Bangkok--31 Oct--ABM Connect
Sunlight Extends Its 'Plastic Revolution' to the New Generation to Support Environmental Sustainability and Launch Plastic Waste Art Exhibition by Students from Three Universities Proceeds from the Sales of the Limited Edition Sunlight will Support a Waste Management Project
Sunlight, by Unilever Thai Trading, has prioritized its 'Plastic Revolution' from origins by implementing its Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP). The company collaborated with student representatives from three universities who created art pieces made from plastic waste for the "Sunlight Go Green Art Exhibition," to inspire the younger generation on the need to protect the environment and create awareness about stopping or reducing the use of single-use plastics in their daily lives. Proceeds from the sales of every bottle will go to schools to support the waste reduction campaign.
Mr. Robert Candelino, CEO of Unilever Thai Group of Companies and Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, said, "Through 87 years of our operations, Unilever has been committed to offering the best products to Thai consumers while understanding the effects on the environment in every dimension. The plastic waste problem has become a global issue and therefore requires cooperation from every stakeholder. Tremendous efforts have been made by the government to tackle this complex issue through its Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management, and the recent Bangkok Declaration on combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Summit 2019."
"In 2010, Unilever introduced the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, our blueprint for sustainable growth, to improve the health and well-being of more than one billion people. One of the USLP's core components is to reduce environmental impacts. In addition, our 'Plastic Revolution' initiative is an important strategy leading to actively and sustainably reduce impacts to human lives and environment by 2025. Unilever's goal is to have 25% of our plastic packaging coming from post-consumer recycled materials (PCRs) and making 100% of our plastic packaging reusable, ready for recycling, and compostable by 2025. We will also halve our use of virgin plastic by using more recycled plastic and reducing our absolute use of plastic by over 100,000 tons. Furthermore, we will help collect and process more plastic packaging than we sell. Sunlight has already begun to shift to eco-friendly packaging and it is entirely possible that we will achieve our goal ahead of schedule, when compared with our global target."
The USLP comprises three main goals: 1) To improve the health and well-being of more than one billion people around the world; 2) To reduce environmental impacts resulting from the production and use of Unilever's products by half; and 3) To enhance the livelihoods of millions of people along with growing Unilever's businesses.
Mr. Ruechuphan Chookruvong, Marketing Manager Home & Hygiene, Unilever Thai Trading Co., Ltd. added, "Sunlight plans to change the packaging for every SKU to 100% PCR plastic by 2022, which is faster than Unilever's global target. Beginning in 2017, Sunlight launched a new packaging design, going from a round HDPE plastic bottle in an opaque yellow color which has been used for a longtime, to a clear quality PET plastic bottle. We will be able to reduce plastic use by 274 tons a year (equivalent to 26 million bottles of 150ml Sunlight). In early 2019, we developed a new packaging design made from 100% PCR plastic. This will help us to reduce plastic use by 551 tons each year, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 56%. By doing so, we are reducing environmental impacts from the origins, which will contribute to a more sustainable environment, business and planet."
The "Sunlight Go Green Art Exhibition" was created to raise awareness among consumers, especially the younger generation, about the importance of reducing, refraining or ending the use of single-use plastics and relying instead on recycled plastics, reusable packaging, as well as properly post-consumer waste management. Three university student representatives joined the project and created their art pieces under the theme "Plastic Alive," reflecting the perspectives of the younger generation towards plastic waste. The three art pieces are "Plastao" from Silpakorn University, in which the turtle's shell is the main object representing living things, while its body, made from plastic bottles, represents the plastic waste problem in our daily lives. The second piece is "Round Make" from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, which reflects the vicious circle of the overconsumption of resources by humans in which we are only hurting ourselves – resembling the egg-eating snake that continues to eat its own eggs until it dies. The last piece is "Hug" from Chulalongkorn University, which shows that bringing plastic into the recycling process is analogous to the rejuvenation of our planet, and no different from giving birth, highlighting a sense of innocence and giving life. In addition, Wongravee "Sky" Nateetorn, an actor representing the young generation and someone who loves the earth, also came to the exhibition to share his ideas on how to reduce-refrain-stop using single-use plastics.
Sunlight has also partnered with 7-11 launching Sunlight Limited Edition, with an eco-friendly design by students, which will inspire people to take care of our environment and planet. The winning label went to a student team from Chulalongkorn University which used yellow and marine blue as the main colors to communicate a natural theme, the need for marine environmental protection, and the hope for increased cooperation for a more sustainable planet. This reflects Sunlight's sincerity and commitment in supporting the environment. Hundreds of thousands of bottles of Sunlight Limited Edition will be sold in 7-11 stores nationwide. Proceeds from the sale of every bottle will go to Thapsakaewittaya School in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province to support promotional campaigns on plastic waste reduction in the school and community, and Sunlight will contribute an additional one baht for each bottle sold.
The artwork made from plastic waste showcased at the "Sunlight Go Green Art Exhibition" and the students' work was moved to a display at Unilever House on Rama 9 Road and can be viewed until 17 November. Afterwards, Sunlight will work together with Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand, to recycle the artwork into materials that will be made into robes for monks. The robes will be delivered to Wat Chak Daeng, Phra Pradaeng District in Samut Prakarn Province. This environmentally friendly process will help to reduce plastic waste while demonstrating how to more effectively use resources.