SCGP Community Enterprise Development Project: Creating Added Value for Paper Band

SCGP places importance on conducting sustainable business operations, fostering growth with social development, and caring for the environment. It responds to the needs of customers and consumers while enhancing the quality of life for individuals and communities. This is achieved by considering the efficient use of resources and maximizing benefits in line with the principles of the Circular Economy. SCGP extends this concept to community development projects by promoting knowledge and inspiring communities through expertise and experiences. It aims to create understanding and encourage community participation in planning their own career development projects. One example is the utilization of paper band, a residual material from SCGP’s manufacturing process, as raw materials for weaving crafts to generate income for the community. By adding creativity to the weaving skills of the community, the paper bands, which are sold at a price of only 2-3 baht per kilogram, can create significant value.

SCGP believes that career development is essential for community empowerment and driving the local economy, which serves as a vital foundation for the country’s economic development. Therefore, SCGP initiated a project in collaboration with communities, teachers, and lecturers from Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University. The aim is to increase the value of the paper bands by enhancing their characteristics, such as durability and resistance to moisture, and transforming them into woven products. The knowledge gained is then shared through training programs with communities around the factory. The woven products include baskets, trays, coaster sets, finger-pull coasters, potpourri sachets, handbags, shoulder bags, mesh bags, flower baskets, and gift boxes, providing additional opportunities for income generation within the community. Moreover, this initiative aims to establish learning centers within the community to facilitate knowledge transfer and the sustainable development of products.

Starting in Kanchanaburi province and expanding to other communities around SCGP factories, this approach encourages the establishment of community enterprises, creating employment and income for the communities in Ratchaburi and Prachinburi provinces as well. SCGP continues to expand its curriculum, encompassing design, community identity development, dyeing techniques, marketing, and brand creation, to foster differentiation and competitiveness. Recognitions for SCGP’s successful community development efforts include the second-place award in the “Ploy Dai Pa Sook” business model competition organized by the Department of Industrial Promotion, highlighting the value-added potential of products made from industrial residual materials. These achievements demonstrate SCGP’s commitment to developing communities, empowering their potential, and promoting sustainable self-reliance.

List of Paper Band Weaving Community Enterprises: