SCGP has conducted its businesses based on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and Circular Economy concepts. It therefore has focused on green materials, maximum resource efficiency and upcycling. So many materials that would otherwise be thrown away become new products with added value, thanks to SCGP, which has also promoted community-enterprise development.
Guided by the aforementioned concepts, SCGP has recently collaborated with THINKK Studio in organizing “TRANSFORMATION” Waste to Value Workshop to promote resource efficiency and upcycling. Invited to the event were members of craft-community enterprises around SCGP’s plants in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Prachin Buri and Khon Kaen, as well as design / material-sciences lecturers and students. At the workshop, participants explored ways to upcycle SCGP’s unused materials with THINKK Studio in charge of sharpening the ideas and upcycling implementation.
“TRANSFORMATION” Waste to Value Workshop
“TRANSFORMATION” Waste to Value Workshop took place amid inspiringly fun atmosphere. Discussed the workshop were four types of materials namely paper band, recycled plastic strap that is a byproduct from plastic-bottle forming, plastic tubes, and crushed recycled plastic. After THINKK Studio’s finishing touch, the upcycled materials are beautiful in design and boast added value.
THINKK Studio’s designers shared their ideas at the workshop. The first stage of the workshop was to understand more about the four materials and their different characteristics. The team then concluded that paper band should be woven in line with Thai craft of weaving. Tubes, meanwhile, should go well with that can be grasped in the hand. Crushed plastic, on its part, has solid durability and can be used for tray making.
In the next stage, THINKK Studio produced six protypes from the four materials namely a vase, a lantern, a handbag, a tray, a fan, and a tote bag. Participants then were given opportunities to make these products from the materials provided. For decoration, there were thin plastic sheets for participants to choose. These sheets were recycled from used plastic bags.
THINKK Studio – Think Circular
Mr. Decha Archjananun, Creative Director & Co-Founder of THINKK Studio offered advice on how to upcycle waste/unwanted materials as follows:
“Breathing a new life to no-longer-wanted materials or waste requires creativity. Designers need to visualize what the materials will be turned into through an experimental process that should go beyond any limit. During the workshop, THINKK Studio has already shown how to upcycle materials. Our team believes our efforts were successful and got positive response from participants. This workshop provided us with a good opportunity to interact with students who had fresh ideas as well as with craft-community enterprises that had exceptional craft skills. All sides in the workshop definitely discovered some inspirations.
“Anyone can upcycle materials. At household level, upcycling will require just basic skills. At community or industrial level, it may be necessary to design waste disposal and storage process for upcycling. However, the process design can be done in collaboration with supportive companies, government agencies or research units.
“Importantly, upcycling must focus on ensuring that its output is not only as functional as products from new raw materials but also answers well to consumers’ lifestyles. Last but not least, upcycling trend should continue because it is crucial to the environment and the world’s future.”