Asean marks 58th anniversary with focus on sustainable upcycling

A unique exhibition showcasing innovative upcycling solutions marked the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)’s 58th anniversary at M7 in Doha on Tuesday (September 9), highlighting the growing ties between Southeast Asia and Qatar in environmental stewardship.The celebration, themed *United in Sustainability, underlines the region’s commitment to a greener future and fosters a tangible demonstration of how creativity and technology can transform waste into everyday treasures, according to the Asean Committee in Doha (ACD)."Today, we mark the 58th anniversary of Asean, and the cross-partnership between Southeast Asia and the State of Qatar in advancing sustainability, heritage and innovation,” said Thai ambassador and ACD chair Sira Swangsilpa, spotlighting the exhibition, titled "Innovative Upcycling for Everyday Life”.The event was attended by HE Ibrahim Yousef Fakhro, the director of the Department of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar, along with ambassadors from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam, as well as other diplomats and guests.In his remarks, the envoy highlighted Asean’s commitment to sustainability, citing the establishment of the Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue in Bangkok in 2019.He noted that as Asean co-ordinator for sustainable development co-operation, Thailand actively promotes strong and inclusive partnerships to achieve global sustainable development goals.In Doha, Swangsilpa said that the ACD has contributed to Qatar’s sustainability agenda in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030.This collaboration, he added, includes participation in events such as mangrove planting, a desert clean-up at the singing sand dunes, and tree planting initiatives under the "10 Million Trees” campaign."This year, we are adding something new,” the envoy said. "The ‘Innovative Upcycling for Everyday Life’ exhibition builds upon Thailand’s showcase at the Earthna Summit earlier this year, demonstrating how waste materials such as plastic, agricultural by-products, and even marine debris can be transformed into eco-textiles, lifestyle items, packaging, and artisanal homeware.”Swangsilpa noted that such showcase illustrates Thailand’s bio-circular green economy model and its economic framework.He pointed out that the exhibition aims to prove that sustainability is not just an abstract concept but something tangible that can be incorporated into daily life.The envoy added that this also shows how the partnership with Qatar can flourish through creativity, environmental stewardship, and shared values.The exhibition underscores Thailand’s expertise and best practices in the circular economy, presenting creative solutions that convert waste into opportunities.It displays how science and design can offer viable, scalable alternatives to unsustainable consumption, integrating the circular economy into our daily routines.Dr Singh Intrachooto, chief adviser to the Research and Innovation for Sustainability Centre and an associate professor at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, addressed the common perception that upcycled products are always more expensive."Fifteen years ago it was the case, that when you recycle things, when you upcycle things the investment upfront cost was more,” he said. "But today’s technology have changed all that.”Dr Intrachooto shared the success of Kasetsart University's "Scrap Lab”, which over the past 15 years has transformed various wastes, including agricultural, plastic, automotive, food, and fabric waste, into innovative products."There are no exceptions that every manufacturing processes will produce waste without exception,” he stressed. "If we don’t tackle this problem, soon we will be all overwhelmed with all these wastes like what we are facing now today.”Dr Intrachooto highlighted the diverse range of products on display, from items made from recycled drink straws to those crafted from fruit peels like mango and orange.He emphasised the importance of collaboration."The theme today, *United for Sustainability, is the key because for me, as a designer... I could not do all of that... but this collaboration, with art and science, biologists, scientists, have turned a lot of these impossible things into new innovative materials,” the expert said.He added that the items on display are ready for the market.