Bangkok--4 Jun--Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited held a World Environment Day Exhibition on 4-5 June 2007 in support of World Environment Day. During the exhibition opening ceremony, the company received recognition for its various projects supporting energy and environmental awareness, with an award also for the exhibition. Flg. Off. Apinan Sumanaseni, President of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, and Mrs. Maneethip Srirattana Tabuganon, Director-General of the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, presided over the event at THAI’s Head Office.
Flg. Off. Apinan Sumanaseni, THAI’s President, said that THAI is an organization that has received international quality assurance, which readily supports projects that promote energy and environmental awareness. Various parts of THAI’s organization have established and implemented environmental policies with success, evident from awards that the company has received in the area of environmental conservation, including recognition for the following projects: “Biodiesel Project” conducted by THAI’s Catering Services unit, “Ground Support Equipment Repair for Environmental Friendliness Project” conducted by the Ground Support Equipment Services unit, “Organic Fertilizer Project” conducted by Management, “Waste Water Treatment Project” conducted by Technical Services unit, and “Wheel Suspension Project for Aviation Equipment,” whereby all projects were initiated to protect and reduce environmental impact, while utilizing available resources for maximum benefit. Details of these projects are as follows:
1. “Biodiesel Project” conducted by THAI’s Catering Services unit
THAI’s Catering Services unit recycles leftover vegetable oil from meal production to create energy resources for its “Biodiesel Project,” replacing diesel and creating alternative choices for THAI’s Catering Services unit. THAI’s Catering Services unit utilizes approximately 4,000 liters of recycled used vegetable oil from meal production to make biodiesel to create fuel oil for use with the hot water boiler and THAI’s Catering meal transport vehicle. This project will begin on 1 July 2007, with daily production. As a result, leftover vegetable oil will be recycled for productive use and most importantly the unit will successfully reduce purchase of diesel fuel, reduce carbon dioxide emission, and conserve the atmosphere and natural resources.
2. “Ground Support Equipment Repair for Environmental Friendliness Project” conducted by the Ground Support Equipment Services unit
THAI’s Ground Support Equipment Services unit provides services in the areas of baggage handling, product handling, and repair of ground support equipment. Ground support equipment repair is conducts on baggage handling equipment used between the airport and passenger terminal, which impacts the environment. Therefore, this project was initiated to decrease environmental impact created from repair of ground support equipment, for example reduction of emissions from diesel-operated vehicles, reduction of CFC into atmosphere layers through the emissions reduction system. CFC is not created naturally but results from industrial factories and everyday equipment such as air conditioners and sprays that destroy the ozone layer, increasing UV rays from sunrays on the earth’s surface and creating global warming, smoke suction system from soldering and cutting metal, spray paint ventilation system, noise pollution system from aircraft takeoffs and landings as well as equipment repair. These projects will aid in decreasing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere that results in the greenhouse effect and continuously supports environmental awareness.
3. “Organic Fertilizer Project” conducted by Management
The “Organic Fertilizer Project” was initiated by the company’s Management, recycling leftover scraps of food from the employee canteen and restaurant at THAI’s Operations Center for better value, whereby remaining vegetables and fruit peel was used to make organic fertilizer. This project aids in reducing amount of trash as well as decreases investment in chemicals that would otherwise be imported. In addition, the project reduces bad smell from trash, adjusts soil conditions, and does not damage the habitation system.
4. “Wheel Suspension Project for Aviation Equipment”
“Wheel suspension with equipment” replaces “wheel suspension with wood,” which was initiated by Mr. Supachai Chuklin, an employee under THAI’s Aircraft Services Department. This equipment is used on vehicle front and back wheels, as well as with equipment used the service the airport, in order to guard against accidents. The wheel suspension equipment was created from trash that would otherwise be thrown away, such as newspapers or magazines used onboard aircraft as well as leftover items such as soda cans, milk cartons, plastic bottles, which have been reused in order to create wheel suspension equipment instead of wheel suspension with wood. As the Ground Support Equipment Department requires wheel suspension with wood for approximately 100 vehicles, frequent use will result in wear and tear and use or recycled items instead of wood assists in decreasing trash and reduction of deforestation, as well a reduction of operational investment.
5. “Waste Water Treatment Project” conducted by Technical Services unit
This project concerns chemical waste water treatment and community waste water treatment. Chemical waste water treatment concerns treating water from the aircraft maintenance center workshop and ground support shop, with capability to separate oil from water. Waste water will be sent to the blending tank so that decomposition chemicals may solidify the contents and go into the precipitation tank. Waste water will thereafter be treated in the community waste water treatment system. As for community waste water treatment, waste water is collected from various buildings in addition to that of the aircraft maintenance center, in order for waste water to retain balanced value. Thenceforth, waste water will go to the air-filling tank, where microbes will break down organisms in the water and bacteria will grow in the form of suspendable matter that can filter in the precipitation tank that is in the same tank as the air-filling tank. Water released from the precipitation tank will flow into a water well before being pumped out and discarded into a drain with the New Bangkok International Airport Co., Ltd. (NBIA).
THAI has set up an exhibition on these projects that support energy and environmental conservation as well as a booth on eco-products from various companies that jointly promote environmental awareness, which is open to the public, in the Lobby, Ground Floor, Building 1, at THAI’s Head Office, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, during 4-5 June 2007, at 09.00 — 17.00 hrs.