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CMU-CPN Partnership to Promote Circular Economy by Adding Value to Waste

5 June 2025
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)

Chiang Mai University (CMU) has partnered with CPN (Central Pattana), a leading Thai retail developer, to promote a circular economy, aiming to add value to waste for a sustainable future across all communities. During the ‘Earth Jump 2025: Transition Thru Turbulence’ seminar on May 28, 2025, the collaboration highlighted the imminent potential of generating economic value from waste. This initiative specifically focuses on a circular economy model that systematically transforms organic waste from department stores and restaurants into new resources.
At the seminar held in Paragon Hall at Siam Paragon, Vice President Associate Professor Prasert Rerkkriangkrai delivered a lecture on ‘Circular Economy and Waste Management – An Unmissable Climate Solution’, highlighting CMU’s waste management system, which has achieved tangible results, as well as its collaborations with the private sector to drive a circular economy effectively.
Vice President Prasert also showcased the university’s Waste-to-Energy model, operated by the Integrated Biomass Management Centre. Guided by the circular economy concept, this centre boasts the capacity to manage over 30 tonnes of waste per day. Wastes generated within the university — including 11.85 tonnes of organic waste, 9.60 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and 0.90 tonnes of glass — are subjected to highly efficient processes. These methods, such as biogas and compost production, and sludge reuse, effectively reduce landfilling and carbon emissions.
As a result, the system generates an overall value of 1,500 – 2,000 baht per tonne. This value is derived from 220 baht/tonne of biogas production, a reduction of 200 kg/tonne in carbon emissions, and 1,000 baht/tonne saved in transportation costs. This demonstrates that beyond mitigating environmental impacts, waste can produce tangible economic value on all scales, from the university to the national level.
At the core of the CMU-CPN partnership lies the circular economy model. This initiative aims to transform organic waste from department stores and restaurants into valuable new resources. The process begins with collecting over 100 tonnes of organic waste from Central Airport Plaza and various restaurants within the Mae Hia Municipality, which is then transported to the Integrated Biomass Management Centre. Here, these wastes are converted into renewable energy, including compressed biogas (CBG), electricity, and organic fertilizers, effectively reducing landfill volume, carbon emissions, and waste management costs.
The beneficial products from these processing efforts are distributed to farmers within the Faculty of Agriculture's network for use on their organic farms. This collaboration further adds value through processing and distribution channels within CPN department stores, returning the value to consumers and thus completing the circular supply chain. This integrated waste management model exemplifies how consumers, businesses, and educational institutions can unite to convert waste into products with significant economic, social, and environmental benefits.
The CMU-CPN partnership is set to pave the way for expanding circular economy applications, from small communities to major cities, through multisectoral involvement. The ultimate outcome is an effective waste management system capable of sustainably generating value for everyone.

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