โดย Kornnika
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The RECO Young Designer Competition 2018 has come to an exciting end, with Mr. Chanajit Hnudat proudly sewing up the eco-challenge to bag the top award with his “Back to the Earth” design, receiving THB100,000 in cash and a free ticket courtesy of KLM Airlines to take part in the prestigious Dutch Design Week in the Netherlands.
Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL) launched the RECO Young Designer Competition 2018 as an integral cog in its eco-campaign, organizing artful activities to promote the most efficient use of PET material, aspiring to instill an eco-mindset in a new generation of designers while increasing the value of products and organizations in the long term.
H.E. Mr. Kees Rade, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and a key supporter of the RECO Young Designer Competition 2018, said Indorama Ventures has organized the RECO Young Designer Competition to create public awareness about world environmental sustainability. “This has become a serious issue, as the world’s population is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050. Environmentalists have even raised awareness by creating Earth Overshoot Day. This is a day in any given year on which humanity consumes natural resources exceeding the earth’s ability to reproduce,” he pointed out.
“Until 1969, humanity consumed natural resources within the earth’s ability to reproduce. After that year, we started consuming more than the planet could refill. This year, Earth Overshoot Day fell on August 1. We are consuming more natural resources and raw material due to economic growth driven by the expansion of the middle class. So we are grateful and happy that Indorama has organized this kind of event,’’ the Ambassador said.
“RECO is Thailand’s largest competition in upcycle – or distinctive – design, which is one of Indorama’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects held every year,” stated Mrs. Suchitra Lohia, Executive Director and Chairperson of Indorama Ventures’ CSR. “This year marks the 7th edition of the eco-friendly contest, aiming to create social awareness on how to intelligently and efficiently use PET material and polyester fiber in a bid to save Earth’s environment.”
Young designers who participate in the project each year learn about design and new techniques in recycling material to create intriguing work that captivates the public eye – and in turn helps save Mother Nature. They are also taught to understand the eco concept of recycling to increase the value of used material, utilize and adapt this knowledge to build a better society, and conserve the environment.
Out of the 200 projects submitted for this year’s contest, Indorama Ventures chose 30 teams of designers to join in eco-design workshops. Design specialists provided the participants with important advice. Subsequently, ten teams were selected as finalists. These 10 used the knowledge gained from the workshops to produce highly competitive projects in the final round.
“IVL has placed significance on supporting an economic cycle and has striven to produce value-added products beneficial to society,” Mrs. Suchitra explained. “IVL’s far-reaching vision is to focus on ideas by the new generation that create a positive impact and transformation through education pertaining to recycling and understanding of reusing PET plastics.”
Mr. Chanajit Hnudat receiving THB100,000 and a thrilling trip to explore the world of fashion design at the Dutch Design Week. The first runner-up position went to Mr. Chartchai Chaiydet, who used the concept “Pop Sang Long” to bag THB50,000 in cash. The second runner-up, Mr. Tanakit Tanyakorn, produced the concept “Chao-Lea”, winning THB30,000.
“Indorama Ventures congratulates all the winners and strongly believes the RECO activities play a part in stimulating powerful ideas in the younger generation. It creates a positive impact and teaches better understanding of PET, the recyclable plastic, encouraging those producing PET for packaging to use the material most efficiently. The project is in line with Indorama Ventures’ policy of sustainable development. Our group of companies generates growth by taking into account the environmental and social impact as well as the correct business practices. We have received great response from young people, which reflects the resounding success of the project’s concept. Our group of companies will continue to move forward to create social awareness in efficiently using recycled PET and polyester through participation by society and related industries,” Mrs. Suchitra said.
“Lastly, we would like to extend our thanks to the Embassy of the Netherlands, Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, including leading institutes and top design schools in Thailand, for their solid support,’’ Mrs. Suchitra added.
Ambassador Rade highlighted the case of the Netherlands. Indorama Ventures acquired Indorama Holdings Rotterdam, based in the Netherlands (renamed Indorama Ventures Europe B.V.), from Eastman Chemical Company in 2008. “The Netherlands has moved up to second place on this year’s Global Innovation Index,” he said. “You might know the Netherlands of cheese, windmills, famous DJs, and more. We are very proud that the country is the second-most innovative in the world, especially when a lot of our innovation goes into sustainability. We support a ‘circular economy’ that recycles and reuses, which have become more familiar concepts in society. The Netherlands aims to be a totally circular economy by 2050.’’
