Hatari, the leading fan manufacturer in Thailand, is implementing a Trade-In model and a comprehensive recycling system in its eco-friendly project 'Fan It Forward'. Customers are invited to exchange any old fan for a discount voucher of 200 baht towards the purchase of a new fan through the website www.hatari.co.th. Hatari will recycle the old fans received, helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from traditional fan disposal by approximately 5 kilograms CO₂e per fan. The company aims to bring 4,000 old fans into the program, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 tons CO₂e by 2027.

The 'Fan It Forward' project is a continuation that Hatari has been testing since late 2025 to address waste disposal issues, including carbon dioxide emissions from incineration and microplastics from landfill. These issues are expected to increase annually without proper waste management. As a manufacturer with expertise in materials, especially plastics and fan components, Hatari aims to ensure responsible post-use product management. The company has initiated a comprehensive fan recycling concept to guarantee that plastic parts and materials from fans are either recycled or disposed of correctly. Environmental assessments indicate that recycling materials from electrical appliances can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 4-5 kilograms CO₂e per kilogram of recycled material, demonstrating that proper fan management can significantly lessen environmental impact.

In the future, Hatari aims to enhance this recycling system to ensure that every fan can enter an appropriate management system and genuinely support the concept of a Circular Economy. Recently, the company held the Hatari Fan It Forward event on March 19 at CentralwOrld, Level 1, Central Court zone, to celebrate Global Recycle Day and raise public awareness about the importance of proper waste management through fun activities that make recycling more relatable. Additionally, the structures used in the event were made from recyclable materials such as paper, wood, and recycled plastic, which will be repurposed for future events.

Activities at the Hatari Fan It Forward event included:

1. Green Garden Art Installation: An exhibition space showcasing art created from recycled fans and old fan parts, redesigned into a small flower garden installation with natural elements, serving as a photo spot and a visual retreat, reflecting that used plastic can be reinterpreted and regain value in creative forms.

2. 'Fan It Forward' Zone: An area where attendees can bring any brand of old fan (only non-battery fans accepted) to enter Hatari's comprehensive recycling process and receive a voucher worth 200 baht for purchasing products on the website www.hatari.co.th from March 19 to December 31, 2026.

3. Recycle Journey Educational Zone: Demonstrating the recycling process of plastic from old fans, from disassembly to reprocessing into new materials. The area features structures and components of fans for close viewing, with opportunities for attendees to try grinding plastic themselves to understand the recycling process.

4. DIY Recycled Plastic Keychains - Old Fan to New Charms: A DIY activity concluding the event, allowing attendees to create souvenir keychains from recycled materials, using processed plastic parts from old fans to make colorful charms in various shapes for personalizing their keychains.

The comprehensive recycling process begins with separating materials into three main categories: plastic, metal, and copper, to be processed further.

  • Plastic: Ground into plastic pellets before being molded into various shapes. Currently, it can be processed into small parts for making keychains, with plans to develop larger products, such as functional furniture, which will be donated to various organizations for community distribution.
  • Metal: Melted down for reuse.
  • Copper: Melted down to be reused as new copper wiring.

Ms. Chanya Panitchtrakul, Assistant Managing Director of Sales and Marketing at Hatari Electric Co., Ltd., stated, “For 35 years, Hatari has grown alongside Thai society, and we believe that sustainable business must grow in harmony with society. Therefore, we initiated the 'Fan It Forward' project, a Trade-In model that allows consumers to participate in the idea of resource efficiency with the brand. We also aim to expand the Fan It Forward project to cover more areas, with plans to increase collection points for fans throughout Bangkok and provincial cities by 2026.”

Additionally, Mr. Thasnalak Panitchtrakul, Assistant Managing Director of Research and Development at Hatari Electric Co., Ltd., added, “Recycling can only happen when people see the process and understand how it works. Today's Hatari Fan It Forward event is just a pilot activity for the project. Currently, Hatari is developing a wider variety of products from recycled plastic, with plans to use some recycled products as display media on store shelves to reduce the production of new materials, and some will be used as special souvenirs to convey the value of recycling and resource efficiency. In the long term, Hatari continues to focus on developing products and production processes to be more environmentally friendly, ensuring that the brand's growth aligns with the stewardship of the world's resources.”

Hatari Fan It Forward has also partnered with the Recycle Day Thailand project to set up 7 collection points for exchanging old fans for comprehensive recycling, including Mega Bangna, Block 28, Central World, Central Eastville, Central Ladprao, Central Westville, and Central Sriracha. Those who bring in fans for exchange can still receive the 200 baht discount voucher. Thus, the Hatari Fan It Forward activity is not only a celebration of Hatari's 35th anniversary but also a step towards encouraging people to recognize the importance of waste management in a fun way that can be integrated into daily life through creative collaboration.