Waste Management & Circular Economy

Sena Development Public Company Limited, or SENA, has joined forces with Quality Construction Products Public Company Limited, or Q-CON, to develop Eco-Pot, a recycled planter created under the Turn Waste Green concept, which turns leftover brick scraps back into something valuable in order to reduce waste, increase green space, and generate income for communities. The plan is to pilot the handover to homeowners at the Welcome Home event of the COZI MRT Phetkasem 48 project. This collaboration is part of elevating the SENA Low Carbon approach into carbon management across the entire supply chain under the SENA Green Supply Chain – Carbon Product Reduction strategy, aiming to cut indirect greenhouse gas emissions in Scope 3, covering everything from material selection and construction processes to waste material management and the living phase. SENA's executives and team visited the Q-CON factory, a Strategic Green Partner for lightweight brick products, to study technology, production processes, and resource management approaches, and also took part in a Design Thinking workshop and exchanged knowledge to find ways to bring waste materials from production processes and construction sites back into use. As for Eco-Pot, it is developed from leftover lightweight brick scraps from construction sites, giving communities the chance to take part in the production process before the planters are delivered back to homeowners to grow plants in their homes, while also supporting the Net Zero 2050 goal. The COZI MRT Phetkasem 48 project will be the pilot project for passing on Eco-Pot to homeowners, developed under the Condo Low Carbon concept near the Blue Line electric train at Phetkasem 48 station, and it will apply carbon reduction approaches in the project, including installing solar cells in common areas, choosing plant species that help absorb carbon, a waste management system that encourages sorting and recycling, and EV charger areas for electric cars and motorcycles.

SCG presented its Public-Private-People Partnership (4P) model and its Area-based Approach through the case study of the Saraburi Sandbox on two major stages: GCNT EXPO 2026, under the theme "From SHOCK to SHIFT – Thailand's Sustainable Transition in a Fractured World," and a panel discussion at The Bangkok Business Summit 2026: Reinvent Thailand, Resilient ASEAN. Thammasak Sethaudom, President and CEO of SCG, said that SCG began its transition to a low-carbon economy by tackling carbon reduction in its cement business, an industry that is hard to decarbonize. The company therefore developed technologies in its production processes, such as replacing nearly 50% of coal with biomass fuels and lowering production temperatures, while maintaining product efficiency, strength, and durability. SCG expanded its collaboration from the business level to the industry level through the Thai Cement Manufacturers Association, or TCMA, together with the Saraburi Provincial Industrial Council and Saraburi Province, to develop the Saraburi Sandbox as a model low-carbon city area, covering waste management, the use of agricultural residues, expansion of green spaces, and promotion of eco-tourism. The Saraburi Sandbox has gained global recognition, having been selected to join the World Economic Forum's Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative and featured as an ASEAN case study in the WEF White Paper 2026, while also expanding cooperation with Princeton University, the GCCA, and UNIDO on energy transition, technology, and green finance. Thammasak said the next goal is to apply the lessons from the Saraburi Sandbox's 4P model to suit the context of each area, in order to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy nationwide.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management has announced the rebrand of Campbell Global, its forestland and nature-based asset investment manager, to J.P. Morgan Natural Capital, reflecting the business's evolution and the growing importance of nature-based assets in institutional portfolios. The platform, acquired five years ago, now manages over 1.5 million acres globally and oversees approximately $11 billion in assets under supervision as of December 31, 2025, with about 150 employees across 15 U.S. states, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America. The rebrand builds on Campbell Global's four-decade legacy in sustainable timberland investing while expanding into land, carbon, biodiversity, and other nature-related opportunities. CEO Angie Davis said the new name reflects the direction the asset class is moving, and Jed Laskowitz, Global Head of Private Markets, noted accelerating institutional demand for nature-based and climate solutions. The platform also closed its Forest & Climate Solutions Fund II in March 2025, raising $1.5 billion, the industry's largest forestry fund to date, with total capital raised for the strategy reaching $2.3 billion including separate accounts.

Veolia Environnement has signed three strategic memorandums of understanding with Acwa, Ma'aden, and Khazeen to accelerate environmental security in Saudi Arabia, focusing on water technologies and hazardous waste management. The agreements aim to preserve water resources, enhance energy efficiency, decarbonize industry, and develop local skills, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and Veolia's GreenUp program. With Acwa, a world-leading desalination company, Veolia will optimize desalination plant performance, potentially reducing emissions by 500,000 tons of CO2 per year. With Ma'aden, a major mining player, the partnership will improve water cycle and industrial waste management. With Khazeen, a GASCO subsidiary specializing in LPG storage, Veolia will deploy environmental technologies to support decarbonization and offer integrated facility management. Veolia has been present in Saudi Arabia since 1975 and continues to support the Kingdom's essential infrastructure.

