Bangkok Bank introduces the “Bualuang Save the Earth: Rak Tha Chin” project with measures to reduce waste in the Tha Chin River before it flows into the sea by preparing to deploy litter traps as well as planning waste management for waterfront communities along the Mahachai Canal. The bank is focusing on comprehensive solutions for problems, increasing participation, and generating income for the community. In the spirit of cooperation between the public and private sectors, the bank is working to support the management of marine debris with concrete and sustainable solutions, and it aims to further promote the project as “a trusted partner and reliable close friend” to encourage widespread awareness of environmental and energy conservation.
Bangkok Bank Director and Senior Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary Mr. Kobsak Pootrakool said that on the occasion of the World Oceans Day 2023, Bangkok Bank introduces the “Bualuang Save the Earth: Rak Tha Chin” project; targeting reducing and managing waste in the Tha Chin River in a concrete way as Tha Chin is one of the five main rivers which provides a route for waste to flow into the sea through an estuary. In the first phrase, the bank will deploy litter traps (Boom) in the communities along the Mahachai Canal which is a tributary of the Tha Chin River where the water will converge and flow to the Gulf of Thailand.
The project is a combined effort between various government agencies and companies that have signed an agreement on “Cooperation on Marine Debris Management at Estuaries”. These are the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Pollution Control Department, the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion and the Office of the Public Sector Development, the office of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Association of Thai Listed Companies, together with five private sector companies that are participating in the project during the pilot phase. The parties have been assigned responsibilities to look after five main rivers over a 5-year timeframe from the date of signing on June 8, 2022 in Phuket.
Besides the installation of the booms in the first phrase which will be during July – December 2023, the working team is now studying and preparing for the second phrase; waste management for riverside communities which is another major cause of litter as 80% of marine debris comes from land and 20% from the sea. Therefore, the project emphasizes thorough waste management from the origin to the destination, which is at the heart of the project. At the same time, the bank also places importance on integrated participation between communities, government and the private sector on waste management in the area to efficiently and sustainably resolve the issue as well as to create income for the communities so they can be self-reliant in the long term.
Mr. Kobsak said that environmental issues are a shared responsibility between all sectors in society. There is no one-time fix as it needs continuous effort and data collection for improving the action plan. This is a great opportunity for Bangkok Bank, as we intend to take part in solving marine waste problems. The bank would also like to invite everyone to join and work together with the hope to reduce marine debris and its effects on the ecosystem, benefiting local people and broader society. The focus on waste management will be recycling, decreasing the usage of resources, and adding more economic value. This is a sustainable solution, in line with Bangkok Bank’s policies on driving sustainable development on environment, social and governance.
“Under the Bualuang Save the Earth project, we have various activities that benefit and lead to lower energy and resources usage, generation of trash and greenhouse gases. The bank can leverage those activities by communicating via the bank’s channels to promote and create awareness on environment and energy conservation to staff, as well as customers, partners and the general public. It is another role of "a trusted partner and reliable close friend" to always provide useful information and support on environment and energy conservation which is an essential part of the country’s sustainable development” Mr. Kobsak said.
Mr. Kobsak also led the executives and staff of Bangkok Bank to participate in activities at the World Seas Day 2023 organized by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment under the theme “Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing” on June 8, 2023. The bank joined both the event at the center stage at Muang district in Rayong province, where the event was chaired by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Warawut Silpa-archa, and the one at Muang District in Samut Sakhon province chaired by Mr. Awut Wichianchai, Deputy Governor of Samut Sakhon province, along with local government agencies, NGOs and members of the public, to raise public awareness about problems from garbage being dumped into water and flowing into the sea leading to marine animals being injured and killed. Some of the waste decomposes into microplastics that can contaminate the food chain, which is dangerous to human health and some garbage is washed back ashore by the waves spoiling the scenery and affecting tourism.