Hub of Talents: Sustainable Materials for Circular Economy (HubSustainMat) and PETROMAT, in collaboration with GIZ Thailand, hosted the seminar “Materials Innovation for a Sustainable Future” on 13 June 2025 at Pathumwan Princess Hotel, Bangkok. The event was held under the Marine Litter Prevention through Reduction, Sustainable Design, and Recycling of Plastic Packaging (MA-RE-DESIGN) project.
Featuring three speakers from Taiwan and Thailand, the seminar brought together 55 participants from academia and the industry ecosystem. Opening remarks were delivered by the Head of HubSustainMat, Prof. Hathaikarn Manuspiya, and the Project Director of MA-RE-DESIGN at GIZ Thailand, Mr. Alvaro Zurita.
Ms. Chin-Shan Chen, Leader of the Sustainable Materials Library (SML) at Taiwan’s Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC), introduced the SML, which houses 1,000 plus sustainable materials from over 300 suppliers. The SML is a resource for students, designers, producers, and supply chain stakeholders, enabling cross-sector collaboration in eco-packaging development.
She highlighted strategies such as mono-material design, removal of unnecessary plastic, closed-loop manufacturing, improved waste sorting and recycling, and the adoption of clean technologies and renewable energy. The PIDC also provides materials certification, talent training, R&D partnerships, and sustainability business model transformation—key supports in Taiwan’s journey toward circularity and net-zero emissions.
Dr. Thawatchai Tungkavet, Senior Technical Service & Development Specialist at DOW Chemical Thailand, concluded the session by outlining DOW’s sustainable packaging strategies. These include closed-loop production, waste transformation, Design for Recycling (D4R), recycled plastic integration, and the use of mono-material solutions such as Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (BOPA)—all aligned with Thailand’s circular economy vision and international standards such as those of the European Union.
The seminar served as a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, offering practical insights and fresh inspiration to participants—especially students, young researchers, and entrepreneurs. By bringing together perspectives from Taiwan’s national initiatives, industry leadership, and local innovation, the session highlighted how collaboration and eco-design can drive real-world impact toward a more sustainable future.
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