Charoen Pokphand Produce Company Limited, or CPP, under the integrated crop, rice, transport, and services business of the Charoen Pokphand Group, has appointed Token X as its ICO Portal to jointly study Green Tokenization, connecting natural capital to the green financial system through blockchain technology. The study currently covers regulatory criteria, the structure for issuing and offering digital tokens, the suitability of underlying assets, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and the application of Real-World Asset Tokenization to maximize benefits for the agricultural and digital asset industries. CPP has many high-potential projects, such as a carbon credit project in rubber plantations for sustainable development covering 500,000 rai across five provinces, namely Loei, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, and Nakhon Phanom, involving more than 60,000 farming households. The concept is to convert assets from green projects into digital tokens, while also considering other ecosystem values such as forest restoration, habitat conservation, and biodiversity, where Biodiversity Credits may be another avenue to study and build upon to reflect the value of natural capital in a broader dimension.

Sino-Platinum Metals wholly-owned subsidiary Sino-Platinum Resources Yimen Company plans to invest 104 million yuan to build a pilot base for recycling decommissioned photovoltaic modules. The project is located in Yimen County, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province, with a construction period of about 12 months. Once completed, it will have an annual processing capacity of 15,000 tonnes of decommissioned photovoltaic modules and 5,000 tonnes of purchased battery cells.

Jason Lee, Head of Sustainability at CIMB Thai Bank, or CIMBT, said that 2026 is a critical turning point for businesses to elevate carbon management into their business plans and investment strategies, as carbon pressures have clear timelines and directly impact costs, trade, investment, and competitiveness. Under the NDC 3.0 target, Thailand aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to 152 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035 and achieve net zero by 2050. Meanwhile, the enforcement of the European Union's CBAM from 1 January 2026 makes greenhouse gas emission data from production processes a key factor in maintaining export markets, especially for the electricity, oil and gas, cement, and certain manufacturing sectors that still face technology and cost constraints. A report by the Asian Development Bank estimates that Thailand needs to mobilise at least 21 billion US dollars per year in transition investment by 2030, making the development of a Transition Plan crucial for turning sustainability goals into clear investment plans. CIMB Thai Bank is preparing to host The Cooler Earth Thailand 2026 on 3 August 2026 to exchange approaches and introduce the Sustainability360 Advisory Programme, which will help businesses transition concretely to low-carbon operations.

Siam TC Technology, a subsidiary of DITTO, has issued and sold Thailand's first digital environmental token under the name Blue Green Token, or BLU, with approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 400 million tokens, with a total value of 480 million baht and an offering price of 1.20 baht per token, were oversubscribed and began trading on Monday, July 20. The first-day closing price was 1.30 baht, over 8% above the subscription price, and during the day it reached a high of 1.44 baht. In the first four days of trading, the lowest price did not fall below 1.20 baht, with an average trading value of about 11 million baht. This project raises funds to plant and care for mangrove forests on an area of 17,500 rai. The return rates for token holders are set in three scenarios: a base case of 10.35%, a best case of 20.04%, and a worst case of 3.0%. Returns will begin in the fifth year, with principal and returns repaid at the end of the seventh year. The reference carbon credit price in the best case will increase from 1,200 baht per ton at the fundraising date to 3,221 baht in 2030, and further to 4,038 and 4,240 baht in 2031 and 2032, respectively. Jirayut Srupsrisopa, founder and CEO of Bitkub Capital Group Holdings, commented that fundraising through digital tokens is becoming an important alternative linking the digital economy, environmental conservation, and financial opportunities for the new generation of investors, who number more than 5.3 million. Meanwhile, the CP Group has launched the Reforest Tokenization project in collaboration with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation to restore 10,000 rai of forest in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Tak, reflecting the power of the private sector in driving the green economy and new digital investment markets.

