Congratulations to the research team on winning the Excellent Eco-design Award for their innovative packaging design, K-dle: Eco-friendly Cushion, on June 11, 2025, at ProPak Asia 2025, held at BITEC, Bangna, Bangkok.
The award was granted under the MA-RE-DESIGN project, an initiative by the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) in collaboration with project partners. The competition, titled “Eco-design Sparking Innovation Award,” was held under the concept “A Call for Innovation in Design for Recycling and Carbon Footprint Solutions.”
The award-winning research team includes:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saowapa Chaiyawang, Lecturer in Postharvest Technology, School of Agro-Industry, Mae Fah Luang University
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tatiya Trongsatitkul and Ms. Kawalin Jitkhokkuat, Lecturer and Researcher in Polymer Engineering, School of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology
Together, the team developed a fruit cushioning material made from natural rubber latex, aiming to reduce the use of petrochemical-based shock-absorbing materials. This development supports the direction of eco-friendly packaging and sustainable innovation, contributing to the value enhancement of Thai fruits for modern trade and export markets.