Wasting no words

Life speaks to people from various professions on how they are adjusting to an eco-friendly lifestyle

Game changer

Eco designer and actor Pipat "Top" Apiruktanakorn does whatever he can to be environmental-friendly, but it's impossible to do it 24/7.

"I don't want to create any rubbish, so I carry a water container, a food carrier, cloth tote bags and a handkerchief with me. Nonetheless, when I buy a lot of stuff or hot food, I still sometimes need to use plastic bags. Generally, I say no to straws, but I sometimes forget to bring one, so I can't avoid it when I drink a smoothie or bubble tea. When I get plastic containers, I try to reuse them. If there is a container or a straw I can't reuse, I separate them from other kinds of rubbish and expect that they will be disposed of appropriately," he said.

Pipat, founder and owner of social enterprise Kid Kid, also said he sometimes rides a bicycle when he can. However, he doesn't think it is a good idea to do so amid the current air pollution crisis.

"My health is the priority. Being eco-friendly shouldn't be too extreme, to the point where we want to give it up," he explained.

Pipat has turned the campaign against single-use plastics into a game app, Ecolife, which he launched in 2018. The app allows players to collect land and characters. Players who decline single-use plastic bags at shops in partnership with Ecolife can earn points through QR Codes. These points can be used to get discounts on items such as Major Cineplex tickets.

"The application aims to encourage people to stop using single-use plastics. About 50,000 have downloaded it so far, leading to a reduction of almost a million pieces of single-use plastic," he said.

In the future, Pipat plans to launch another eco app.

"We will work with large companies with lots of employees. Each company will promote their own campaigns and use our application. I'm glad that it's becoming a trend and more people are saying no to plastic bags. I hope the government introduces a law to support this, so we can have proper waste management and a better environment in the future."

-- Suwitcha Chaiyong

Second hand wisdom

Inside a two-storey shophouse on At Narong Road in Klong Toey, a middle-aged mother is helping her 20-year-old daughter sort through a large pile of used clothes. Then the front door opens and in walks a Japanese man holding a sports bag. He unzips the bag and unloads its contents -- trousers, shirts and T-shirts all clean and neatly folded -- into a provided basket. These clothes will too be sorted at the end of the day into piles of clothing. The next day, they will be ready for sale.

The shop, Second Chance Bangkok, may look like your typical second-hand outlet, but the difference is in the objective. Second Chance Bangkok's aim is to improve the lives of people, especially children, living in Klong Toey slum.

Second Chance Bangkok was founded in 2009 as a project by the Foundation of Urban Neighbours of Hope. It was initiated by Australian missionary couple Chris and Jodie MacCartney after they moved to Bangkok with their daughters in 2007. They have lived in the slum community ever since.

In the early years, they received second-hand goods from many people, especially expats who were about to leave the country, said Second Chance Bangkok general manager Hachaya Tookohplook. By word of mouth, the team quickly found their stockroom full of donated stuff. "[The items] were piled up to the ceiling," recalled Hachaya.

They decided to rent the shophouse, offering the goods at a minimum price, starting at 5 baht for a pair of socks or 20 baht for a shirt. Second Chance Bangkok accepts all kinds of goods that are in good condition and function properly, no matter how small or big they are: toys, coffee mugs, shoes, luggage, electronic products, home furniture, mattresses.

They even offer a scheduled pickup service for big loads. Takings are used to cover operating costs, contribute to the education of local children and support those in need in the slum. They also employ people from the community to run the shop and a group of women to create new products from unwanted textiles, especially denim.

"Upcycled Wares" is the title of this women's project. Its members use their sewing skills to create cute dolls, sling bags, cat pencil cases, wallets, elephant key chains or alphabet banners. They can produce made-to-order products, some of which are exported.

The team at Second Chance Bangkok organise workshops in schools and charity events to promote reducing, reusing and recycling. For example, they teach kids how to make cotton bags out of old T-shirts.

"We hope that people will not just throw away things they don't want, because they can be useful for others. These unwanted things deserve the second chance," Hachaya said.

