AMATA-SCG-Dow to Launch the First Recycled Plastic Roads in Industrial Estate

AMATA Corporation Public Company Limited, Chemicals Business of Siam Cement Group (SCG) and Dow Thailand Group recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop the first recycled plastic roads in Thailand, at Amata City Chonburi industrial estate.

Bangkok, 4 October 2018 - AMATA Corporation Public Company Limited, Chemicals Business of Siam Cement Group (SCG) and Dow Thailand Group recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop the first recycled plastic roads in Thailand.

The roads will be developed for AMATA Smart City Chonburi in a pilot project that creates new value for plastic waste and advances a circular economy. The project offers opportunities to increase the durability of asphalt roads while reducing the amount of plastic waste in the industrial estate. AMATA Smart City Chonburi will have the first roads made out of recycled plastic in Thailand.

Currently, there is more than 1.5 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste in Thailand. Some of that waste ends up as marine debris and eventually as micro plastic in our oceans seriously impacting the environment. The partnership between the three organizations will serve as a model of how organizations can collaborate to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment, advance a circular economy and create value for plastic waste. A total of 1.5 tons of recycled plastics in Amata Industrial Estate will be converted to roads that stretch 2,600 square meters, equivalent to approximately 100,000 plastic bags.

The construction of the plastic asphalt road is expected to be completed by 2019.

Chulalongkorn University recently conducted a trial comparing asphalt roads made of recycled plastics with standard asphalt roads. The research stated that the asphalt plastic roads are 15-33 percent more durable and lead to six percent higher skid resistance.

Mr. Vikrom Kromadit, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Amata Corporation PCL said, “The designated partnership between AMATA, SCG and Dow is aimed at creating a sustainable business environment by turning recycled plastics into asphalt roads at Amata City Chonburi as Thailand’s first Smart City. Apart from its durability, the plastic roads also mean a valuable solution for plastic waste and a chance to enhance circular economy which results in reduction of environmental impact for Thailand.

The asphalt plastic roads will be constructed over an area Amata City Chonburi namely. Plastic road development is part of the Smart City Project to create smart environment in alignment with the government’s policy in developing smart city in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). We are proud to announce that this project will launch the first recycled plastic road in industrial estate in Thailand, which turns practice into reality and we continue to expand it to other area in the future” Mr. Vikrom added.

Mr. Cholanat Yanaranop, President of Chemicals Business, SCG Chemicals said “The circular economy is a way towards sustainable development that focuses on optimizing resources, therefore, maximizing its utilization to their fullest potential efficiently. To make the circular economy a reality, the key is collaborations of all sectors involving the government, private sector, and civil society. This collaboration between AMATA - SCG - DOW is the beginning of establishing strong partners who share the same vision. SCG is committed to becoming a driving force of the project and further promoting cooperative networks to other sectors in the future which will be other sustainable solutions of plastic waste reduction.”

“Dow previously succeeded in developing more than 40 kilometers of asphalt roads containing recycled plastics in India and Indonesia resulting in sustainable solutions to plastic waste,” said Mr. Chatchai Luanpolcharoenchai, President of Dow Thailand Group. “In addition to creating sustainable solutions, plastic roads have more stability, durability and impermeability. Close collaboration between the three partners will lead to new innovation for recycle plastics that provides tangible benefits to communities in Thailand.”

About AMATA Corporation Public Company Limited
Established in 1989, Amata is World’s leading industrial city developer. The company's headquarters are in Bangkok, Thailand and its Chief Executive Officer is Vikrom Kromadit. The parent company, Amata Corporation Public Company Ltd has been listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) since 1997. Amata is the largest listed conglomerate in the industrial estate sector of Stock Exchange of Thailand; it has built a strong regional platform which serves a global client of close to 1,200 customers. Amata has embraced a 'POSSIBILITIES HAPPEN' developer concept since 1989. Amata’s two industrial estates in Thailand, Amata City Chonburi (Amata Nakorn, previously) and Amata City Rayong are situated in the nation’s Eastern Seaboard region, an area the World Bank views as one of Asia’s most successful large-scale industrial developments.

About Chemicals Business, SCG
Chemicals Business, SCG, is one of the largest integrated petrochemical companies in Thailand and a key industry leader in Asia offers a full range of petrochemical products ranging from upstream production of olefins to downstream production of 3 main plastics resins; polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride. To better serve customers’ requirements, SCG assigns prime importance to the development of new technology and innovation for
the creation of high value-added products (HVA) and service solutions.

About Dow Thailand Group
Consisting of Companies of Dow Chemical Thailand and the SCG-Dow Group, Dow Thailand Group, the leading science group of companies in Thailand, is the largest manufacturing base of Dow Chemical in the Asia-Pacific region and a leading importer of chemical products for diverse industries in Thailand, such as packaging, transportation, infrastructure, automotive, medical and consumer care. The group is committed to developing science-driven innovations and strives to form effective collaborations and networks to bring about sustainability for its business as well as society.