กนอ. และ ส.อ.ท. เร่งส่งเสริมมาตรฐาน Eco Factory For Waste Processor ลดปัญหาการจัดการกากอุตสาหกรรมIEAT and FTI Accelerate Promotion of Eco Factory Standards for Waste Processors to Mitigate Industrial Waste Management Issues

On Friday, May 31, 2024, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) in collaboration with the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) organized a seminar titled “How to Move Sustainable Supply Chain: Mitigating Risks and Establishing Standards: How to Choose a Waste Processor” to exchange strategies in driving policies for selecting waste management operators who have been certified with the Eco Factory for Waste Processor standard. The event emphasized compliance with the Ministry of Industry's announcement regarding the management of waste or unusable materials of 2023 to prevent improper and inappropriate industrial waste management issues at Tharadol Room, Clubhouse Building, 3rd Floor, Summit Windmill Golf Suite Hotel, Suvarnabhumi.

The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) in collaboration with the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) organized a seminar titled “How to Move Sustainable Supply Chain: Mitigating Risks and Establishing Standards: How to Choose a Waste Processor” to exchange strategies in driving policies for selecting waste management operators who have been certified with the Eco Factory for Waste Processor standard. The event emphasized compliance with the Ministry of Industry's announcement regarding the management of waste or unusable materials of 2023 to prevent improper and inappropriate industrial waste management issues at Tharadol Room, Clubhouse Building, 3rd Floor, Summit Windmill Golf Suite Hotel, Suvarnabhumi.

Building upon the previous year of 2023, IEAT and FTI have joined forces to promote sustainable development alongside industrial business operators, including SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited, IRPC Public Company Limited, PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited, the Thai Cement Manufacturers Association, and 11 groups of industries under FTI who declared their intention to use waste management operators certified with the Eco Factory for Waste Processor standard to promote sustainable supply chain management. To further motivate the policy to expand among operators, the focus has been placed on reducing the risks associated with industrial waste management.

Dr. Buppha Kavinwasin, Deputy Governor for Sustainable Development of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, who presided over the opening of the event, stated, “As an agency primarily responsible for the establishment of industrial estates and overseeing operations and environmental safety management systems, with the vision of ‘Bringing Industrial Estates to International Standards through Sustainable Innovation’, we drive industrial estate development sustainably, emphasizing a balance between economic, social, and environmental aspects, as well as recognizing the importance of participation in addressing pollution issues potentially arising from the industrial sector while promoting business security. Moreover, under the WISH policy, IEAT aims to support enhancing competitiveness for operators and industries, considering relevant stakeholders and aligning with the MIND policy of the Ministry of Industry. Therefore, to incentivize operators to implement environmentally-friendly practices and seek certification for Eco Factory standards, IEAT has announced benefits/incentives for becoming an Eco Industry City for developers of industrial estates and operators within industrial estates, which will include reductions or exemptions on service fees specifically for land use and operation requests, along with non-tax benefits effective from November 1, 2022 to September 30, 2024, with applications for benefits submitted through the electronic approval system (e-Permission Privilege: e-PP) of IEAT.

Dr. Chana Poomi, Vice President of FTI and President of the Water and Environment Institute for Sustainability, clarified the purpose of the event, saying, “FTI emphasizes promoting and advocating the Eco Factory for Waste Processor standard to raise awareness through market mechanisms and collaboration among operators, fostering the exchange of strategies for driving the policy of selecting waste management services from operators certified with the Eco Factory for Waste Processor standard. This certification assures confidence in business operations, specifically directing towards tangible sustainable supply chain management development, while also underlining the importance of complying with the Ministry of Industry’s announcement regarding the management of waste or unusable materials of 2023 to reduce risks associated with industrial waste management.”
If waste generators (WG) comply with the policy of selecting services from waste processors (WP) certified with the Eco Factory for Waste Processor standard, it ensures that the respective waste processor complies with the law and is verifiable, leading to a reduction in risks associated with potential waste management issues re-emerging. Furthermore, if the waste processor is certified with the Eco Factory for Waste Processor standard, it not only instills confidence in their business partners but also reduces operational costs.

During the seminar, Mr. Ekabut Utthamong, Acting Expert Scientist, representing the Department of Industrial Works, delivered a lecture on the topic “Key Elements of Compliance with the Ministry of Industry’s Announcement Regarding the Management of Waste or Unusable Materials of 2023” and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kowit Suwanhong, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University, lectured on “Eco Factory for Waste Processor: Standards that Enhance Waste Processor Quality”. Additionally, a panel discussion on “The Future of Waste Generators and the Selection of Quality Waste Processor Services” featured representatives from the industrial sector, including Ms. Supawini Krisanavathana, Head of the Environmental Excellence Center at SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited, and Mr. Phumiphat Raksaset, a representative from IRPC Public Company Limited. Furthermore, discussions included preparation strategies to instill confidence for business partners concerning waste processors led by Ms. Wanida Vorapithyakhet, Managing Director of Akkhii Prakarn Public Company Limited, and Ms. Mintra Rueangrasmiroj, Managing Director of Sim Sulalai Company Limited, along with a summary of policies on selecting waste processors certified with the Eco Factory for Waste Processor standard delivered by Mr. Prida Watcharateeransakul, former Chairman of the Eco Factory Promotion Committee.

Moreover, in front of the seminar venue, booths from operators certified with the Eco Factory for Waste Processor standard provided information and service recommendations to seminar attendees. The event attracted significant interest from both waste generators and processors, with over 90 participants, signaling positive progress towards promoting the policy of selecting waste processors certified with the Eco Factory for Waste Processor standard, which will aid in nurturing environmentally responsible, socially acceptable, and economically sustainable industrial sector growth while moving towards genuine sustainable development.
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Prepared by the Water and Environment Institute for Sustainability and the Environmental Management Industry Group, Federation of Thai Industries.