On 21 July 2025, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, presided over the opening ceremony of the exhibition “Local to Global – Empowering Communities through Upcycled Innovation for Sustainable Growth,” co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Scrap Lab: Creative Center for Eco-Design, Faculty of Architecture, Kasetsart University, the United Nations Global Compact Network Thailand, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The event took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2025 and was well attended by Mr. Guy Ryder Under-Secretary-General for Policy and representative of the Secretary-General of the UN, Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UNDP, and high-level representatives of the Member States of the UN.

 

The exhibition aimed to promote and enhance the global competitiveness of Thai local products under the concept of “From Local to Global” by: (1) fostering partnerships between Thai communities and stakeholders at both national and international levels; (2) creating economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs; and (3) presenting the potential of Thai creators in transforming waste materials into both artistic and practical items, guided by local wisdom.

 

This reflects Thailand’s approach to sustainable economic development, linking local dimensions to the global stage, and demonstrates the country’s commitment to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote Thailand’s soft power through sustainable design and innovation.

 

The exhibition featured three main sections: (1) Products by Thai local entrepreneurs, developed in collaboration with or selected by Scrap Lab, such as sea turtle rescue hammocks made from marine debris, and jewelry made from fragments of Benjarong porcelain;(2) Products by major Thai companies that upcycle materials into high-value goods, such as bioplastic containers (by Thai Wah), tuna collagen (by Thai Union), and animal feed from molasses waste (by Mitr Phol); and (3) Projects by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that support the application of local knowledge for sustainable community development.