term."
Mr. Javier Goyeneche, Founder and President of the ECOALF Foundation, said, "I am very happy that Thai people now have the opportunity to buy lifestyle fashion items that are upcycled from plastic waste bottles collected from the seas around Thailand and transformed into high-value clothing and bags with modern and stylish designs. These items are available for Thai consumers at affordable prices. ECOALF is ready to continuously support a new era for conserving the environment and picturesque oceans through the creation of eco-friendly fashion items that address today's consumer demands."
Mr. Patiparn Sukorndhaman, Chief Operating Officer - Downstream Petrochemical Business, PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited, or GC, added, "We are proud of the Thailand Collection, which is the result of the Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand project that enabled people to participate by collecting and segregating plastic waste. Everyone can now experience a variety of upcycled items made from plastic waste such as PET bottles collected from the sea, with quality equal to other fashion items. We will continue with this project as a campaign for waste management, accurately segregating plastic waste collected from tourist areas to contribute to livability for Thai society through the sustainable Circular Living concept."
The Thailand Collection uses advanced upcycling technology to transform waste plastic bottles into value-added fashion items. The process involves: 1) Collecting and segregating waste plastic bottles; 2) Shredding the plastic bottles into strands; 3) Spinning the strands into thread; 4) Weaving the thread into fabrics; and 5) Designing and making T-shirts and backpacks using the fabrics. From beginning to end, this process reflects the circular consumption of resources in a worthwhile manner that contributes to better living for Thai people.
The Thailand Collection starts with T-shirts made from 14 PET plastic bottles, available for children in sizes S to XXL for 249 baht, and for adults in sizes S to XXXL for 299 baht. The T-shirts come in three designs. Design1: Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand, was created by Spanish designer Javier Goyeneche to reflect the unwavering support of people who collect plastic waste to keep the seas clean and beautiful. Design 2: From Trash to Trashion, is inspired by the combination of the words 'Trash' and 'Fashion.' Design 3: Trash to Treasure, Designed by James Jirayu, is a special limited-edition T-shirt by the Prince of Recycling, James-Jirayu Tangsrisuk, who illustrates the 'From Trash to Treasure' concept using a drawing of an hourglass that reflects the transformation of plastic waste into value-added fashion items. The Thailand Collection also includes a backpack made from 14 PET plastic bottles, will soon be available. They will come in five colours at the Ecotopia Shop, 4th Floor, Siam Discovery, Patpat Shop, Sanarmsuepa branch, and on the Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand Facebook page.
James – Jirayu Tangsrisuk, who is nicknamed The Prince of Recycling, talked about his "Trash to Treasure" design concept, saying, "I think the plastic waste problem is very close to us, and everyone needs to help to solve it. I want to be a good role model to create awareness about collecting and accurately segregating waste, which enables the upcycling process to create new value-added items. This is why I decided to work on this project by designing a T-shirt for the collection, showing the Trash to Treasure concept using an hourglass. The upper part symbolizes our world today filled with plastic waste and pollution, and that if we don't take action to study it, we will never recognize the problem, while the bottom part of the hourglass symbolizes how we are finding solutions to this problem. If we recycle and transform plastic waste into value-added products, our world will be more livable. For those who still have no New Year's gift idea for their loved ones, I would like to invite you all to buy fashion items from the Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand project for charity, starting on Friday, November 23, 2018 at Siam Discovery. In addition to supporting the worthwhile circular consumption of resources, it is a great way to make merit for charity."
Experience the launch of the Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand project's Thailand Collection T-shirts and backpack made from upcycled waste plastic bottles. They will be officially available at the Circular Living Festival, which is being held under the Gifts for Circular Living concept. Event highlights include lighting up a Christmas tree and New Year's eco-friendly gift ideas from several leading eco shops. The event takes place on Friday, November 23, 2018, at Siam Discovery, from 17:00 hrs. to 19:00 hrs. James-Jirayu Tangsrisuk will reveal the inspiration behind the design of his limited-edition T-shirt, while Nana-Sawanya Paisarnpayak will join a runway fashion show to unveil the project's first T-shirt collection. All revenue from selling the upcycled items, with no expenses deducted, will be donated to the Chaipattana Foundation.