{"id":1811,"date":"2024-02-01T13:18:22","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T13:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.koktailmagazine.com\/?post_type=the-future-list&p=1811"},"modified":"2024-02-01T13:18:22","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T13:18:22","slug":"teerachai-suppameteekulwat","status":"publish","type":"the-future-list","link":"https:\/\/www.koktailmagazine.com\/th\/the-future-list\/teerachai-suppameteekulwat\/","title":{"rendered":"Teerachai Suppameteekulwat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Discover how Jai\u2019s creative flair and commitment to the circular economy are transforming waste into sought-after designs.<\/h3>\n

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Meet Teerachai Suppameteekulwat—Jai to his mates—the creative mind who’s been running Qualy Design for nearly 20 years. What began as a family-owned plastics factory has now morphed into a 100% Thai-designed brand that focuses on sustainability with a cheeky grin. We sat down with Jai to get the lowdown on how he’s turning plastic waste into treasure and what keeps his green gears turning.<\/p>\n

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From Plastics to Purpose: What Got You Going?<\/h1>\n
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“When it dawned on me that our business was part of the global plastics problem, it hit me hard. Our creativity was being misused, contributing to a growing crisis. That’s when I started questioning everything—how can we use our potential to make a difference? That’s how we discovered the SDGs and the circular economy concept. Before I knew it, we’d pivoted to a Design for a Sustainable World mode, using recycled materials as our new muse. Now, the objective is to create and raise awareness and drive collective action towards sustainability.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Realising you’re part of the problem is the first step to becoming part of the solution. Jai didn’t just sit with that guilt—he transformed it into a mission that’s making waves far beyond the factory floor.<\/p>\n

Turning the Sticky Bits of Circular Design Effectively<\/h1>\n
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“Every step of the way, there have been challenges. Sourcing materials is a proper headache—finding the right stuff in the right condition is like trying to herd cats. Then there’s designing with whatever random bits we’ve managed to scrounge up—colours, textures, or condition of the materials. Manufacturing? Don’t even get me started—it’s like trying to juggle blindfolded. But we’ve learned to roll with the punches, thanks to collaboration across sectors with waste management and inventive researchers who have helped us turn trash into treasure. We’ve had to shift our entire organisational mindset to be flexible and ready for anything.” <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Creativity Through Sustainability<\/h1>\n
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“Sustainability is about considering the environmental impact throughout a product’s life cycle, from the first doodle to the final product. You’ve got to consider the environment at every step—materials selection, production, shipping, the lot. But, of course, we still need to keep the business ticking along.<\/p>\n

At Qualy, we’re big on recycling plastic waste to cut down on the junk that ends up in the sea or landfill. We’ve even teamed up with Environmental Justice Foundation Thailand’s Net Free Seas project to turn old fishing nets into raw materials. These are then used to create products like our iconic turtle-shaped items, which symbolise the marine life affected by plastics. It’s a bit like alchemy, really—turning rubbish into something people actually want.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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A post shared by Qualy design (@qualydesign.th)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n