king bhumibol & middot; In the weeks after his death, crowds of mourners regularly gathered near the royal palace to pay their last respects. But such tributes come at a cost: mourners throw away up to 66 tons of food packaging and drink bottles each day, which need to be recycled.

Steps have been taken to install trash bins at 10 strategic points along the roads around Royal Tien Square and Bangkok's Grand Palace. But garbage continues to mount, as many independent foundations provide ready-made meals wrapped in styrofoam, creating a lot of plastic waste.

To tackle the problem, Thai oil and gas giant Petro Thai (PTT) donated more than 1 million biodegradable BioPBS coated paper food boxes to be distributed to crowds around Royal Field Square through volunteers at the Dad Center. The BioPBS were supplied by PTT MCC Biochem, a 50:50 joint venture between PTT and Mitsubishi Chemical.

Polybutene succinate (PBS) is a raw non-degradable plastic alternative to PE that breaks down naturally into water and carbon dioxide in soil without the need for composting facilities. PBS is highly fiber compatible. — Can easily penetrate into the stomata and attach around the fibers. Coupled with its heat resistance of up to 100 бу C, it is an ideal material for coating applications, especially where heat resistance is required. PTT MCC Biochem manufactures and markets bio-based PBS made from biosuccinic acid, which is extracted from natural sources and 1,4 butanediol. Products made from BioPBS, which can be broken down along with organic waste.

BioPBs can be used to make hot drink cups, boxes for freshly cooked food, and utensils. Its biodegradability means it will break down with paper within a few months at room temperature. — The official year of mourning continues, which will help restore the palace to its former state.

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