Trash to treasure: Thailand makes COVID-19 protective gear out of upcycled bottles

[snoop1130]

A woman sews a PPE suit for Buddhist monks who work as volunteers, as Bangkok city's administration and temples drive efforts to encourage the public to donate plastic bottles, which will be collected and upcycled into reusable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to reduce plastic waste as Thailand battles coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Bangkok, Thailand August 30, 2021. Picture taken August 30, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

SAMUT PRAKAN, Thailand (Reuters) - With an abundance of plastic waste but a scarcity of personal protective equipment (PPE), Thailand is turning trash into treasure by upcycling bottles into protective clothing for people at risk of coronavirus infection.

 

Millions of plastic bottles have been collected, shredded and turned into threads to be weaved into fabrics eventually used for PPE, either for hospitals or Buddhist temples, where monks have been cremating coronavirus victims.

 

The effort comes as Thailand has recorded more than 1.1 million coronavirus infections and 12,000 deaths since April this year.

 

"There are times where it is very difficult to get hold of PPE suits, sometimes even if you have money, you can't buy," said Phra Maha Pranom Dhammalangkaro, abbott of Chakdaeng temple in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok.

 

"But now we're making it out of upcycling plastic bottles, so what's trash is now valuable."

 

Temple volunteers have been sewing orange PPE suits for monks, undertakers and scavengers, and PPEs are being sent to thousands of temples in need across the country.

 

Though these are not medical-grade, they provide at least some protection for those potentially exposed to COVID-19, and one PPE suit can be made using only 18 plastic bottles.

 

The fabric for the PPEs is being donated by a textile factory in Rayong province, that usually makes fabrics used by some major global brands. At the factory, threads are made from recycled bottles and spun into a giant roll, then weaved into fabric that gets treated to become water resistant.

 

"This is so that it can prevent particle dust from seeping through and the virus from coming into contact with us," said Arnuphap Chompuming, head of sales and marketing at textile firm Thai Taffeta, which operates the factory east of Bangkok.

 

Some 18 million plastic bottles have been used since the middle of last year to make fabric for PPEs, which have been sent to hospitals around the country, he added.

 

The Chakdaeng temple abbot said the upcycling project was helping to ensure more people exposed to the coronavirus were protected, not only medical professionals.

 

"We're saving lives and the environment as well," he said.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-09-03

 

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[Lopchan]

Great idea and good to see a story like this. Well done to all concerned.

[hotchilli]

Yep I've seen them in use.

[Kiwithl]

Hope they understand it is still plastic when it comes time for disposal.

Landfill? Recycle? Local smoulder heap with the leaves and whatever other <deleted> they rake up?

[Kiwithl]

I didn't delete that. Asean thai is deleting unoffensive words in common use.

<deleted>.

[KannikaP]

Whats the difference between UPcycling and REcycling please, anyone?

[MrJ2U]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Yep I've seen them in use.

I see.

 

Usual Thai quality control.

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Whats the difference between UPcycling and REcycling please, anyone?

I believe it is the difference between reusing, and repurposing. 

[KannikaP]

2 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I believe it is the difference between reusing, and repurposing. 

Yes. I guess upcycling/reusing is using the object for another purpose whereas recycling is using the material for something else.

[PETERTHEEATER]

I'm  disappointed that the report has no photograph of a 'scavenger' wearing PPE.

 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, MrJ2U said:

I see.

 

Usual Thai quality control.

ISO2002 for sure

[Lopchan]

Never ceases to disgust me how even a positive post can be used to denigrate Thailand and Thais. Why do yo stay here if you hate Thais and Thailand so much?
<deleted>

 

[sanuk711]

On 9/4/2021 at 9:41 AM, Kiwithl said:

I didn't delete that. Asean thai is deleting unoffensive words in common use.

Only to some people.....................

[tingtong]

The whole article almost sound like this: 

If we create a few more dangerous viruses we can solve the plastic garbage problem.

So let set up some more semi secure labs.

Good news the Chinese can help the funding, and have the necessary know how too!

A win win, plus another recycled paper brown envelope.

Bcos we care the environment!!

 

Turn plastic bottle garbage to plastic mask garbage in the dump sites!!

What?

It is still a plastic garbage??

 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

On 9/4/2021 at 9:39 AM, Kiwithl said:

Hope they understand it is still plastic when it comes time for disposal.

Landfill? Recycle? Local smoulder heap with the leaves and whatever other <deleted> they rake up?

Or just recycle the used masks as some entrepreneurs reportedly have done...