Warawut, the Minister of Industry, emphasized that plastic pellets are still sufficient but preparations must be made for the future because the Middle East situation remains unpredictable. He explained that using personal water flasks could be an option to reduce burdens if product prices rise.
At 14:15 on 16 April 2026 at Government House, Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, spoke before attending a meeting on the plastic pellet situation. He thanked Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthumpun for honoring the Ministry of Industry with an informal discussion on ways to help ease the burden on citizens regarding plastic packaging products. He noted that the Middle East situation could develop unpredictably, so for safety, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed concern. Today’s discussion focused on finding options for consumers and citizens to avoid adding burdens if plastic pellets become scarce or more expensive in the future.
When asked if there is a need to monitor the potential depletion of plastic pellets, Warawut said they are still available today. However, it is unclear whether the key parties involved in the conflict have concluded negotiations successfully or reached positive outcomes. Therefore, it is unknown whether the supply of plastic pellets derived as by-products from oil refining will increase or decrease. Actually, as he has mentioned before quoting the Deputy Prime Minister, Thailand has a reasonable supply of raw materials but may need to slightly adjust methods.
When asked about initial efforts to find plastic sources, Warawut said that although alternative sources might be found, they will likely come at a higher cost. Many people have commented on Facebook, questioning if using personal water flasks would add another burden to the public. He clarified that it is not mandatory, but amid the situation, if product or packaging prices rise, increasing the cost of consumer goods, they must consider options.
Warawut said they are suggesting alternatives that, while possibly less convenient than before, can help reduce other burdens. For example, personal water flasks could help ease costs. Of course, questions arise like where to refill the water flasks. He candidly acknowledged that sometimes people transfer water from bottles into flasks or leave partially consumed bottled water unused. The solution could be improved water consumption efficiency. He believes many places, including the parliament, face issues with unfinished bottled water being discarded and replaced unnecessarily. Using personal flasks initially will improve water consumption efficiency and encourage their use. In countries like Japan, there are public water refill stations. This change will happen gradually, but nothing will start unless efforts begin.