Reporters: Asst.Prof.Dr. Prapot Maliwan
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pornsil Seephueak
Asst.Prof.Dr. Nion Chirapongsathonkul
Asst.Prof.Dr. Worawitoo Meesook
Evidence Date: during 2024 Jan-Dec
Related SDGs:
Related Indicators: 15.4.2
Details:
Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (RUTS), Nakhon Si Thammarat Campus, Thung Yai District, is committed to implementing a proactive policy to reduce plastic waste, aligning with SDG 15.4.2. Under the leadership of Asst. Prof. Dr. Khwanhathai Jaipiam, Deputy Director of the Campus, the university organized the 2024 Loy Krathong Festival with an environmental preservation theme. Participants were encouraged to create Krathongs using 100% natural materials—completely avoiding plastic—to promote sustainability and reduce global warming. The event included a Natural Krathong Design Competition with five participating teams competing for a prize of 3,000 THB. More than 200 community members joined university staff and students in the celebration. Most Krathongs were crafted from banana leaves and local plant materials, reflecting both creativity and environmental awareness. Dr. Khwanhathai emphasized that such eco-friendly initiatives will continue annually to foster a long-term culture of sustainability across the campus and surrounding communities.
In addition, the Faculty of Science and Technology has organized an activity that transforms water hyacinth, an aquatic weed and waste material, into biodegradable plant pots. This initiative serves as an effective approach to reducing plastic use and plastic waste in the agricultural sector, promoting environmental sustainability and innovative waste management.
Meanwhile, RUTS Khanom Campus continues to advance the university’s plastic waste reduction policy through the project “Plastic Bottle Waste Separation to Save Khanom Sea.” The initiative welcomed representatives from Che Bilang Subdistrict Municipality, Satun Province, led by Mayor Mr. Abdulwaris Bilangload, for a study visit and knowledge exchange. The visit was hosted by Asst. Prof. Taweesak Sripunga, Director of the College of Industrial Technology and Management, with Dr. Suporn Ritthipakdee, Head of the Department of Engineering, coordinating project operations.
The study visit featured five learning stations: (1) Plastic Bottle Waste Sorting, (2) Plastic Recycling and Transformation, (3) Biodiesel Production, (4) Eco-friendly Materials Showcase, and (5) Interlocking Bricks Made from Recycled Polycarbonate Waste. Each station was led by faculty and students, integrating academic learning with real-world environmental solutions. The initiative, supported by the Electricity Development Fund, promotes knowledge sharing, innovation, and practical applications in waste reduction and resource reuse.
These efforts highlight RUTS’s strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainable waste management. Through projects that combine education, research, and community engagement, the university successfully reduces plastic waste, supports local environmental stewardship, and nurtures environmental responsibility among students. Together, these initiatives embody RUTS’s policy to reduce plastic waste and contribute to the global mission of sustainable ecosystem conservation under SDG 15.4.2.
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