Eco-Design Sparking Innovation Award Ceremony

(From Left) Winners from Universities and Schools, Alvaro Zurita, MARE-DESIGN Project Director, GIZ Thailand Phanit Ratasuk, Director of Waste and Hazardous Substances Management Division, Pollution Control Department (PCD), Likki Lee Pitzen, First Secretary for Political and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Germany Bangkok, Prof Dr Hathaikarn Manuspiya, Director of Center of excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology (PETROMAT) Chulalongkorn University, Sanchai Numbunnam, Country General Manager, Informa Markets Thailand, Winners from SMEs and Start-ups.
Bangkok, 11 June 2025 – The Eco-Design Sparking Innovation Award Ceremony, organised by the Marine Litter Prevention through Reduction, Sustainable design, and Recycling of plastic packaging (MA-RE-DESIGN) Project, GIZ Thailand, was held recently at BITEC Bangna.
Aimed at promoting the importance of sustainable packaging design, inspiring stakeholders, and driving sustainable practices in eco-design in Thailand, the event brought together key stakeholders in plastic ecosystems, policy and governmental agencies, the private sector academic institutions, the media and the public. It marked a significant milestone in promoting sustainable product design and celebrated outstanding innovations that apply eco-design and Design for Recycling (D4R), an essential principle driving environmentally friendly industries in Thailand.

A total of 113 individuals submitted their innovations for this competition. Of these, 35 entries were shortlisted for the final round across three categories:
1. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): 2 awards in the Non-Food and Beverage Packaging category,
- Excellent Eco-design Award: TPN Flexpak Co., Ltd.
- Sustainable Visionary Award: Ermy Marketing Co., Ltd.
2. General Public and Start-ups: 1 award in the Innovative Sustainable Packaging category,
- Excellent Eco-design Award: Dr. Tatiya Trongsatitkul
3. Students (School and University level): 3 awards.
- Excellent Eco-design Award, in the Non-Food and Beverage Packaging category: Kritsadika Phanthuvit
- Sustainable Visionary Award, in the Food and Beverage Packaging category: Naphak Rasrichai and Tharanat Bunchasak
- Rising Star Award, in the Innovative Sustainable Packaging category: Sasikorn Taron, Poonnapa Limthanakhom, and Pimpisa Kaewking

Likki-Lee Pitzen, First Secretary for Political and Cultural Affairs, German Embassy Bangkok, stated: “In Germany, eco-design is more than just a concept—it is a foundational principle that shapes how we approach product innovation, environmental responsibility, and industrial competitiveness. By integrating environmental considerations at the design stage, we reduce the environmental footprint across the entire product lifecycle—from production and use to disposal and reuse. This approach is increasingly critical as we confront global challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity.”

Phanit Ratasuk, Director of Waste and Hazardous Substances Management Division, Pollution Control Department (PCD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), noted: “As the lead agency in waste management policy, the Pollution Control Department has been actively implementing the Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030, with a focus on reducing and phasing out single-use plastics, promoting reuse, and increasing recycling rates. One of our key initiatives is the promotion of packaging design that facilitates recycling, known as Design for Recycling (D4R). We have developed initial D4R guidelines for three commonly used packaging types: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles, HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) containers for personal and household care products, and rigid PP (Polypropylene) food packaging. These materials are prevalent in the market and have a significant environmental impact. The D4R guidelines are not just policy documents. They have been integrated into this year’s Eco-Design Sparking Innovation Award to encourage contestants in the packaging category to apply D4R principles in their product designs. This effort aims to create a tangible understanding among emerging designers and foster the wider adoption of D4R practices in the business sector.”

Alvaro Zurita, Project Director of MA-RE-DESIGN, GIZ Thailand, added: “The Eco-Design Sparking Innovation Award is a key component of the MA-RE-DESIGN Project, implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). In close cooperation with the Pollution Control Department, the project promotes sustainable product design and strengthens the enabling environment for eco-design and D4R practices in Thailand. Our goal is to support Thailand in aligning with global sustainability frameworks, including the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).”

Soonthorn Yongvibulsiri, Advisor and Eco-design Working Group Coordinator, Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment – TIPMSE (TIPMSE), the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said: “At FTI, we are collaborating with national partners and international platforms to support the industry’s transition toward sustainability. For example, together with TIPMSE, we are expanding the D4R guidelines beyond the initial three packaging types, aiming for scalable, science-based standards that Thai industries can proudly adopt and promote internationally. We’re also advancing eco-design capacity building for SMEs, helping them develop products that are not only recyclable but also competitive in global markets. Most importantly, we’re fostering cross-sector collaboration. Packaging producers alone cannot drive change—it requires coordination among material converters, brand owners, waste managers, and recyclers working together as an integrated system.”
The event featured an award ceremony and exhibition of winning works from participants across the country from various institutions and organizations, along with the design concepts behind each piece. The Eco-Design Sparking Innovation Award Ceremony celebrates Thailand’s growing momentum in eco-innovation and circular design.
For event updates and further details, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @ecodesigninnovationaward2025 or contact: giz.innovationaward2025@gmail.com
About the MA-RE-DESIGN Project
The Marine Litter Prevention through Reduction, Sustainable Design, and Recycling of Plastic Packaging (MA-RE-DESIGN) project is implemented by GIZ, a German government organisation specialising in international cooperation for sustainable development.
This project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) and is carried out in collaboration with the Pollution Control Department under Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, along with key project partners: The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), both WWF Germany and WWF Thailand, and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The project supports the implementation of Thailand’s Plastic Waste Management Roadmap 2018–2030 and the Phase 2 Plastic Waste Management Action Plan (2023–2027).
About GIZ Thailand
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a service provider in international cooperation for sustainable development, owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, and dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. With over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, GIZ works with businesses, civil society actors and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity.
GIZ has been implementing more than 500 projects to support Thailand in achieving its development goals since 1959, when the Thai-German cooperation was initiated through the establishment of the Thai-German Technical School. The Thai-German Partnership is built around a shared commitment to the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and key international treaties.
The registered offices of GIZ are in Bonn and Eschborn. In 2023, we generated a business volume of around 4 billion Euros. Our 25,634 employees, almost 70 percent of whom are national staff, work in around 120 countries*.
*As of 31 December 2023
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