Giving Waste a Second Life Through Local Wisdom: Pasatorn Dechsiriudom-Khokanate Rungsanthia

Pasatorn Dechsiriudom and Khokanate Rungsanthia see value where others see waste. At Uanklom Happy Farm, they are turning agricultural leftovers into business.

Using rice straw, fruit peels, and sugarcane bagasse, the pair produce natural dyes for the Thai textile industry. What started as a simple experiment with wood chips has evolved into a sophisticated operation, supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to scale up capacity and refine eco-friendly production methods.

Their work is an example of the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy. By replacing chemical dyes with natural alternatives, they protect the environment while creating stable jobs for older persons and people with disabilities in their community.

"Everyone should see the true value of nature and use the resources around us with understanding and responsibility," they share.

Their work was recognised with first prize in the “Ploy Dai… Pasuk” initiative, organised by UNIDO in partnership with Thailand’s Department of Industrial Works and other partners, with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The recognition affirms Uanklom Happy Farm’s role beyond natural dye production. It has become a learning centre that demonstrates how community-based economies and sustainability can grow side by side.

Today, Uanklom Happy Farm is evolving into a learning centre and community-based tourism space. It offers local residents, students, and visitors the chance to learn about sustainable natural dyeing and the local knowledge behind Thai textile traditions, proving that what is discarded can become the foundation of a sustainable future.