News Feed

With pilot plant operational by 2015 will Thailand be the next bioplastics hub?

Posted on : 08 May, 2012

 

To boost Thailand’s plans in becoming a regional bioplastics production hub in motion, policymakers and business operators are preparing the upstream pilot plant, regulations setting for the industrial standards and global accreditation.  The pilot plant will be built and operational by 2015, with an annual production of 1,000 to 10,000 tonnes, if the investors are selected successfully.

Dr. Pipat Weerathaworn, President of the Thai Bioplastics Industry Association (TBIA) said, “Even though the cost of bioplastics is twice as high as its fossil-fuel-based counterpart, growing concerns about ecology and pollution will drive this sector's growth.”   He also said that the Industry Ministry's Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) is working on rules and regulations on bioplastics standards including for biodegradable and biodecomposable plastics.

 

To be at par with DIN Certco, the German bioplastics certification body, the TISI is establishing a biodegradability testing lab and certifying system in the country.

 

“Thailand is the world's largest cassava exporter and second-largest sugar exporter,”said Dr. Pipat. “These two products are the main raw materials for bioplastics, which seems to perfectly match Thailand."

 

Above  and other details of the bioplastics industry, feedstock availability, market development and progress in Asia, and much more are among the key issues to be discussed at the 6^th Bioplastics Markets conference on 23-24 May in Bangkok. The 1.5 day event which run concurrently with another related event taking place on 22-23 May at the same venue has already garnered participation from companies like Ampacet (Thailand), GE (China) Research and Development, Showa Denko KK (Shoden), Total Petrochemicals Hong Kong Ltd, Wacker Chemie AG and many more.

 

To attend the event Register here, or forward queries to grace@cmtsp.com.sg

 

View complete article here.