Thailand plans to develop bio plastics industry

15 June 2007 08:48  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Thailand has plans to build a fully integrated bio plastic raw material industry and the government will be pushing such a development over the next five years, an official with the local plastics industry association said on Friday.

 

“The National Innovation Agency (NIA) will be promoting the development of bio plastics production and application technology, and awareness during this period,” chairman of the Plastic Industry Club of the Federation of Thai Industries, Somsak Borrisuttanakul, said.

 

Discussions with the private sector had already started and measures to be taken to encourage local companies to invest in bio plastics might include tax incentives, he added.

 

“There is growing pressure on retailers and brand owners to adopt greener packaging strategies,” he said, noting that Thai consumers were increasingly environmentally conscious.

 

High raw material costs had also lead to an increasing demand for recycled material, he said.

 

Thailand is an emerging major polyolefins exporter, with capacity expected to increase to 4.5m tonnes by 2010, 44% higher than now, while local consumption is forecast to increase by about 25% to 2.5m tonnes during the same period.

 

Major producers in Thailand are PTT Chemical, Siam Cement, HMC Polymers and IRPC.

 

The Plastic Industry Club has over 160 members consisting of plastics converters, raw material producers, tooling and machinery manufacturers. The NIA, established by the Ministry of Science and Technology, was set up to enhance Thailand’s economic and social development.

 

 

By: Chow Bee Lin
+65 6780 4359

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