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Bangkok, 26 November 2024 - Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, announced the launch of its RECO Collective 2025 initiative. This innovative platform aims to educate on recycling and upcycling practices while encouraging SMEs in sectors like fashion and furniture to adopt recycled materials. The program highlights the use of rPET fibers from recycled PET bottles to create sustainable products. Additionally, Indorama Ventures is collaborating with leading partners along the value chain who share this vision for sustainable business.

Originally launched in 2011 as the RECO Young Designer Competition, the RECO Collective has grown from its fashion-focused beginnings into a collaborative platform for designers in furniture, home décor, and lifestyle products. By integrating recycled PET into a wider array of products, the RECO Collective emphasizes innovative design concepts that harness recycled materials to deliver business value and long-term sustainability. It reflects Indorama Ventures’ vision of raising awareness about the value of recycled materials and promoting the circular economy as a new industry standard, creating a better future through transformative collaboration.

Now in its second year, RECO Collective has broadened its scope to engage new audiences, including new-generation SMEs interested in using recycled materials in their design and production processes. Building on its successful first year, which involved collaborations with eco-conscious fashion brands to bring products to retail spaces such as Ecotopia and Dapper, the second year introduces key activities including:

• RECO Incubation Lab: A knowledge-sharing platform offering in-depth expertise from industry professionals. Designers and SMEs will learn strategies for sustainable branding, from sourcing eco-friendly materials to sales and marketing techniques.
• Partnership Building: Collaborations with retailers and industry experts, including Thai Taffeta, supplier of recycled PET fabrics for use in products, together with Jaspal Group, a regional leader in lifestyle fashion who is joining RECO Collective as a partner for the first time, as well as Ecotopia and Dapper who will provide guidance on sustainability-focused business practices and support eco-friendly product distribution to consumers. Such collaborations amplify the impact of the RECO Collective, extending its reach across diverse industries.
• Product Readiness: The project offers expert advice and guidance on launching sustainable collections to six SME entrepreneurs. This year’s highlights include collections from fashion design brands such as tISI, Endless Holiday, and KH Editions, to product design brands such as Mobella, Anew.Craft, and Daybreak.

Mrs. Aradhana Lohia Sharma, Vice President at Indorama Ventures, said, “The impact of RECO Collective goes beyond the products. It is about creating an ecosystem that connects designers, businesses, and consumers who share a commitment to sustainability. Together, we are not just changing the way we create products; we are reimagining the way we do business—more responsibly, more collaboratively, and more sustainably throughout the value chain – from material sourcing to product design and consumer engagement. RECO Collective embodies Indorama Ventures’ commitment to driving the circular economy and reinforces the importance of recycling as one of the most impactful and responsible solutions for sustainability.”

Miss Kamonnart Ongwandee, RECO Incubation Lab Course Director, added, “RECO Collective imparts knowledge on sustainable design and production and focuses on recycling, reuse, and innovation to reduce overproduction and environmental impact. Through the Incubation Lab, we provide the tools, knowledge, and networks that support designers and their brands, ensuring their products reach wider markets and their businesses incorporate sustainable practices.”

By collaborating with SMEs and industry leaders, RECO Collective plays a crucial role in making sustainable products more accessible to consumers in Thailand and abroad. It also supports the development of sustainable supply chains, proving to the world that eco-friendly products can be aesthetically appealing and highly functional.