Marine Plastic Pollution Exhibition at Eco-Centre, towne

Penang, Malaysia, 22 April 2019 - In conjunction with World Earth Day, Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa and Golden Sands Resort is launching an exhibition at the resort Eco-Centre featuring marine plastic displays to create awareness about the effect of plastic towards the environment. The Shangri-La resorts in Penang have made a serious commitment towards supporting and playing an important role as environmental custodians of the Penang National Park and the Turtle Information and Conservation Centre (TICC) through a partnership with the Penang State Fisheries Department.

This interactive exhibition is devised by a team of scientists from Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies Universiti Sains Malaysia (CEMAC USM) and local artists to demonstrate the concept of "upcycling" which means giving second life to discarded items.

By exploring the exhibits made from cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic straws, cake boards, polyfoams, stickers and many others; visitors have the opportunity to learn more about what happens to the discarded items after they are thrown into disposal bins. Furthermore, this exhibition will inspire visitors by introducing creativity in reusing waste beyond the conventional recycling methods through upcycling. As high as 80% of the components used to construct the exhibits at the Eco-Centre are from waste collected from households, beaches and public spaces. The exhibition features upcycling technique pioneered by artist Tan Kay Heong.

The Eco-Centre serves as an information centre to create awareness of turtle conservation. It also highlights the efforts of the Shangri-La Penang Sanctuary Project. School visits will be conducted to educate future generations and to raise environmental awareness on the plight of sea turtles in partnership with the Penang State Education Department.

The Eco-Centre provides an open, spacious edutainment venue where resort guests and visitors converge and learn more about turtle species conservation and environmental protection from the displayed information. The Eco-Centre operates from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and it is run by the recreation team of both resorts. For more information, please contact Communications Department at (60 4) 888 8888.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts remains committed to operating in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner while balancing the interests of diverse stakeholders. In striving to be a leader in corporate citizenship and sustainable development, a corporate-level CSR Committee drives the company's initiatives in the strategic areas of stakeholder relations, environment, health and safety, supply chain and employees. Under the umbrella of sustainability, Shangri-La's social responsibility programme consists of the two elements of "embrace" and "sanctuary." Embrace focuses on Shangri-La's Caring People Project, which aims to promote the highest level of education and health support in underprivileged communities. In sanctuary, the programme concentrates on Shangri-La's Care for Nature Project, which promotes the conservation and restoration of biodiversity. For more information, please access the CSR section on www.shangri-la.com.