Bangkok: GC-Siam Piwat expands its "From Kitchen...to Machine" initiative, highlighting Siam Paragon as a shopping mall that supplies UCO to biofuels. PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), a global leader in the chemical industry and Thailand's first commercial producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), has announced a partnership with Siam Piwat Group to broaden the reach of the "From Kitchen...to Machine" project. This initiative focuses on collecting used cooking oil (UCO) from restaurants within the Siam Paragon shopping mall and processing it at GC's bio-refinery to create clean energy and high-value bio-products. Siam Paragon is the first shopping mall in Thailand to engage in such an endeavor.
According to Thai News Agency, this collaboration extends the "From Kitchen to Machine" project's scope, which previously involved communities, government bodies, and local networks, to now include restaurants in major shopping malls. The project's objective is to systematically manage used cooking oil and incorporate it into GC's bio-refinery production chain. Siam Paragon is the inaugural pilot shopping mall for this project, which has since expanded to include Siam Center and Siam Discovery. Presently, GC supplies up to 800 kilograms of used cooking oil monthly from restaurants within these malls.
Mr. Ratchada Sawadirak, Assistant Senior Vice President of the Oil Refinery Division at GC, mentioned that this collaboration builds on GC's success as the nation's first commercial producer of SAF, using used vegetable oil as raw material. This innovation reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 85% compared to traditional aviation fuel and can also produce high-value biochemicals and bioplastics.
Siam Paragon's involvement as the first shopping mall in this project highlights GC's expansion of its circular economy model into the business sector, effectively connecting food waste to the bio-refinery system.
Ms. Narathip Rattapradit, Chief Operating Officer of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., emphasized that this collaboration under the 'From Kitchen.to Machine' project supports the company's comprehensive waste management approach through the Siam Piwat 360° Waste Journey to Zero Waste project. This initiative has been continuously implemented with the aim of achieving Zero Waste to Landfill by 2040. By collectively sending used cooking oil from the shopping mall's restaurants to a bio-refinery, the project not only prevents environmental harm from food waste but also transforms waste into tangible value.
The project not only aids in systematically managing waste from food preparation processes but also provides businesses within the shopping mall an opportunity to contribute to the circular economy and the development of clean energy in Thailand, aligning with Siam Piwat's sustainable business practices.
This collaboration highlights GC's role in developing a comprehensive bio-refinery value chain capable of producing SAF, biochemicals, and bioplastics, which can be further developed into various everyday products. It reflects GC's commitment to advancing the Circular Economy and fostering sustainable differentiation. Additionally, it enhances Siam Piwat Group's role as a developer and owner of world-class destination shopping centers. Beyond serving as a model for 360° waste management, it acts as a crucial platform for engagement, encouraging both retailers and consumers to alter their behavior towards tangible waste reduction and management, contributing to environmental balance and long-term sustainability for Thailand.