Thailand-Australia Collaboration to Address Plastic Waste Issues in Waterways and Oceans

     Currently, plastic waste is one of the most pressing environmental issues. Not only Thailand, but other countries worldwide are also confronting this problem and the challenges in managing plastic waste. Consequently, the Australian Embassy in Thailand has initiated the Mekong Plastic Innovation Partnership between Thailand and Australia, with representatives from Thailand participating, including the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), along with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia, the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), and representatives from plastic industries.

     This collaboration is not confined to scientific research alone, but the involvement of all societal sectors is crucial in driving sustainable changes, transforming environmental challenges into economic opportunities. The Mekong Plastic Innovation Partnership between Thailand and Australia will serve as a significant platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building, supporting the transformation of forward-thinking ideas into practical problem-solving approaches.

     Simultaneously, the launch of this Mekong Basin Plastic Innovation Partnership between Thailand and Australia will bring together local knowledge, private sector resources, and scientific expertise to accelerate and expand problem-solving methods using innovation to handle plastic pollution in waterways. Australia's CSIRO and Thailand's NSTDA will collaborate with industries to identify new approaches to reduce pollution in rivers and seas, enhance research cooperation, and establish a network of experts in this area.

     This project marks a significant starting point for managing plastic waste in the Indo-Pacific region, aligning with CSIRO's Ending Plastic Waste mission, which aims to reduce 80 percent of plastic waste entering the environment by 2573. Supporting innovators in translating science, technology, and innovation into realistic problem-solving methods is crucial in addressing global-scale problems.

Data updated on May 19, 2023
Source: National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)
Tel. +66 2564 8000