Bangkok: The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), in conjunction with the Environmental Research Institute for Sustainability at Chulalongkorn University, organized a public hearing on the "Development of the Draft Circular Economy Promotion Act B.E...." This event, part of the Circular Economy Promotion Law and Food Waste Management Law Development Project, took place on October 31, 2025, at Siam@Siam Design Hotel in Bangkok. The primary objective was to create a platform for stakeholders from public, private, and civil society sectors to voice their perspectives and recommendations on advancing the nation's circular economy framework.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Pairoj Saonuam, Deputy Manager of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and Acting Director of the Health Risk Factor Control Support Office, emphasized the organization's commitment to addressing environmental issues that affect public health. He highlighted ThaiHealth's strategic focus on reducing environmental pollution and its support for systemic changes, like the Clean Air for Health Act and the Pollution Release and Transfer Act. Dr. Pairoj underscored the critical role of the Circular Economy Promotion Act in transforming waste practices from "discard, collect, and dispose" to "reduce, reuse, and recycle," thereby fostering sustainable resource management.
Dr. Sujittra Wasanadamrongdee, a researcher at the Environmental Research Institute for Sustainability and the project's leader, pointed out the longstanding environmental challenges related to waste in Thailand. She advocated for structural and legal reforms to transition towards a circular economy, which would enhance the country's economic value by promoting waste reduction and recycling. Dr. Sujittra noted that the World Bank estimates that adopting a circular economy in Thailand could increase GDP by at least 1%, create over 160,000 jobs, and raise the standards of sustainable products. This shift would also bolster Thailand's competitiveness, particularly in the European Union market, where circular economy regulations are becoming standard import requirements.