How Methin “Art” Paspanthong turns farewells into impact with Carenation, a social enterprise that uses recyclable paper funeral wreaths to reduce waste, support communities and donate up to 45 percent to charity.

Methin “Art” Paspanthong makes funeral wreaths. Not the kind that end up as polluting waste after a single night, but paper wreaths that can be recycled, provide work for local communities, and donate up to 45 percent of their value to a charity chosen by the customer. 

Art does not see entrepreneurship as a race for profit. For him, it is a way to pass opportunities forward.His journey began in his late secondary school years, when he competed for and received scholarships to study overseas. Those opportunities, he says, changed his life.

“I was someone who received many chances,”

he explains.

“Those chances changed my life a great deal. When I realised that, I felt that if I had the ability, I should try to create opportunities for others too.”

After studying economics and later graduating from Stanford in California, Art followed a conventional path, working at Muang Thai Insurance and then at Bain & Company. But he never intended to stay there. He wanted to prove that business in Thailand could be more than a profit-making machine.

“I wanted to support the idea that business does not have to be only for profit,”

he says.

“It can also think about society and about passing opportunities on to others.”

His academic background may not seem directly connected to funeral wreaths, but he believes it shaped the way he thinks. Economics taught him how to look at markets, management and sustainability.

“If you want to build a business that donates 40 to 50 percent of its revenue, the market has to be large and growing,”

he says. With Thailand becoming an ageing society, the funeral industry continues to expand. That reality became the starting point for Carenation.

The Environmental Cost of Funeral Wreaths

The idea emerged from observing funerals across the country. Each night, thousands of services take place, each filled with wreaths made from mixed materials that are difficult or impossible to recycle. Art often compares this overlooked waste problem to a much more visible one.

“People like to say that Loy Krathong creates a lot of waste. But if you look at funeral wreaths every single night, it is the same as floating krathongs every night. That is how much waste we are creating.”

Building Paper Funeral Wreaths That Give Back

Carenation responds to that issue with paper wreaths made from recycled and certified plantation paper. Paper, he explains, is easier to recycle and has real value in the waste system. It can be collected, resold and reused, rather than becoming landfill. Production is outsourced to local communities, creating work and income for people who need it most.

What truly sets Carenation apart, however, is its donation model. Up to 45 percent of every purchase is donated to charity, with customers choosing where the money goes. Art says this was a principle from the very beginning. 

“If you are donating money, the owner of that money should be able to choose,”

he says.

“Whether they want to support education, women, children, religion or the environment, that choice should be theirs.”

Turning Sympathy Into a Final Act of Giving

This choice also adds a layer of meaning to the act of sending a wreath.

“A wreath is about paying respects,”

he explains.

“But we wanted to create more value. It becomes a final act of merit for the deceased and for their family. It is not only expressing sympathy, but also doing good one last time.”

Running a Business That Donates Half Its Revenue

Carenation now works with around 50 charities, selected primarily for transparency and accountability. Art is clear that donors must feel confident their money is used properly and according to each organisation’s mission. Since launching in 2019, the company has grown steadily, despite the challenges of operating a business that gives away nearly half of its revenue.

“If you asked a normal for-profit company to cut half their revenue and donate it, they would not survive,”

he says.

“For us, it means we have to manage very carefully. But now it works, and it is sustainable.”

Public reaction has largely been positive. Many customers tell him they have already used Carenation and understand its value immediately. Others say it makes funerals feel more meaningful. Art is also untroubled by increasing competition. In fact, he welcomes it.

“If more entrepreneurs start thinking about social impact, that is a good thing. Competition is normal. If it pushes us to improve and makes society better, I am happy.”

Art believes that if Carenation becomes more popular, it will point to a broader shift in mindset. 

“If it becomes widely used, it means people care more about giving and social impact,”

he says. His long-term vision is guided by the belief that doing good should be simple at every stage of life, a principle he often describes as “doing good made simple”.

What Comes Next for Art

When someone dies today, people often turn to social media. Messages of condolence are posted on Facebook or shared in comment threads, along with photos and memories. Over time, those messages disappear into timelines and accounts that families cannot easily collect or keep.

One project now in development aims to change that. Carenation is building an online memorial platform designed like a social media space, where friends and family can share messages, photos and videos in one place. Unlike traditional platforms, the content can later be downloaded and kept by relatives as a permanent record. For those unable to attend in person, the platform also enables donations to charities instead of direct cash contributions. 

“It is still about making merit one last time, but in a way that fits how people live today.”

Art is unconcerned about others copying the idea. He sees this as part of building enterprises, not a threat to them. 

“There is no business in the world where you are alone. If we inspire others to donate more and make society better, I am glad.”

For him, that is the real measure of success.