On August 11, 2023, PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), a private company, developed and delivered rubber flooring and upcycled furniture to the Figure & Speed Skating Association of Thailand in the handover ceremony for Upcycled Rubber Floor and Furniture Development Project ice rink stadium honored by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister, presided over the ceremony, along with Mr. Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang, Chief Executive Officer and President of GC, Dr. Sihasak Areerachakran, President of the Figure and Speed Skating Association of Thailand and Dr. Suwanna Silpa-archa, Commissioner of the International Ice-Skating Federation at the ice rink. Ivis International Training Center, 5th Floor, Imperial World Samrong Shopping Center, Samut Prakan Province.

Dr. Sihasak Areerachakran, President of the Figure and Speed Skating Association of Thailand, welcomed and expressed gratitude to PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), a major sponsor, for their crucial support in developing rubber flooring and upcycled furniture. This innovative initiative is environmentally friendly.

Dr. Suwanna Silpa-aacha, the Secretary-General of the International Ice-Skating Association, is a key driving force in the initiative to transform the IWIS International Training Center. She has implemented the principles of the Circular Economy and managed it internally while supporting environmentally friendly products by creating added value from used materials through the upcycling process. This initiative aims to benefit and develop ice skating rinks, serving as a model for other rinks worldwide. Dr. Suwanna Silpa-aacha also mentioned that this project has gained significant interest from the International Ice-Skating Association and ice-skating rinks globally.

Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang, CEO and President of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), stated that in collaboration with the Thailand Figure and Speed Skating Association, we have jointly undertaken a project to develop recycled rubber flooring and furniture for ice skating rinks. GC has applied technology, innovation, and expertise in reusing materials to create benefits and has developed and supported "Recycled Rubber Flooring" at the IWIS International Training Center, using Crossed link PE type electrical cable insulation as a material mixed with rubber scraps and polyurethane adhesive. This unique process results in durability and a seamless surface, ensuring high safety for athletes. The flooring also undergoes impact resistance testing and remains resilient at sub-zero temperatures. Additionally, GC has delivered "Recycled Furniture" produced from used materials such as wood scraps and LLDPE-type used plastics, another example of applying circular economy principles. Furthermore, the association has partnered with GC in the "GC YOUTURN" initiative, an End-to-End Plastic Waste Management platform that covers plastic sorting, collection, transportation, recycling, and upcycling to create added value. Both organizations have plans to continue their collaboration in advancing recycling efforts in the future.

The development of recycled rubber flooring and furniture for the ice-skating rink is a catalyst for society to recognize the value of waste separation and the utilization of plastics, promoting sustainable environmental practices. This initiative contributes to long-term environmental conservation by reducing landfill waste by over 9,600 kilograms and aiding in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 514 kilograms of carbon dioxide, equivalent to planting more than 54 trees. The innovation elevates the sustainability efforts of the IWIS International Training Center, which is recognized as a Center of Excellence by the International Skating Union—one of only six globally. This center serves as a premier training facility for figure skating and speed skating athletes in Thailand, supporting the development of youth and national athletes, aiming to produce future world-class athletes in figure skating and speed skating.

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