Plastic Campaign
In Thailand, plastic is a very serious environmental problem, but it is a problem that is only at the back of people’s minds. Here is an idea of the scale of the problem :
- A recent study found that Thailand is one of the top six countries polluting the oceans with plastic, together with five other countries in Asia. In the past ten years, Thailand has produced about a million tons of plastic waste every year. From that amount of garbage, not even half a ton has been reused or recycled annually.
- One of the most powerful stories connected to this plastic disaster took place right here in Thailand: a pilot whale died in Songkhla province in southern Thailand after eating 80 plastic bags weighing 17 pounds. The whale died after marine conservationists spent five days struggling to save it.
- In the last few years several large patches of plastic trash have been seen floating off the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Tourists have even encountered these garbage patches while snorkelling.
I am not a follower of the anti-plastic trend, nor am I against all plastic use. But I am very much against single-use plastic. We need a wake-up call about the plastic pollution problem which has become increasingly serious in recent years.
In Phetchaburi, I have been aware of plastic at markets, restaurants, cafés and supermarkets for years. People go about their day, eating, drinking and shopping, without thinking about the waste they produce. Do they really need all those plastic bags and containers? Most of them are unnecessary, but it’s just not on people’s minds.
I ask myself if this problem is the responsibility of each individual, or if shops, cafes and restaurants should take more responsibility. Some shopkeepers want to support their families’ businesses, which sell plastic products, so they buy plenty of plastic without thinking of the environment. Other shops understandably put their customers’ needs first. And customers these days want convenience at any cost. They don’t think about the effect on the environment.
So if we cannot expect businesses to prioritise the environment, we need to raise awareness among customers: if their priorities change, the businesses will adapt too
I am ready to take action against single-use plastic and I am proud to support the environment by giving a reusable tote bag to our customers. When you use this tote bag instead of taking a plastic bag, you’re sharing the message that we can make changes even just by changing our own habits
