CHIANG MAI (ANN/THE NATION) – A striking sculpture made from 296,444 used plastic shopping bags is attracting visitors to a flower garden in Chiang Mai’s Mae Ai district. The giant bear, named Nong (Baby) Kob Kaeb (Kob Kaeb meaning plastic shopping bags), is the highlight of the Roi Jai Rak (United Hearts for Conservation) garden, part of a sustainable development project by the Mae Fah Lung Foundation.
The Roi Jai Rak project, launched in 2017, aims to provide alternative livelihoods for hilltribe communities, moving them away from opium cultivation and drug trade. The flower garden, opened in 2020, offers a new tourist attraction designed to generate income for local villages.
This winter, Nong Kob Kaeb, woven from used plastic bags by villagers and hilltribe children, is the garden’s star attraction. After the season, the bear will be dismantled, and the plastic will be recycled into biodiesel for use within the project, further emphasising its commitment to sustainability.
The 75-rai garden, previously used for less profitable corn farming and a failed coffee ranch, now boasts vibrant winter flowers and a scenic walking path featuring two large peacock sculptures.