EXIM BANK held a seminar to prepare Thai entrepreneurs for the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, or PPWR, which will come into practical effect on 12 August 2026. Mr. Chalat Rattanaboonnithi, Managing Director of EXIM BANK, revealed that there are over 3,400 environmental trade measures under the European Green Deal, and small entrepreneurs have adapted very little. Ms. Woramon Sinsuwan, Director of the European Union Division, Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the PPWR is a regulation that all 27 EU member states must comply with immediately. Entrepreneurs must prepare a Technical Document and a Declaration of Conformity to confirm that packaging contains no hazardous substances such as heavy metals and PFAS, covering all three levels of packaging. Dr. Weerachat Kittirattanapaiboon, Chief Executive Officer of Better World Green Public Company Limited, emphasized that replacing plastic with natural materials from Thailand's agricultural base, such as bagasse and rice straw, is a sustainable solution that also increases farmers' incomes. EXIM BANK also offers non-financial services to help SMEs prepare sustainability reports in line with GRI standards, as well as loan products for adaptation, such as EXIM Solar D-Carbon loans and Green X Transformation loans, with interest rates starting at 2.75% per year.

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is triggering a major industry-wide redesign by replacing voluntary sustainability commitments with legally binding requirements covering recyclability, recycled content, chemical restrictions and packaging efficiency. From August 2026, food-contact packaging containing PFAS above permitted limits will be banned, and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury will be capped at a combined concentration of 100 mg/kg. By 2030, all packaging must meet minimum recyclability performance standards, starting at Grade C, while certain plastic packaging will face mandatory recycled content targets and a 40% empty space limit will apply to group, transport and e-commerce packaging. Extended Producer Responsibility fees will be modulated based on recyclability, making complex multi-material formats more expensive than simpler designs. Companies placing packaging on the EU market must provide a Declaration of Conformity and maintain technical documentation, shifting sustainability claims from marketing to evidence-based compliance.

DITTO is preparing to bid for government and state enterprise projects worth a combined 1 billion baht in the third quarter of 2026. The work covers digital data and document management as well as IoT for water resources. Results and contract signings are expected within the same quarter. If the company secures the targeted contracts, the share of revenue from the public sector will rise to 70 percent from 65 percent, while the private-sector portion will drop to 30 percent from 35 percent. In addition, the company is expanding its cybersecurity business, joining virtual bank initiatives with two major banks, and developing a digital platform for licensing systems in the public health sector. For 2026, DITTO aims to maintain average growth of 15 to 20 percent, driven by the country's digital infrastructure investments. Meanwhile, Blu Green Token, Thailand's first digital token for environmental conservation backed by carbon credits from mangrove forests, began trading on Bitkub at 1.30 baht, up 8.33 percent from the subscription price of 1.20 baht. DITTO raised 480 million baht to plant and care for mangroves on 17,531.04 rai and to develop technology for measuring and certifying carbon credits. Jirayut Srupsrisopa, founder of Bitkub Capital Group, said Thailand is the first country in the world to tokenize carbon credits and list them on an exchange, broadening investment opportunities and supporting the nation's net-zero goal.

Pact Group has told a Senate inquiry committee it supports proposed legislation that would make packaging producers responsible for the disposal and recovery of material they place on the Australian market. The inquiry is reviewing the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) Bill 2026, which would impose a legal duty on producers, importers and distributors to manage packaging at the end of its life and turn Australia's National Packaging Targets into compulsory legal requirements. Pact, an Australian plastic packaging and recycling business, said progress on sustainable packaging is not fast enough, noting that in the last year it made more than 189,000 tonnes of plastic packaging and related products, with recycled plastic accounting for 16% of that output. The company stated the main barrier is not technical capability but the absence of regulation and weak demand for recycled material, and it urged the committee to support national action on packaging regulation.

First Solar continues to strengthen its position in the solar industry through its long-standing module recycling capabilities. The company established the industry's first global module collection and recycling program in 2005 and its recycling process recovers more than 90% of module materials for reuse. First Solar operates recycling facilities alongside several manufacturing locations, integrating recycling into its product life cycle and supporting a circular economy. As global solar installations grow, end-of-life module management is expected to become increasingly important, and First Solar's continued investment in recycling capabilities positions it to support evolving industry requirements.

Amcor has announced a collaboration with U.K.-based startup Kelpi to explore next-generation coating technologies for its AmFiber fiber-based solutions platform. Amcor's research and development teams are evaluating Kelpi's proprietary bio-based seaweed coating technology, which aims to deliver barrier performance and compatibility with recycling streams for fiber-based packaging. The partnership supports Amcor's innovation strategy to enable more sustainable packaging while maintaining high functional standards, potentially reducing reliance on fossil fuel-derived feedstocks and lowering carbon footprint. The companies aim to evaluate commercially viable, scalable solutions for customers across various consumer goods sectors, supporting a circular economy for packaging.

