Thai private sector urged to use, produce green products

BANGKOK, February 1 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Pollution Control Department, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, has launched a campaign for the private sector to use and produce environmentally-friendly products and services for sustainable development. The department's director-general, Wijarn Simachaya, told a seminar on green products and services, held in Bangkok on Monday, that his department is sharing knowledge and raising awareness among private business operators about the necessity to use and produce green products and services, as the international community is promoting green economies and sustainable production and consumption. Wijarn noted that Thailand has agreed to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases at last year's 70th United Nations General Assembly and the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. To support the intention, Wijarn acknowledged, his Pollution Control Department has launched the campaign for the domestic production and consumption of green products and services. According to the senior official, his department has already implemented two phases of the campaign since 2008 and the third phase is now planned for the 2017-2021 implementation, during which private business operators will be encouraged to procure products with green labels and logos and those with at least Level 4 of green industrial certification. The senior official said that the campaign will also be expanded to other Thai sectors later. (TNA)