RAYONG – 6 September 2023 - Jim Fitterling, Chair and CEO of Dow, inaugurated the Plastic Circularity Community Enterprise Material Recovery Facility (MRF), a pioneering initiative in Thailand located in Rayong province, where Dow's manufacturing operation is located. This MRF is the first of its kind in the country, established through cross-sector collaboration and operated as a community enterprise utilizing Thai innovations and technologies.
Partners in this collaborative effort include Dow Thailand, the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC), the Plastics Institute of Thailand, Ban Chang Subdistrict Municipality, Ban Chang District Office, and the Rayong Provincial Office.
The MRF will sort and enhance the quality of recyclable materials, preventing over 1,000 tons of post-use plastics and other materials from ending up in landfills each year. This initiative is set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,400 tons of CO2eq annually by returning these materials to the production stream.
"Dow believes that plastics are too valuable to be wasted. The carbon footprint of plastics is already lower than alternative materials. Increasing their circularity lowers it even further. Promoting a circular economy addresses both climate change and plastic waste," said Fitterling.
"We are certain that the MRF will provide significant benefits in three areas: the economy, the environment, and society," said Chatchai Luanpolcharoenchai, President of Dow Thailand. "Economically, it will create jobs, generate income for local communities, enhance the local authority's waste management system, and promote waste management awareness and environmental conservation among local communities. It will also serve as a learning model that can be replicated in other communities nationwide and in the region. It can also be considered a significant business opportunity through collaboration across a comprehensive value chain."
The Dow Business Impact Fund and PMUC have contributed a matching fund to establish the community enterprise MRF facility, which will be fully operated by the community in 2024. This MRF has involved people from all sectors, particularly community members, to drive long-term benefits and sustainable results efficiently.
