Circular Economy

The Circular Economy is replacing the traditional linear economy, which relies on resource extraction for production, consumption, and waste generation (Take – Make – Dispose). In contrast, the Circular Economy aims to align production processes with natural systems through the Make – Use – Return approach, which emphasizes production, consumption, and the reintegration of materials into the production cycle. This approach reduces environmental impact and fosters sustainable growth. This concept aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, which promotes the efficient use of resources, waste reduction, and recycling to mitigate pollution. Additionally, Goal 13: Climate Action supports efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a primary driver of global warming. The Circular Economy serves as a crucial strategy for balancing economic development with environmental conservation, ensuring a sustainable future for the planet.

Sharing “Knowledge” to Society

The university has the concept of using knowledge and experience from various operations to give the community services. In order to better people's lives and the environment.

Eco Town Project

In 2016, Mahidol University started the project on Eco Town to serve schools with the knowledge on recycled waste bank management and promote the establishment of a recycling waste bank project. This project aims to transfer waste separation knowledge to students, teachers, and parents by providing not only supporting materials, equipment, knowledge, and the programs but also advice and guidance on the management of the recycled waste bank to teachers and students who manage the school's recycled waste bank project as well as demonstrations and guidance on project implementation. As a result, collaboration is essential for achieving practical outcomes and ensuring operational sustainability. We have launched a pilot project for model schools at the early education level with the purpose of instilling waste separation and saving practices.

Knowledge enhancement and understanding of waste reduction for students, teachers, and parents to participate in reducing the amount of waste and generating income from waste to improve people's lives and the environment for their communities and schools, as well as help to create a low-carbon society. The Eco Town project is in line with government policy regarding solid waste and hazardous waste management. This project will help school have a good environment suitable for teaching and learning as well as a model school between educational institutions and community. Schools participated in the project are as follows:

There are 8 schools’ network in Nakhon Pathom Province

1. Phra Tamnak Suankulab Mahamongkol School

2. Kanchanapisek Wittayalai Nakhon Pathom School

3. Nawaminthrachinuthit Satriwitthaya Putthamonton School

4. Matthayompuranawas School

5. Wat Songkanong School

6. Wat Raikhing Wittaya School

7. Wat Suwannaram School

8. Wat Maklue School

From the implementation of the recycling waste bank network project within schools surrounding Mahidol University. This has resulted in collaboration with the government sector with Mahidol University and Nakhon Pathom province signing a cooperation agreement on sustainable waste management in schools and communities. This agreement is intended to carry out the government policy of promoting an efficient waste management system which has trained over 170 schools in Nakhon Pathom province. There was a cooperation signing ceremony and a seminar on the topic of “Sustainable waste management for schools and communities” from experts, there was also a ceremony to present certificates to network schools that participated in the Waste Bank project with Mahidol University, attended by over 800 people on September 17, 2019 at Prince of Mahidol Hall.

Think Cycle Bank

“Going circular...To change the world”

The Recycled Waste Bank Network initiative, which was implemented with schools surrounding Mahidol University, resulted in Thailand's commercial sector interested in creating cooperation. PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited signed an MOU to implement the concepts and practices of recycled waste bank expansion to schools in Rayong province as part of the "Think Cycle Bank" initiative. This project is implementing the recycled waste bank following government policy, as stated in the partnership on municipal and hazardous waste management.

The Think Cycle Bank project, which uses an online recycling waste bank system, can result in waste reduction, converting waste into value, raising awareness of waste separation behaviors and reuse following the circular economy, and establishing a waste management network from the community to the provincial level. The school networks are as follows:

There are 22 schools’ network in Rayong Province

1. Kohkaew Pissadan School

2. Municipality School 1

3. Municipality School 2

4. Banphe City Child Development Center

5. Wat Khao SamPhao Thong Child Development Center

6. Wat Chaklukya School

7. Wat Mabchalood School

8. Ban Nongfab School

9. Wat Takuan School

10. Khodhinmitraphap 42 School

11. Rayongwittayakom Nikhom Utsakhakam School

12. Wat Mabkha School

13. Wat Khao Samphao Thong School

14. Ban Nong Saphan School

15. Wat Thapma Community School

16. Wat Huai Pong School

17. Wat Noen Kraprok School

18. Wat Prachummit Bamrung School

19. Wat Ban Chang School

20. Bankhaohuaimahad School

21. Ban Phayun School

22. Ban Khao Sok School

There are 3 schools’ network in Buriram Province

1. Municipality School 1

2. Municipality School 2

3. Municipality School 3

Throughout the project, Mahidol University has made visits to several schools to fix concerns. This initiative focuses on resource efficiency and waste management. implementation is consistent with Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Sufficiency Economy Philosophy Learning Room

Sufficiency Economy Philosophy Learning Room is serving as a permanent exhibition of the application of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy into the university’s operations. The exhibition shows at the Environment Conservation Building which is divided in to three zones, as follows:

Zone 1 : Moderation
The first zone serves as a place to explains the theory behind the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and how to create a model of Khok-Nong-Na.

Zone 2 : Reasonableness
The second zone serve as a place to explains the application of the of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in driving a sustainable university (SDGs in Campus) through video media such as water management, clean energy, green space management.

Zone 3 : Self-immunity
The third zone serves as a place to creating knowledge and understanding and instilling knowledge in students through interactive media that can be touched and easily attracts learning such as waste separation and the 5Rs, as well as being an area to showcase work or products from other agencies

Visitors can explore a detailed 1:1000 scale model of Mahidol University Salaya, which is located in the center of the exhibition hall. The model provides a bird's eye view of the campus and pinpoints the specific locations of its solar energy systems.

For the surrounding the building will be a demonstration area for various operations such as composting, recycling waste bank, vegetable plots, etc., which are linked to the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy.