As part of the technical assistance to Thailand, the EU SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility, in cooperation with the Pollution Control Department (PCD), the Office of National Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) and the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion (DEQP), organised a stakeholder consultation entitled, “Mainstream Green Integration of Thailand: Transformation from Policy to Implementation” on 8 October 2020, at the Ramada by Wyndham Chaophyapark Hotel, Bangkok.
The meeting aimed to present the first draft of the National Policy and Action Plan in promoting environmentally friendly products and services, and the development of the National Green Directory and to collect feedback from concerned stakeholders. More than 100 representatives from governments, the private sector, manufacturers, eco-label certification bodies, civil society, educational and research institutes attended the meeting.
A welcome speech was virtually given by Dr Arab Hoballah, Team Leader of the EU SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility emphasising the importance of the meeting in better defining next steps to enhance green integration in Thailand and encouraging participants to actively contribute to this consultation for further promoting green products and services. Moreover, Dr Prasert Sirinapaporn, Deputy Secretariat of the Office of National Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) delivered an opening speech highlighting the efforts of Thailand in achieving the SDG 12, especially SDG 12.7 on sustainable public procurement.
The presentation on the Green Public Procurement Policy of Thailand and the rationale of the project was provided by the representative of the Pollution Control Department, Ms Jantira Duangsai. The SCPF non-key experts’ team presented the literature review on best practices and lessons learned related to environmentally friendly products and services implemented in other SCP leading countries in terms of regulation, policy and implementation, the draft policy and action plan on promoting environmentally friendly products and services, and the National Green Directory.
The consultation workshop was then conducted in two parallel group discussions. Group 1 discussed the strategies relevant to the supply side, and Group 2 focused on congruent strategies to the demand side. The stakeholders constructively shared their view on the draft action plan. Each group structured their discussions on proposed strategies and measures. Before closing the workshop, the results of both groups were shared during the plenary session.
Key Observations
Active participation from key ministries, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, together with concerned stakeholders from green certification schemes, universities, research institutes, civil society, and experts from various sectors demonstrated the high interest of the draft policy and action plan on promoting environmentally friendly products and services, and the national green directory.
During the consultation, specific attention was given to the importance of motivating producers by stimulating the demand side using green public procurement, economic and legal measures to support the promotion of environmentally friendly products and services in the market. It was highlighted that education and communication for target groups are essential to better building the understanding and capacity of supply and demand side to push forward the effective implementation of sustainable green procurement and transforming the country to a sustainable consumption and production society.
Recommendations and Next Steps
Among other outcomes, the following could be highlighted:
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The government should work towards the legislation on green procurement through the Ministerial Regulation prescribing procurement methods for supporting green products and services which is currently under approval process of the Thai Cabinet.
- The government, together with concerned stakeholders, should focus on collecting the list of available green products and services in the market into the national green directory.
Follow-up activities include:
- Revision of the draft Green Integration Policy, the Action Plan, and the National Green Directory and submission to the MoNRE Committee on SDGs for feedback, recommendations and approval.
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Conduct demonstration projects and activities through piloting in selected areas.
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Conduct seminars in the pilot areas to promote environmentally friendly products and services procurement in the study areas.
- Monitoring and reporting the results of piloting projects.
For more information on SWITCH-Asia Technical assistance in Thailand contact:
Loraine Gatlabayan
Key Expert, Southeast Asia
SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility
Lunchakorn Prathumratana
Project Manager
SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility
