Leading industrial conglomerates have agreed to make Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate acceptable among the surrounding communities by turning it into an eco-industrial town by 2018, say members of the Community Partnership Association (CPA).
The members also vow to become a model for industrial zones nationwide as the next step.
CPA was founded by PTT Group, SCG, BLCP Power, Dow Thailand and Glow Group to develop eco-friendly industrial works and provide mutual cooperation.
Regulations are under development with the Federation of Thai Industries and the Industrial Works Department to govern raw materials use, energy use, logistics management and green supply chains.
"In the last five years, PTT Group has laid a green roadmap that consists of manufacturing processes and finished products," said Pailin Chuchottaworn, president and chief executive of PTT.
As a state enterprise, PTT has an obligation to promote environmental awareness in the area, Mr Pailin said.
Chanin Vongkusolkit, chief executive of BLCP parent Banpu, said BLCP's coal-fired plant had run for eight years and maintained a good environmental record through technology and use of high-quality coal.
"The company also cooperates with the community and discloses information to the public to remain transparent," he said.
SCG chief executive Kan Trakulhoon said his company's Map Ta Phut chemical facilities were energy-efficient and made use of recycled raw materials.
In 2013, 26% of SCG's 112 billion baht in sales came from eco-value products.
"By either 2015 or 2016, SCG intends to have eco-value products account for one-third of all SCG products," Mr Kan said.
He said sales growth in Asean and China continued to offset weak sales in Thailand.
In the first half of 2014, Asean accounted for 21% of all sales for SCG. The company is keeping its full-year sales projection at 480 billion baht.
"The government has begun spending, but domestic demand will depend on how the government stimulates the economy," Mr Kan said.