Thailand's SCG Calls for Collaboration to Implement Circular Economy
Jakarta. Thailand's Siam Cement Group, or SCG, says collaboration between private parties, the public and the government will be crucial to reach the primary goal of sustainable development in the economy, society and environment – a concept known as circular economy.
SCG Indonesia Pathama Sirikul said in Jakarta on Thursday that SCG has already been implementing the circular economy concept, but "as a private party, we cannot do it alone."
SCG held its annual symposium in Jakarta this year with the theme "Circular Economy: Collaboration for Action." The forum was attended by global organizations and representatives from the government.
The symposium's message was that a circular economy would create better results if done collectively and collaboratively.
An example of this type of collaboration is the Reinvented Toilet project, where SCG worked with the Asian Institute Technology (AIT) and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to create a technology to produce liquid from human waste to be reused for flushing your toilet.
These Reinvented Toilets will be installed in several spots in Bandung, West Java, as part of the Citarum Harus program, which is done in collaboration with the local government.
Circular Economy for Businesses
In its business, SCG applies three strategies to implement the concept of circular economy.
The first is to reduce the amount of material that they use and at the same increase the durability of their products.
Their Green Carton, for example, needs 25 percent less material to produce but is more durable.
The second is to develop innovations to replace existing products or materials using an Upgrade and Replace strategy.
The last strategy is to push for more implementation of its Reuse and Recycle approach.
Sirikul said the results of a circular economy might only be visible in the long term and that there is a cost to be paid to make it happen.
"Some of the projects [we have] are [still at their] starting point. For example, aggregate road [mixing plastic waste into asphalt mix], which still costs us a lot because we're still trying to work out the technology," Sirikul said.
But Sirikul is optimistic that in the long run circular economy will lower the operational costs of the company.
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