Ichitan keeps commitment with hill tribe families, offering Ecoboard Library built from product cartons.

Ichitan Group PLC. held “Ichitan CHArity” year 2, building Ichitan CHArity Eco board Library, equipped with high-speed internet, in order to equalize an educational opportunity to Akha hill tribe children.

Ichitan CHArity’s Eco Board Library is innovatively constructed from recycled Ichitan’s UHT cartons, which comprised of 3 materials: paper, plastic and aluminum foil, overlaying in 6 layers. While the UHT carton contains beverage, the materials in each layer helps preserve nutrients last for 1 year without adding preservatives. Instead of being thrown away, used cartons of Ichitan undergo recycle process to be material separated and reformed into a new material. Ecoboard is comparatively strong to wood, but formaldehyde-free, moisture resistance, termite prevention, climate resistance and long durability of up to 20 years.

“Each year Thai people consumed more than 80,000 tons of UHT cartons; however, only 7.5% of them are recycled. Ichitan then have the used product cartons sorted and separated by material before transforming into a quality surface material. The construction of the library has created connection between Ichitan and hill tribe villagers who cultivate tea for our product manufacturing. Tea leaves have been handpicked by the villages, then transported to Ichitan’s factory as a main material to produce Ichitan drinks and finally distributed nationwide to Thai consumers. After the cartons are used, we have it recycled and bring them back to constitute such development to our hill tribe community”, explained Tan Passakornnatee, Chairman and CEO of Ichitan Group PLC.

By deeply aware of the close connection with the Akhas; every process of building Eco board library from designing, constructing library, sourcing books and setting up the internet system are done by Ichitan employees. We would like to help the Akhas who are considered as Ichitan’s family members to enhance their living standard, especially in terms of education for Akhas children in Phayapraitrimit School, situated in Mae Fah Luang district, Chiang Rai, the largest tea plantation in Thailand. Last year, Ichitan adopted satellite system in order to source ground water for the villagers’ consumption. After underlying rock layers of up to 80 meters in depth, extracted ground water has sufficiently supply not only all school students but also to more than 400 households around the area.

“At the past we need to assess the water supply situation day by day. If it was too arid, the school closed. As education professionals, we felt sorry that we were unable to solve drought issues. Fortunately, Ichitan gave us a light on our darkest days. Also, this year Ichitan come back with the library with high speed internet that allows more equal education opportunities to our students and villagers who can gain more knowledge through this new resource to improve their life and career. Ichitan CHArity Ecoboard Library is probably the most beautiful library in our district. It is our pride. Hopefully, it can attract more children to read books. All help and support we received from Ichitan is invaluable”, revealed Dr. Saisaward Wichai, Director of Chiang Rai Regional Education Area, district 3.

Mrs. Menoo Lachegu, Akha tea farmer, told that “the Akhas used to cultivate opium to exchange for rice. We are also addicted, which makes us unhealthy. We need to burn the fields to renew the surface at the end of each rotation season, soil was damaged, forcing us to always be on the move and giving them insufficient income. The villagers’ life has improved since they began planting tea trees. The living condition is much better: We no longer need to flee, our health improves. This is truly sustainability, as tea plantation is permanent, after 3 years of planting tea, can be harvested every 15 days. We no longer need to worry about selling tea leaves as Ichitan is our buyer. At present, the villagers have stable career here. All of members in our family are together, no need to work far away for money anymore. We are truly happy.

A cooperation between the company, the community and environment, Ichitan CHArity Project commits to promote a sustainable development among tea planters, in order to grow strongly together between Ichitan and community.