Waste to "VALUE": Transforming Waste into Worth
Created By RISC | 3 weeks ago
Last modified date : 3 weeks ago
Thailand generated 19.8 million tons of industrial waste in 2023, 18.7 million non-hazardous and 1.1 million hazardous, according to the Department of Industrial Works.
Most industrial waste comes from sugar production (38.8%), thermal power generation (14.3%), food and beverages (11.9%), steel (6.4%), ethanol (5.7%), along with other industries such as paper, automotive parts, chemicals, plastics, and textiles.
Large volumes of waste are typically generated during industrial production—and the amount is increasing each year. Without proper management, such waste can have severe environmental impacts, including hazardous chemical contamination, microplastics in soil and water, and the spread of harmful pathogens.
The Circular Economy focuses on reusing waste to reduce overall volume and sustainably transform it into valuable resources.
This process starts with product design that minimizes resource use and reduces waste during production. It also includes considerations for end-of-life product management, such as using biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable materials. Importantly, by-products from manufacturing should not be treated as mere waste, but as valuable resources—offering opportunities to create added value, such as using them as raw materials for new products. This maximizes resource efficiency.
One example is the production of carpet tiles from nylon fibers by Tarkett.
Tarkett’s carpet tiles are designed to be disassembled:
- The carpet pile, made of nylon fibers, can be chemically recycled along with other production scraps and nylon waste (e.g., fishing nets, mesh, garments, and plastic parts) into new nylon fiber for producing new carpets.
- The backing layer, once separated, is shredded and reformed into new backing material for future carpet tiles.
This thoughtful design and material selection significantly reduces waste, lowers environmental impact, adds value, and cuts disposal costs.
Turning waste into new products through circular design not only reduces waste and environmental impact but also adds value—through materials engineered for recycling and efficient resource use at every step. The outcome is not only lower disposal costs, but also new business opportunities to develop sustainable products.
If your organization or industry is looking to turn factory waste into value and build a sustainable circular economy, contact:
RISC Line ID: risc_center
Tel: 063-902-9346
Email: risc_admin@dtgo.com
Story by: Supunnapang Raksawong, Materials Researcher in Sustainable Building Material, RISC
References:
National Statistical Office. Thailand Environmental Statistics 2024: https://www.nso.go.th/public/e-book/Indicators-Environment/Environment-Indicators-2567/
Department of Industrial Works. Industrial Waste Summary 2023: https://api.diw.go.th/public/tableauPublic.jsp?name=A4&ms=1744165687192
Tarkett. Climate and Circular Economy