-- Karnjana Karnjanatawe

 

Luxury sustainability

In the wake of the ban on single-use plastics, hotels in Bangkok have stepped up their sustainability practices. One example is The Sukhothai Bangkok led by executive chef Asker Skaarup Bay.

"With regard to reducing plastic in our kitchen, we have purchased Gastronorm stainless steel containers and lids to replace plastic bags and plastic containers to store food produce. All our garbage is separated, from plastic, paper/carton and metal cans to glass bottles, and they are sold to recycling companies to produce new recycled packaging.

"Food waste is sold to fish and pig farms. However, we are purchasing a compost machine and will compost all our biodegradable packaging and food waste, which will be utilised as fertilisers in all the green areas at The Sukhothai Bangkok. What is left will be sold to others in need of natural fertiliser.

"Another project we started is to reduce and avoid cling film as much as we can, using 100% handmade organic cotton, pure certified beeswax wraps, organic coconut oil and golden tree resin. I would like to highlight the beeswax wraps in particular. They are a good plastic wrap alternative, used to cover salads, fruits, vegetables and much more. The material is adjustable to different shapes to form a tight seal. They're also reusable so you can wash them like you do your dishes, with lukewarm water and use them for up to two years with proper care. We use Superbee Beeswax Wraps.

"In my personal life, I don't cook at home except for when I am trying to cook a new recipe. I only have coffee and tea at home. In general, I avoid using plastic bags."

Meanwhile, the Accor group has committed to the global elimination of single-use plastics in guest experience by 2022. The hotel group has joined the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, led by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to remove all single-use plastic in guest experience from its hotels by the end of 2022. This action is a significant step forward for the global hospitality industry and for the group.

"We are aware of the significant impact we have on our planet and our responsibility to create tangible benefits for our employees, guests, suppliers, partners and host communities," said Sébastien Bazin, chairman & CEO, Accor. "What guides us is the consciousness and social awareness that drives every person who strives to be a good citizen. It's about being aware, socially conscious and consistent."

In addition to phasing out all plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, the new commitment includes the removal of individual plastic toiletry amenities and cups, and the replacing all remaining single-use plastic items in guestrooms, meeting areas, restaurants and all leisure activities areas with sustainable alternatives.

-- Nianne-Lynn Hendricks

Refill your boots

A small refill station at Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, paved the way for a staff member to reduce plastic.

Pimpicha Thonwienngchan is the supervisor at Term Tem Refill Shoppe, a bulk shop where customers can refill their empty shampoo, detergent and shower gel bottles.

Term Tem Refill Shoppe opened in August last year with the purpose of promoting a zero-waste lifestyle among Thammasat students.

Before working for the shop, Pimpicha was unaware of the plastic waste problem. She never carried a cloth bag or a reusable food container. Her ambition to stop using plastic came when she read an article about plastic in the ocean.

"I needed to find content for the refill shop and I came across an article about marine animals dying because of plastic waste," she said. "I felt bad for the animals, so I decided to stop using single-use plastic bags."

She admits it can be difficult to totally avoid plastic, but she always carries eco-friendly items with her.

"I always carry with me a cloth bag, a stainless steel water bottle and a food container."

One way Pimpicha sustains her eco-friendly lifestyle is by not being afraid of saying no to plastic. "It is not a major problem for me to refuse plastic. When I do, most street vendors are actually really happy that they do not have to waste their resources."

Being the supervisor at the refill station motivates her to continue pursuing an eco-friendly lifestyle. Pimpicha has become a regular customer utilising all the services they have to offer.

"I use the refill services at the store every day, especially the snack section. I like to refill my container with goodies and bring them with me to the office."

The ban on single-use plastics at the beginning of January had no major effect on Pimpicha.

"It feels good that I started earlier, so it is not a drastic adjustment," she said with a smile.

Pimpicha hopes to be an inspiration to others with her ability to go without single-use plastic.

"I don't feel like I am better than other people because I have reduced my plastic waste, but I want to see more people like me," she concluded.

-- Ellen Deveaux

For more information about Second Chance Bangkok, visit scbkk.org or call 02-249-1921.