Bottled water has become increasingly popular among Thai people. Countless brands are available, but one brand, "Namthip", clearly stands out, thanks to its "Eco-Crush" bottle.
"Our product makes one think," Tanant Suwanraks said in his capacity as the marketing manager of New Business Development of Coca-Cola (Thailand).
Namthip bottled water began selling in eco-crush bottles last year. The packaging is thinner and 100-per cent recyclable. Each 550-millilitre bottle of Namthip now weighs just 10.7 grams, down from its previous weight of 16.5 grams.
Once the bottle is empty, it can be easily crushed to reduce its size making it easier for garbage collection and disposal.
"Consumers feel good about saving the environment," Tanant said, adding that a survey showed 63 per cent of respondents felt Namthip was different from other bottled-water products. According to the survey, up to 70 per cent of respondents thought of Namthip when the topic of bottled water came up. The survey was conducted shortly after the eco-crush bottle was launched.
"We are now an innovator in the field of bottled-water packaging," Tanant said.
Sunant Phutthasri, quality manager at the ThaiNamthip Plant (Rangsit), said the Thammasat University Excellence Centre of Eco-Energy had found that the eco-crush bottles also lowered electricity consumption and transportation costs.
"When compared with the old manufacturing line, the electricity consumption is down by 6 per cent," he said, adding that the bottles' lighter weight also meant less fuel was needed for transportation.
"We can save more than 1.8 million litres of petrol each year," said Sunant.
ThaiNamthip, a part of Coca-Cola Thailand, has spent more than Bt800 million on the eco-crush assembly line. Considered to be one of the world's most efficient, it can produce 1,200 bottles in just one minute, or 900 million bottles each year.
The machines are installed at the company's plant in Pathum Thani. About 50 rai of land at the factory's compound - approximately one-fourth the total area - is being used for the treatment of wastewater from the factory.
Methee Opassathien, environment chief at the plant, said water quality tests were conducted on a weekly basis to ensure that the plant was not discharging any pollutants. "We also use some of the treated water to irrigate the trees and plants in our compound," he added.
He said the plant had never received any complaints about pollution or faced opposition from local communities.
In addition to its environmental policy, ThaiNamthip regularly takes part in a number of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. In one such activity, the company's staff join with locals each month to collect litter from public areas.
The plant also runs a "garbage bank" that buys recyclable waste from its staff, with 10 per cent of profits going towards charitable causes such as building shelters for the elderly, extending assistance to terminally-ill patients, and providing wheelchairs to the Thai with Disability Foundation.
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/06/02/namthips-eco-crush-initiative-a-hit/
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