Comstock Metals announced that all precision equipment and unit operations for its industry-scale solar panel recycling facility have arrived and been assembled, with three of the nine unit operations—the robotic loading arms, the Eddy system, and the washing system—already commissioned, tested, and undergoing integration. The Eddy system has completed tuning and full-capacity stress-testing, meeting or exceeding quality and capacity performance requirements for delivering clean glass to customer specifications. Commissioning, integration, tuning, and staged stress-testing will continue through late July 2026, with continuous operations expected to commence within the next two months. The facility is designed to process 100,000 tons of end-of-life solar panels per year using a zero-landfill solution.

The global optical sorter market is projected to grow from $3.06 billion in 2025 to $5.79 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%. The belt segment is expected to hold the largest market share, driven by its high-volume handling and compatibility with multi-sensor technologies. The recycling application is forecast to record the highest growth, fueled by rising waste volumes, stricter regulations, and circular economy initiatives. North America is anticipated to lead the market, supported by early adoption of AI-based sorting, stringent food safety and waste management rules, and a strong industrial base. Key players include TOMRA Systems ASA, Hefei Meyer Optoelectronic Technology Inc., Buhler, STEINERT, and Key Technology.

The global biochar market is expected to grow from US$ 910.4 million in 2026 to US$ 2,748.6 million by 2033, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 17.1%, according to a report by Persistence Market Research. North America holds a 41.4% market share, driven by advanced carbon credit systems and corporate demand, while Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region due to biomass programs and sustainable agriculture adoption. Agricultural applications remain the primary demand driver, with biochar improving soil fertility and crop yields, and agricultural waste is the fastest-growing feedstock segment, fueled by residue management programs in India and China. A landmark 2025 agreement between Microsoft and Exomad Green for approximately 1.24 million tonnes of biochar carbon removal credits highlights growing corporate participation in carbon removal commitments. Woody biomass leads feedstock segments with a 38% share, while decentralized production units are enabling scalable biochar generation in rural regions.

Comstock Metals LLC, a subsidiary of Comstock Inc., has selected Cambridge, Ohio as one of its national locations for an industrial-scale solar panel recycling and production facility and logistics hub. The project is supported by a $75,000 grant from JobsOhio and is expected to create 20 full-time positions. The Cambridge facility will expand the company's capacity to produce aluminum, silver, and glass bead outputs for Midwest industrial supply chains, complementing its existing Silver Springs, Nevada operation that is scaling to 100,000 tons annually with 100% material recovery. Comstock Metals, which offers the only certified zero-landfill solar recycling solution in North America, aims to reduce transportation costs that can account for 30 to 50 percent of total recycling expenses while better serving its growing Midwest and eastern U.S. customer base.

The Kayan Project confirmed it will tokenize 8.68 million hectares of rainforest, peatland, and mangrove ecosystems across North and East Kalimantan, Indonesia, targeting an August 2026 listing on a new institutional-grade exchange purpose-built for tokenized natural capital and real-world assets. The Kayan Conservation Concession, held under a 60-year operating agreement, has received a preliminary valuation from Ascent Partners. The project will issue the Kayan Token, the native token of the Kayan Natural Capital Protocol, alongside independently verified commodity tokens representing certified carbon credits, biodiversity credits, blue carbon credits, and additional natural capital outputs. The exchange will feature institutional-grade matching infrastructure, a native settlement layer for tokenized real-world assets, and real-time asset verification through a decentralized validator network. Kayan has appointed Veea Inc. to deploy its AIoT of Forest solution for continuous monitoring of biodiversity indicators, carbon stock, and environmental conditions across the concession. The project is currently in a private placement phase, raising capital through a Simple Agreement for Future Tokens offered exclusively to qualified non-U.S. accredited and institutional investors under Regulation S, with the Token Generation Event and exchange listing targeted for August 2026.

SMX (Security Matters) PLC declared that the Age of Parity is permanent, with certified recycled plastic now economically competitive with virgin oil-derived plastic as war, oil volatility, tariffs, and supply-chain disruption reshape the global economy. The company, which trades on Nasdaq under ticker SMX, said its molecular marking and verification technology gives physical materials a persistent identity, enabling certified records that follow materials across production, use, recovery, recycling, and reuse. SMX argued that verification transforms recycled plastic from a discounted commodity into a contractable, compliant, and commercially valuable material asset, supporting procurement preferences, regulatory compliance, recycled-content mandates, and audit-ready reporting. The announcement follows media coverage in Forbes, TIME, Rolling Stone, and the Miami Herald highlighting SMX's proof-driven platform as a shift from sustainability promises to measurable data.