Innovations on show to help solve plastic pollution in Thailand
31 October 2023
On Tuesday 31 October in Bangkok, Thailand’s most promising environmental entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry experts came together to demonstrate solutions to reduce plastic waste as part of the Thailand Plastics Innovation Demonstration Day.
The “Demo Day” showcased six teams of entrepreneurs and their innovations and technologies to tackle plastic waste in Thailand, including solutions to prevent toxic ink in plastics and new ways to use 3D printing to transform plastic packaging.
These solutions and others are born out of Australia’s Mekong Plastics Innovation Alliance, under Australia’s Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network (IPPIN).
Demo Day marks the culmination of eight weeks’ intensive training through the IPPIN Accelerator program, where teams of entrepreneurs and researchers have been mentored to hone ideas and build market readiness.
Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Dr Angela Macdonald PSM, said IPPIN is an important regional program fostering innovation to curb plastic waste and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
“As part of the Mekong Australia Partnership, Australia recognises the urgency of the environmental challenges facing Thailand and the Mekong subregion, including plastic pollution, and is committed to working with the region to strengthen climate resilience,” remarked Ambassador Macdonald.
CSIRO Counsellor and Director Southeast Asia, Amelia Fyfield said the Mekong Plastics Innovation Alliance Demo Day forms part of CSIRO’s commitment to ensuring resilient and valuable environments for all.
“Through IPPIN, we’re proud to support entrepreneurs in Thailand to use science, technology, and innovation to drive the growth of new industries that create a cleaner future.”
Fostering circular economy solutions underpins the programs’ world-class training curriculum.
“The IPPIN program is giving Thai innovators the skills they need to realise circular economy opportunities to improve the entire life cycle of a product while supporting the plastics industry to lower greenhouse gas emissions,” said Ms Benjamas Chottong, a representative of Thailand’s Environment Institute.
Associate Professor Toemsak Srikhirin, Executive Director of National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency, said, “There is such a wealth of talent, drive and creativity here in Thailand and the wider Mekong, I cannot wait to see what kind of innovative solutions we’ll see taking shape to help Thailand’s journey towards reducing plastic waste.”
This work in supporting sustainable entrepreneurs’ forms part of CSIRO's Ending Plastic Waste Mission which aims to change the way we make, use, recycle and dispose of plastic.
Find out more about the Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation and meet the six teams.
Note to Editors
- The Mekong Plastics Innovation Alliance recognises that to achieve long-term, systemic change we must take a regional approach to tackling the problem of plastic waste. We currently run innovation programs in Thailand and Vietnam, with proto hubs in Cambodia and Laos.
- IPPIN is a global collective of researchers, innovators and investors who are redefining the life cycle of plastic from production to recycling. IPPIN focuses on using science, innovation, and technology to curb plastic waste. Through multi-sector partnerships, IPPIN is supporting entrepreneurs across the region to change plastic problems into profitable and sustainable solutions.
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