Is there a business opportunity to deal with the plastic waste problem? August 7, 17:32

“In the past, negotiations sometimes ended as soon as the price story was cut out.”
A word from an executive of a chemical manufacturer. But now the situation has changed. Opportunities are spreading as a result of changes in people's consciousness. The stage is Southeast Asia. The product is a “biodegradable plastic” that breaks down in the soil. What is the reason behind the rapid growth in demand? (General Director of Asia, Hiromi Iwama)

The “Pura Garbage” issue of the agenda at the summit in Southeast Asia

In June, the G20 Osaka Summit, where the leaders of major countries and emerging countries gathered together. Along with important themes such as the world economy and trade, measures against marine plastic waste were taken up.

At the summit, the leaders of the countries agreed on the goal of eliminating new pollution caused by marine plastic waste by 2050. Interest is growing as an urgent issue to be addressed globally.

The problem of contamination with plastic waste is also serious in Southeast Asia.

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. As you walk through the central market, you will find disposable plastic products everywhere. When you buy a beverage from a plastic bottle, a straw, a lunch box, a plastic bag, and so on.

In Thailand, the proper disposal and recycling of plastic waste is not so advanced, and large amounts of plastic waste are released into rivers and seas.

An estimate published four years ago by an American scientific magazine showed an unfortunate result that half of the top 10 countries that emit marine plastic waste were Southeast Asia, including Thailand. .

Only in Buddhist country Thailand? Recycled monk costume also appeared

Under such circumstances, efforts unique to Thailand have begun in order to solve the problem, with more than 90% of the population regarded as Buddhists.

Jadeen Temple near Bangkok receives plastic waste such as plastic bottles as “clothes” and recycles them as monks with the cooperation of major Thai companies.

People with plastic bottles visit one after another at the garbage dump on the temple grounds. At the time of receipt, the monk Mahaplanome emphasized the importance of marine plastic waste and the importance of recycling. Nearly 100 people who gathered listened seriously.

The collected plastic bottles are first transported to a recycling plant.

There, it is crushed into chips and washed. It is then melted and reborn as a fiber material. Then, it is woven together with cotton to become a cloth that becomes the material of the monk's clothing.

The cloth is brought back to the temple, and the local people sew it up to complete the monk. The finished monk's clothing is about one-third of the material recycled from plastic bottles, and the price of the first is about 7000 yen in Japanese yen. Although it is more expensive than ordinary monk clothes, we have already sold 200 clothes.

Mr. Mahaplanome, who promotes this initiative, is also enthusiastic.

“I want to develop a business that will help local people in the future, helping them live”

Japanese manufacturers also produce biodegradable plastics in Thailand

Some Japanese companies have found business opportunities in the growing environmental awareness in Thailand. A major chemical manufacturer, Mitsubishi Chemical. Constructed a joint venture factory with a major Thai company.

We have been producing “biodegradable plastics” that are decomposed in the soil in earnest for two years.

The manufacturer established a technology for mass production of “biodegradable plastic” and obtained a patent. Demand is growing as a product with low environmental impact, and now it is in full operation.

By the way, why did you choose Thailand as your destination? One reason is crops such as sugarcane.

The raw material for biodegradable plastics requires sugar from plants such as sugarcane. Thailand is one of the world's largest sugarcane producers, and is rich in other crops that can produce sugar, such as corn.

Currently, we procure raw materials from the US for cost reasons, but we are considering switching to local procurement in the future.

Increased demand due to increased environmental awareness

The price of biodegradable plastics is more than three times that of ordinary plastics, and according to the joint venture, Kazuhiro Suzuki, vice president, once a topic was priced in a business talk, it was less likely to disappear there. I didn't have it.

However, with the growing awareness of the environment, the number of customers has gradually increased, such as being used as a material for coating straws and paper cups in Thailand's largest coffee chain. It means that you are going to outperform your ability.

Spread or prevent plastic waste

The problem of plastic waste is increasing in severity. In 2050, there is a trial calculation that the amount of plastic waste drifting in the sea exceeds the amount of fish in the sea on a weight basis, so there is no waiting for countermeasures.

Whether the spread of materials such as biodegradable plastics, which have less impact on the environment, will increase and spread will be the key to solving the problem.

Hiroaki Iwama, reporter of Asia

Covered the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Finance, etc. in 2000