As eco-trends catch on around the world, turning industrial waste or discarded materials into “upcycled” products has become a new industry among Thai small and medium-sized enterprises.
After combining to initiate the “Waste to Wealth” project between 2008-2011, three organisations – Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and the Scrap Lab of the Architecture Faculty at Kasetsart University – are extending into a second phase, from 2012 to 2014.Ongorn Arpakorn Na Ayutthaya, SCB executive vice president, said the project aimed to encourage SMEs to convert waste material from production processes into new products of good quality. While manufacturers are facing increasingly higher costs in getting rid of waste materials, upcycling is an oportunity for them to transform this waste into a treasure trove.
Ongorn said the Waste to Wealth project had been developed from a Scrap Lab project established in 2007, with financial support from SCB. It is a design and research centre run by academic staff and students from the Faculty of Architecture at Kasetsart University with the aim of developing an innovative ecological-based approach towards re-processing and re-circulating industrial solid waste, construction debris and community waste.
Singh Intrachooto, head of the creative centre for eco design at the Kasetsart faculty, and a Waste to Wealth project adviser, said upcycling was different from recycling because it increased the value of products, not downgraded them.
“I do believe upcycling will eventually replace recycliing in the future. It will be a practical way through a combination of the recycling and reuse processes for sustainability,” said Singh.
Vipada Phrom-manope, deputy director of the Technology Management Centre (TMC) under the NSTDA, said development of the upcycling process required three main factors of support: science & technology, knowledged and finance. The partnership of these three systems would drive the upcycled prototypes to become commercial products.
TMC and iTAP (Industrial Technology Assistance Programme), which are NSTDA members, would support science and technology development; Scrap Lap would support knowledge and design; while SCB would support funding.
iTAP is the programme created for SMEs to help them meet the challenges in introducing technology-based products and processes.
In December 2012, SCB teamed up with the two strategic partners to organise the Upcycling Exhiblition @ Siam Commercial Bank, showcasing 131 upcycled products from eight private companies at SCB headquarters.
At the exhibition, both SMEs and individual visitors could learn about upcycled products made from industrial waste including wood, cloth, aluminium and glass. In addition, the Factory Outlet, which will be held twice a year by SCB and the Federation of Thai Industries, would be another marketing channel to help promote upcycled products.
Among the exhibitors are UV Glas, Thai Chin Wood, Thai Techno Glass, REal Wood Work Creation, MT Cynasty, and Pro Marketing Home and Decor.
Ongorn acknowledged effective marketing was another crucial factor for the growth of upcycled products. As a result, SCB also planned to provide assistance for the SMEs to expand their markets through various channels, including an online marketplace.
Besides the exhibition and factory in showcasing their products at the Thailand Interantional Furniture Fair (TIFF).
She pointed out that growing consumer awareness of environmental preservation would stimulate entrepreneurs to turn diverse industrial waste into creative products.
From now until 2014, the interested SMEs can apply to enter the second phase of the Waste to Wealth project.
Reference :
PATCHAREE LUENGUTHAI. TRANSFORMING WASTE INTO WEALTH SCB. TRANSFORMING WASTE INTO WEALTH SCB, NSTDA, Kasetsart extend promotion of ‘upcycling’ trend. The Nation. ฉบับวันที่ 16 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2556.– ( 605 Views)
