The Chula Zero Waste and GIZ teams pose for a group shot in front of the waste segregation facility at Chulalongkorn University

On August 26, 2024, the GIZ Green Industry and Circular Economy Cluster Teams visited the Chula Zero Waste Initiative at Chulalongkorn University, which exemplifies Thailand’s leading practices in sustainability and reflects a broader commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship within educational institutions. GIZ aspires to harness the insights gleaned from this initiative to extend its impact far beyond the university’s confines.

GIZ’s portfolio related to circular economy implementation in Thailand began in 1999 with a waste management project in Phitsanulok, marking the start of an ongoing collaboration with the Thai government. Recent initiatives have increasingly prioritised the prevention of plastic waste leakage throughout the packaging value chain. These efforts align not only with national policies, such as the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model and the Plastic Waste Management Action Plan—where GIZ projects support our political partners, including the Pollution Control Department (PCD) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)—but also with global strategies and policies, including the European Green Deal and the Global Plastics Treaty.

Executives from the Sector and Global Programmes (GloBe) Department, accompanied by the GIZ Thailand team, travelled to Chulalongkorn University via the Chula Electric Shuttle Bus

Dr. Elke Siehl, Director General of Sector and Global Programmes, and Ms. Elke Hüttner, Director of the Division for Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure, the two executives from GIZ Headquarters in Germany, along with the GIZ Thailand team, travelled to Chulalongkorn University to observe best practices firsthand. The group utilised public transport, including the BTS Skytrain and the Chula Electric Shuttle Bus, to experience local commuting while minimising greenhouse gas emissions through low-carbon travel. As Thailand’s premier educational institution, Chulalongkorn University strives to set the standard as a model university of innovation for society. The university is committed to three core principles of social development: preparing future leaders, fostering impactful research and innovation, and promoting social sustainability. Chulalongkorn University was ranked among the world’s top 50 universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024, which evaluates universities based on their support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and societal impact.

In addition to its global ranking among the top 50 universities for sustainability, Chulalongkorn University is also recognised as Thailand’s leading institution in industry, innovation and infrastructure. The Chula Zero Waste Initiative, now in its seventh year, aims to instill a sustainability mindset and practices in students, preparing them to be future leaders. Mr. Korb Limsuwan, Project Manager of the Chula Zero Waste Initiative and Head of the Environmental Management Workgroup, provided an insightful overview of Thailand’s waste management challenges and outlined the university’s comprehensive waste management strategies, which span from waste prevention to resource utilisation, within a campus community of 37,626 students and 8,138 staff members.

[Left] Mr. Korb Limsuwan, Head of Environmental Management Workgroup and Project Manager of Chula Zero Waste Initiative; [Right] The waste segregation station in the canteen

Mr. Limsuwan highlighted Chula Zero Waste’s policies and practices through concrete examples. These include the Single-use Plastic (SUP) Waste Reduction Policy, which extends beyond plastic bags to ban the use of synthetic foam food containers and oxo-biodegradable plastic bags. The initiative also enforces an On-Request Policy, where plastic utensils, straws, and container lids are only provided upon request, alongside the replacement of SUPs with compostable alternatives.

In terms of infrastructure, the university has installed over 130 water dispensers, and first-year students received reusable water bottles as part of their welcome package. In terms of data monitoring, over 104 buildings out of 216 buildings on campus have joined the green office programme, in which housemaids are trained to sort waste and weigh it daily in detail. This data is submitted monthly to the Chula Zero Waste team for thorough analysis and to facilitate more efficient planning. Additionally, communication efforts include monthly Green Campaigns such as “Your Cup, We Treat,” which encourages the use of reusable cups by offering free beverages to participants.

[Left] Bio-digester station converting food waste into biogas and liquid fertilizer within 24 hours; [Right] Liquid fertilizer storage

After the presentation, the group proceeded to visit various key stations on campus, beginning with the waste segregation station at the canteen. Here, clear signage featuring real images of waste examples ensures that waste is correctly sorted into the appropriate bins. The group also observed an incentivisation tool designed to encourage sustainable behaviours, such as offering discounts for bringing reusable cups, a practice grounded in Behavioural Economics principles. The tour continued to the Bio-digester station, where food waste is converted into biogas and liquid fertiliser within 24 hours, effectively managing organic waste. The journey concluded at the final waste segregation station, where recyclable waste is processed for upcycling or utilised as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for substituting fossil fuels in cement kilns. Meanwhile, general waste is compacted and subsequently managed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

The debriefing, held at the end of the day, provided an opportunity to exchange insights on the impact and challenges encountered during the operation of this initiative. The session was attended by Dr. Sujitra Vassanadumrongdee and Mr. Varoon Varanyanond, Advisors to the Chula Zero Waste Initiative. The discussions centred on strategies for scaling the initiative to other universities across Thailand, the critical role of communication in shaping behaviours and raising awareness, and key topics such as the Deposit Return System (DRS) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) focused on addressing plastic waste issues and contributing to the broader circular economy, areas in which these experts contribute to public policy development.

[Left] Mr. Alvaro Zurita, Project Director (left), Ms. Elke Hüttner Director of Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Division (middle), and Dr. Elke Siehl, Director General of Sector and Global Programme (right); [Right[. [Dr. Sujitra Vassanadumrongdee, Advisor to the Chula Zero Waste Initiative and Senior Researcher at Environmental Research Institute (left), and Mr. Varoon Varanyanond, Advisor to the Chula Zero Waste Initiative and Industrial Partnership Advisor to Centre of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology (Petromat) (right)

Technical support and cross-sector collaboration emerged as pivotal in guiding effective policy, bolstered by practical, on-ground experiences like Chula Zero Waste, which serves as a living laboratory for testing waste prevention and management initiatives. These insights hold significant potential for broader societal applications beyond the campus. As policy development and legal frameworks advance through GIZ projects, the knowledge and experience garnered from this initiative will be instrumental in bridging policy gaps within the circular economy and in furthering the nation’s sustainability commitments.

Links to Currently Active GIZ Projects on Circular Economy Implementation:

Projects funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV):

• Marine Litter Prevention through Reduction, Sustainable Design, and Recycling of Plastic Packaging (MA-RE-DESIGN): click
• Collaborative Actions for Single-Use Plastic Prevention in Southeast Asia (CAP SEA): click

Project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ):

• ASEAN Municipal Solid Waste Management Enhancement (AMUSE): click