As part of the European Union's (EU) global #EUBeachCleanup campaign, the EU Delegation to Thailand (EUD) conducted a series of hands-on activities to raise awareness of plastic pollution, waste problems and solutions for a second consecutive year in 2020.

With the support of local partners, including Mahidol University International College, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Key Opinion Leaders (KoLs), the three-month campaign kicked off with the online competition “TrashMe Challenge”. Conceived by SOS Earth and carried out in collaboration with Little Big Green and Tuen Channel, KoLs from the three organisations – including Maria Poonlertlarp, Wannasingh Prasertkul and Kanatip Soontornrak – encouraged Thai youth to collect trash from their daily life and design unique costumes.

The imaginative costumes were designed by three well-known Thai artists, Wishulada Panthanuvong, Pairoj Pichetmetakul and Pathavee Thepkraiwan, from their own waste to trigger public interest in the campaign. The artists were also featured in one of the campaign videos, together with prominent academic Varun Waranyanon from Chula Zero Waste project of Chulalongkorn University.

Seven winners from the challenge, which ran from 22 August to 12 September, were selected to participate in the EU Canal Cleanup Day 2020. Together with the celebrities, the winners showcased their final products at the event on 18 September. About 140 volunteers also joined the event to help remove plastic debris from the canal and learn how the process contributes to improved water quality.

Participants gained insights on how local communities in Lad Phrao, Bangkok Noi and Bangkok Yai are engaged in an initiative to understand the impact of plastic pollution on their health and well-being while underlining their role in solving the problem.

The event concluded with a joint discussion among representatives of EUD, partner organisations, and winners from the ‘Trash Me Challenge’ on the importance of the circular economy.

Eleven videos were produced and published by SOS EARTH (Youtube Channel, Facebook page, Instagram) and shared on KOL and EUD platforms.