Bayer - Young Enviromental Envoy

Forty newly-appointed Bayer Young Environmental Envoys at the Thailand 2009 Eco-Camp

At this year's Eco-Camp 40 students from across Thailand were appointed Bayer Young Environmental Envoys 2009. They had come to the camp with the aim of learning more about the coastal ecological system and the environmental management practices of government and industry. The event would culminate in the selection of the five best envoys to represent Thailand on a week long study trip to Germany to learn about environmental management from November 8 to 13. In addition the winners would each receive a cash award of 20,000 baht for their winning projects. The three-day camp took place at Thai Island and Sea Natural History Museum, Chonburi and the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate and Bayer Thai’s Polycarbonate Production site in Rayong province.

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40 New Bayer Young Environmental Envoys

This year, a total of 109 environmental projects were submitted on the four selected topics: sustainable consumption; creating pride in environmental protection in the community; fostering public awareness; and current environmental issues. After the first round 40 students, 12 from high-school and 28 from university, were invited to the final round to be interviewed and to attend the camp.

After having been interviewed on the first day, the envoys gained additional knowledge and experience about coastal ecological system from the experts of the Thai Island and Sea Natural History Museum and a subsequent walk in the area in the next day. They learned to appreciate the interdependence among living creatures in the eco-system and the need to respect and live in harmony with the natural environment. The activity helped raise the envoys’ awareness of the importance of environmental protection and encourage them to continue working on their own environmental projects.

The last day, all envoys had the chance to meet Peerawat Rungruangsri, Director of the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, who warmly welcomed them and gave an overview of environmental management policy of the estate. Subsequently they learned more about environmental management of industry on a visit to Bayer Thai’s polycarbonate production site, located in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate. At the plant, a detailed lecture and tour of the plant widened envoys’ horizons and made them realize how industry could contribute to sustainable development.

The highlight of the event was the announcement of the five top envoys who will go on the field trip to Germany. They are: Nawanat Somnuek from Assumption College Lampang school; Napat Lapaschaone from Saipanya Rangsit school; Panpraporn Jitjumroonchokchai from Bordindachar 4 (Sing Singhaseni) school; Rawikarn Dechdi from Chulalongkorn University; and Saengabha Srisopaporn from Mahidol University International College. On the trip in Germany, envoys from 19 countries worldwide will attend a press conference on “Bayer’s Perspective on Sustainability” and visit Bayer headquarters, AVEA, a waste processing and disposal facility in Leverkusen, and the North Rhine-Westphalia State Environment Agency. The envoys will learn at first-hand the best practices in environmental protection and about the interplay of industry, households and governments in achieving sustainable development goals.

“Congratulations to all 40 newly-appointed Bayer Young Environmental Envoys. This project, which started in 1998, has now taken place each year for more than 10 years. So far, there have been over 400 envoys across the Kingdom who have gained experience of environmental protection, both domestically and internationally, and are actively working on environmental activities in their communities,” Withaya Wichayarangsaridh, the Chairman of the Bayer Yong Environmental Envoy Project said during the certificate presentation ceremony.

Since 1998 and, in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy project has been actively operated by Bayer Thai Co, Ltd. with support from the Office of Basic Education Commission of the Ministry of Education; Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, Department of National Park Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Department of Pollution Control of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable groups of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security; Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, and Thailand Environment Institute.