Thailand's makers of decorative items, furniture, fashion and other lifestyle 
goods have been anticipating the rising global consumer demand for 
environmentally friendly products, by creating innovative solutions based on 
locally available bio resources and increasingly engaging in recycling, in line 
with the country's Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model and sustainable 
development agenda, Thai officials and businesspeople said at a recent BCG 
symposium and exhibition in Bangkok.

The Thai Government has made the BCG Economy Model a national agenda to foster 
sustainable economic development, and help achieve environmental and climate 
objectives. Thailand has also declared BCG a key focus of its chairmanship of 
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings throughout 2022.

"Thailand is at the forefront and pioneering the BCG principles. We support and 
promote Thai designers, design-based enterprises as well as Thai startups so 
that many become role models for the industry to follow," said M.L. Kathathong 
Thongyai, an executive at the Department of International Trade Promotion 
(DITP), Ministry of Commerce.

Consumers and companies worldwide increasingly transform themselves into 
environmental conscious citizens. The Global Sustainability Study 2021 survey 
revealed that 85 percent of people globally indicate that they have shifted 
their purchase behavior towards being more sustainable in the past five years.

Known for their craftsmanship, Thai companies are using design and technology 
in transforming natural and industrial waste to make a multitude of products 
that delight consumers, while ensuring sustainability.

"We have for quite some time been using off cuts, wood scraps and sawdust in 
the products we export to Japan and elsewhere, but what we do now is to take 
the problem at the roots by making the zero waste objective part of the design 
from the very start," said Mr. Jirachai Tangkitngamwong, R&D and Marketing 
Director, Deesawat Industries, a furniture and flooring manufacturer which 
showcased new collections during the Milan Design Week.

The company is one of the recipients of the DEWA/DEWI label, an acronym 
standing for Design from Waste of Agriculture and Design from Waste of 
Industry, issued by the Government of Thailand to promote initiatives 
developing the creative use of recycling and the development of eco-friendly 
new materials in the manufacturing of lifestyle products.

Another label recipient, New Arriva, better known for its Qualy brand, produces 
decorative items made of natural materials and recycled discarded fishing nets, 
plastic bags and bottles. The company, a regular participant to global home 
decoration shows, exports its eco-friendly goods to over 50 countries.

A fashion shoe maker named UPCYDE, which aims to drive sustainability in the 
fashion and agriculture industries by up-cycling some of the vast volume of 
agricultural waste, also received the label. UPCYDE mixes dried banana leaves 
with rubber to make a more durable material it calls leaf leather.

As sustainability becomes the societal goal shaping the world, a promising 
potential awaits both eco-friendly product creators and consumers, raising the 
hope a greener world can certainly be achieved.

Source: DITP

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=423978

   Caption: "Thailand: Be the ChanGe" the slogan of the campaign to promote 
Thai lifestyle products made in line with the country's Bio-Circular-Green 
(BCG) economy model. Please note that client will provide photo soon.