Thailand is facing the challenge of over 445,899 tons of electronic waste annually, with less than 10% being managed properly. This highlights a significant gap in waste management systems, where the retail sector for home goods and services can play a direct role in addressing the issue.

HomePro, as a leader in Home Solution & Living Experience in Thailand, has been driving the concept of a comprehensive Circular Economy for the third consecutive year in collaboration with SCG and 324 brand partners. This initiative manages the product life cycle from start to finish through a business model that integrates products, services, and proper waste management systems that meet international standards. This approach aims to change consumer behavior, elevating it to a 'new standard of living' that is environmentally friendly and makes resource utilization practical and accessible for consumers.

Three Years of Proven Results: A Tangible Circular Economy

Over the past three years (January 2023 - April 2026), HomePro has achieved concrete results in driving the Circular Economy model by successfully bringing back over 590,869 items of unused products and materials from customers' homes into a proper management system, weighing a total of over 25,621 tons. This has led to the development of more than 532 SKUs of eco-friendly products (Circular Products) and the delivery of over 8.5 million environmentally friendly items to consumers, resulting in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 35 million kilograms of CO2e, or the equivalent of planting over 2.3 million trees. This reflects the success of creating a Circular Economy ecosystem in collaboration with SCG and a network of brand partners throughout the value chain, promoting the use of renewable resources and developing eco-friendly products for consumers.

Mr. Weerapand Angsumalee, Managing Director of Home Product Center Public Company Limited (HomePro), stated, "HomePro does not view the Circular Economy as just a short-term campaign but as a long-term business restructuring to make eco-friendly living easy, accessible, and a reality in consumers' daily lives. Additionally, the issue of waste from electrical appliances and household items remains a significant challenge for the country.

"The new era of retail does not end with the sale of products; HomePro chooses to be a brand that takes responsibility throughout the product life cycle, from the day customers purchase to the day the product is properly managed, allowing it to be recycled endlessly."

Four Mechanisms Driving a Comprehensive Circular Economy

HomePro drives the Circular Economy model through four main interconnected mechanisms throughout the product life cycle, starting with "extending product lifespan" through services from "CHANG HomePro", which focuses on repair and maintenance before replacement. Over the past three years, this has helped extend the lifespan of over 97,006 items for customers, reducing electronic waste from the outset and replacing the need to buy new products.

The second mechanism is "the trade-in of old electrical appliances through the Trade-In for a New World project", which allows customers to exchange old products for discounts on new purchases. Currently, 324 leading brand partners are involved in the project, covering over 11,110 items, and more than 590,869 old items have been collected from customers' homes.

The third mechanism is "proper management of old items" through a transparent, verifiable sorting process conducted by licensed partners, covering the management of over 25,621 tons of old items while avoiding landfilling as a last resort.

The fourth mechanism is "creating new value from recycled materials" in the form of eco-friendly products (Circular Products) through collaboration with over 30 partners to bring high-quality recycled plastic and processed materials back into production, developing 532 SKUs of eco-friendly products and delivering over 8.5 million items to consumers.

The Power of Partnerships: Driving the Circular Economy Across the Ecosystem

Mr. Thammasak Setthakorn, CEO of SCG, stated, "The transition to Net Zero is a mission that requires collaboration from all sectors throughout the value chain, from material producers to retailers and consumers. The collaboration between SCG and HomePro is about creating a Circular Ecosystem that connects from material design, usage, to post-use management under the concept of Inclusive Green Growth, allowing all sectors to grow sustainably together."

The key to success over the past three years has been the strategic collaboration between SCG, a global leader in sustainability, driving business alongside ESG to promote the Circular Economy into daily life through the efforts of three main business groups:

  • SCGC (SCG Chemicals): Closed-loop recycling of old electrical appliances, films, and plastic straps into high-quality recycled plastic pellets (SCGC GREEN POLYMER™), reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 1.1 million kgCO2e (equivalent to planting 93,000 trees).
  • SCGP (SCG Packaging): Managing paper waste from all HomePro branches through paper compaction machines at distribution centers, recycling over 6,000 tons back to factories, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 34 million kgCO2e.
  • SCGD (SCG Decor): Creating a material circularity system by using old sanitary ware as raw materials for new ceramic tiles, helping to reduce waste and cumulative greenhouse gas emissions by a total of 70,949 kgCO2e over three years (equivalent to planting 4,730 trees).

HomePro's business approach aligns with the BCG (Bio-Circular-Green Economy) model, which the cabinet has declared a "national agenda" since 2021 to drive Thailand's economy towards sustainability. HomePro continues to expand its network of partners in both the industrial and manufacturing sectors to develop a supply chain system that aligns with a comprehensive Circular Economy, from product design and material selection to proper management.

The collaboration from various sectors reflects HomePro's role as a model organization driving the Circular Economy, capable of delivering tangible results in commercial, environmental, and consumer quality of life aspects. HomePro believes that the Circular Economy is no longer just an environmental trend but will become a "new way of life" for consumers, emphasizing the efficient use of resources and making eco-friendly living a norm for every household, with a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050," Mr. Weerapand concluded.