Natural Resources Ministry urges public-private agencies to go green

BANGKOK, 16 June 2009 (NNT) – The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry urges all public and private sectors to use environment-friendly products and services, adding that other go-green policies would also be encouraged.

Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Saksit Tridech, said the Ministry was targeting government agencies to include eco-friendly products and services to comprise at least 25 percent of their total purchases in 2008. He said the percentage would rise by 25 percent annually until reaching 100 percent in 2011.

Initially, there are 17 kinds of eco-friendly products and services encouraged by the Ministry to be used in government agencies such as paper, tissue paper, printer’s ink cartridge, photocopy machines as well as hotels and accommodation.

Mr. Saksit said the Ministry had also discussed with the Finance Ministry to reduce corporate tax or so-called ‘Green Tax’ for entrepreneurs using eco-friendly products or services. He said the details of the project were now in process, adding that it would be proposed in the cabinet’s meeting soon.