With an abundance of plastic waste but a scarcity of personal protective equipment (PPE), Thailand is turning trash into treasure by upcycling bottles into protective clothing for people at risk of coronavirus infection.
Monks have been cremating the bodies and need protective equipmentMillions of plastic bottles have been collected, shredded and turned into threads to be weaved into fabrics eventually used for PPE, either for hospitals or Buddhist temples, where monks have been cremating coronavirus victims.
"There are times where it is very difficult to get hold of PPE suits, sometimes even if you have money, you can't buy," said Phra Maha Pranom Dhammalangkaro, abbott of Chakdaeng temple in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok.Temple volunteers have been sewing orange PPE suits for monks, undertakers and scavengers and are being sent to thousands of temples in need across the country.
Though these are not medical-grade, they provide at least some protection for those potentially exposed to COVID-19, and one PPE suit can be made using only 18 plastic bottles. "This is so that it can prevent particle dust from seeping through and the virus from coming into contact with us," said Arnuphap Chompuming, head of sales and marketing at textile firm Thai Taffeta, which operates the factory east of Bangkok.
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