ส.อ.ท. ผนึก กนอ.–MTEC–ศสอ. ปั้น “มาบตาพุด” ต้นแบบเมืองอุตสาหกรรมหมุนเวียนFTI Partners with IEAT, MTEC, and PCD to Develop Maptaphut as a Model Circular Economy Industrial City

On September 22, 2026, the Water, Environment, and Climate Change Institute of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) held a meeting alongside the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), and the Hazardous Substance and Waste Management Excellence Center (PCD) to monitor the progress of the 'Maptaphut End of Waste Sandbox' project. This initiative aims to develop Maptaphut as a model area for reusing waste materials following the End of Waste (EoW) guidelines, linking the industrial sector to a circular economy and laying the groundwork for future Low Carbon City development.

The meeting was honored by the presence of executives and esteemed experts from relevant agencies, led by Dr. Chulapong Taweesri, Miss Buppha Kwanwatsin, Deputy Governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, and Mr. Preeda Vatchratiensakul, President of the Water, Environment, and Climate Change Institute, along with the institute's executive committee, vice presidents, and MTEC working group members, as well as representatives from the PCD, who exchanged opinions and established collaborative pathways for project advancement.

[Elevating Maptaphut to an End of Waste Model Area]
A key goal of the meeting is to promote the Maptaphut End of Waste Sandbox as a pilot area for closed-loop waste management and to create an Industrial Symbiosis system, allowing waste or by-products from one factory to serve as secondary raw materials for another safely and in compliance with standards.

The progression of End of Waste will encompass the study of material properties and potentials, the establishment of guidelines and quality standards, traceability systems, as well as the consideration of legal improvements and permitting processes that currently pose obstacles. This aims to build confidence among operators, material users, and regulatory agencies before the results from the pilot area can be extended to industrial estates and other areas nationwide.

[Extending End of Waste towards a Low Carbon City]
Furthermore, FTI proposed a cooperative approach with IEAT concerning the assessment and management of climate change risks, improving energy efficiency, and implementing concrete measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This enables entrepreneurs in industrial estates to assess risks, plan adaptations, reduce energy and resource consumption, and prepare for the transition toward green and low-carbon industry.

Such strategies will help the industrial sector reduce the use of new resources, lower costs, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions by reusing waste materials and enhancing energy efficiency, while supporting the development of a Low Carbon Industry, which aligns with the 5I strategy of FTI, particularly I5: Inclusive Sustainability and the drive for Circular Transformation to create an industrial ecosystem that uses resources efficiently and complies with global environmental standards.

The collaboration between FTI, IEAT, MTEC, and PCD, therefore, aims to transform the concept of 'waste' into 'resources' through the establishment of practical systems and standards, using Maptaphut as a model area for experimentation and development of mechanisms before expanding these results to other areas, moving forward toward a circular economy and a low-carbon industrial city that grows in tandem with efficient resource usage.