Greenpeace Thailand calls for the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Bangkok, 29 September 2022 – Greenpeace Thailand today announced the Top 5 Corporate Plastic Polluters based on Brand Audits conducted in several Thai provinces from 2018 to 2022. Topping the list for local domestic brands is Charoen Pokphand Group (C.P. Group) followed by Dutch Mill, Osotspa, Sermsuk, and Singha Corporation, respectively. Greenpeace Thailand also called on these  brands to reduce single-use plastic in their packaging and instead invest in plastic take-back, and reuse and refill systems. Brands are strongly urged to support a legal framework that applies the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle to solve Thailand’s plastic pollution crisis.

Pichmol Rugrod, Lead Campaigner for Greenpeace Thailand’s Plastic-Free Future Project  said:  “It’s high time we talk about  producer’s responsibility. Plastic pollution, particularly single-use plastic from food and beverage packaging, has become more problematic as more get produced and used in large quantities every day. Most end up in the environment, where they harm ecosystems and the wildlife they host, including communities living nearby. More than just a waste management issue, it has also become a financial and management burden to the local government, municipalities, and communities. As Thailand has yet to enforce the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy, manufacturers and brand owners cannot be held accountable for the wastes they generate from their single-use packaging. With the data we gathered and analyzed over the years, one thing is clear: Plastic pollution must be stopped at the source. Corporations and brands must end their plastic addiction, otherwise, we will never be able to recover from years of systemic plastic pollution.”

From 2018 to 2022, Greenpeace and its partner networks collected plastic waste that belonged to 766 corporations and 2,005 brands, both domestic and foreign. The most common single-use items found were food packaging, bottles, bottle caps, labels, and plastic tubes.

The main findings of the Brand Audits in Thailand:

  • Charoen Pokphand Group is a clear winner. When annual data is considered, plastic waste from Charoen Pokphand Group was the most commonly found in 2019, and when data for all five years is combined, plastic waste from Charoen Pokphand Group is the top most commonly found among domestic brands.
  • The Top 5 domestic brands that heavily figured in the local Brand Audits  in the last five years are Charoen Pokphand Group, Dutch Mill, Osotspa, Sermsuk, and Singha Corporation.
  • The Top 5 multinational brands with the most number of plastic waste in the last five years are Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle, Unilever, and Aje Thai. 
  • Overall, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Charoen Pokphand Group, and Dutch Mill are the top  foreign and domestic brands with the most plastic waste in the last five years.
  • Dutch Mill is a Thai brand that ranked first in plastic waste in 2018 and 2020, while Sermsuk ranked first in plastic waste in 2021 and 2022.
  • Plastic waste from Sermsuk–  manufacturer of Crystal Drinking Water, 100 Plus, Ace, and Jabjai brands– is among the Top 10 Corporate Plastic Polluters for five years now. The company was ranked 10th in 2018, 8th in 2019, 10th in 2020, and 1st in 2021 and 2022.
  • Osotspa, a consumer goods company, was among the Top 5 for the first three years based on plastic waste collected in the areas of ​​Wonnapa Beach, Chonburi Province, Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai Province, Laem Son On, and Songkhla Province from 2018 to 2022. Plastic waste from Osotspa brands were again discovered in the areas of Chao Lao Beach, Chanthaburi Province, Koh Sichang Province, Chonburi Province, Bang Krachao, and Samut Prakan Province in 2022, whereas no plastic waste from Osotspa brands were discovered in 2021. Waste from Osotspa brands include Calpis Lacto, Baby Mind, Twelve Plus, and Lipo, as well as M150, M Sport, and C-vitt.
  • Plastic waste from TCP Group, makers of Red Bull brand, have been found in the last five years in the areas of Wonnapa Beach, Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Chao Lao Beach, Koh Sichang, and Bang Krachao (except in 2021).

The Top 5 Corporate Plastic Polluters were named during a mock awards ceremony for the opening of Greenpeace’s “Reuse Revolution” event at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center, ongoing until October 9, 2022.[1]  Volunteers dressed up as company representatives and accepted the awards on their behalf. The event also features works of art, including a large art installation entitled Wire Puller– made from plastic wastes collected during the yearly brand audit activities. [2] The artwork depicts how corporate plastic polluters have a hand in the environmental crisis we now face. Greenpeace Thailand demands that these corporations take full responsibility and make the necessary reparations for the mess they’ve created. 

Notes:

1.The “Reuse Revolution” event will be held from September 29 to October 9, 2022 at the 1st floor of the Bangkok Art and Culture Center. The event also includes eco workshops, film screenings and an interactive art exhibition-  From Shelves to the Oceans where visitors can learn about the life cycle of single-use plastic. Catch the 6-meter tall art piece called “Wire Puller” created by WISHULADA. For more information: https://www.greenpeace.org/thailand/plastic-event-reuse-revolution-2022/. 


2. The Brand Audit is based on data gathered from plastic wastes found in various areas across the country between 2018 and 2022. Greenpeace volunteers and networks collected waste and data from 13 locations across 11 provinces. These provinces includes Wonnapa Beach, Chonburi Province, Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai Province, Laem Son On, Songkhla Province, Bangkok, Bang Krachao, Samut Prakan Province, Chiang Rai Province, Chumphon Province, Hua Hin, Prachuab Khiri Khan Province, Koh Samet, Rayong Province, Koh Samui, Surat Thani Province, Rayong Province, Chao Lao Beach, Chanthaburi Province, and Koh Si Chang, Chonburi Province. A total of 46,929 pieces of plastic waste have been collected in those areas. Download the 2018-2022 Brand Audit Report https://act.gp/brand-audit-report-2022

3. Thai citizens are encouraged to sign the petition asking Charoen Pokphand Group to reduce their single-use plastic in their products: act.gp/plastic-pollution-cp  

4. People who want to participate in garbage collection and plastic brand audit events can find more information at https://act.gp/ba-information

For more information, please contact:

Pannapa Phanitjaroen, E-mail: [email protected], Tel: 095-5853471