For over four months, Thais have been experiencing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) which brought the economy to a virtual halt, and infected 2,960 people (as of May 1, 2020), and left medical and healthcare workers at a higher risk of transmission as they work tirelessly to assist coronavirus patients and contain the outbreak.

PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited, or GC, as a Thai-owned producer of plastic and chemical products, understands the impacts from the pandemic and is working hard to ensure that no Thais are left behind, as the company continues to make important contributions involving inventions and the provision of funds towards several important projects which are having immediate and positive impacts:

1. GC produced 100 PPE prototypes consisting of isolation gowns made of spunbond and meltblown non-woven fabrics, which are derived from polypropylene (PP) from HMC Polymers (a subsidiary of GC), in addition to coveralls and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs). The PAPR equipment’s filter box is molded by GC’s 3D printing technology. Furthermore, GC and Navamindradhiraj University’s Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital, teamed up to design and produce the PAPR for use in hospital operating rooms and intensive care units (ICUs) to help prevent the transmission of severe COVID-19 cases from super spreaders to medical workers conducting medical procedures or working in laboratories. Disposable gowns made of top-quality PE (Polyethylene) under the InnoPlus brand were also provided to twelve hospitals and clinics to handle and treat COVID-19 cases.

2. GC and the Department of Information Technology Management, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University are also working together to develop and produce CoviClear, a silver nanoparticle disinfection unit, which has bioactive silver ions or “silver metal” and a disinfectant liquid. A total of ten CoviClear units were provided to hospitals to help lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

GC and its subsidiaries collaborated to provide provisions to several agencies to help in the fight against COVID-19, including 1,250 kilograms of pharmaceutical-grade glycerin under the Green Health Project initiated by Global Green Chemical Public Company Limited, or GGC, for the Royal Thai Fleet to produce hand sanitizer gel for officers and their families, as well as residents in the surrounding area to help improve sanitation and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

3. GC and ThaiBev teamed up to provide 1,000,000 50-CC bottles of alcohol hand sanitizer to the Ministry of Public Health for distribution to Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) nationwide.

4. GC and two partners, Wongnai and LINE MAN, teamed up for the ‘Stronger Together’ project which is providing “bioplastic packaging” for use in online food delivery services. The packaging includes 200,000 BioPBS-coated cups, 100,000 bioplastic shopping bags, and 10,000 sets of bioplastic forks and spoons for 200 participating restaurants in Wongnai’s network whose sales have declined as a result of the lockdown measures, and who are using LINE MAN for their food delivery service. This effort will help restaurants reduce their packaging costs while better adapting to online food deliveries. It also supports consumers who are self-isolating to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 and avoiding any sharing of food containers and utensils. Finally, as this packaging is compostable, there is less waste with no detrimental impact to the environment.

GC is committed to initiating new projects that aim to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, help people adjust to the ‘new normal,’ revive SMEs and help get Thais back to work.

“GC is ready to stand side by side with Thais to win the fight against COVID-19, and we are pleased to do our part by providing products using our proprietary innovations in collaboration with our partners, and researching and developing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for medical and healthcare workers. Our goal is to improve the livelihoods of Thais during this challenging time and bring back smiles to the nation,” said Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang, GC CEO.

Source: The Bangkok Insight