Creativity and sustainability took center stage at the “WASTE TO WOW! WORKSHOP BY WISHULADA,” a special event hosted by Crystal and Thaiwhales as part of the SUSTAINABILITY EXPO (SX2025). The workshop offered participants a unique opportunity to learn the art of turning trash into treasure, guided by the renowned environmental artist Wishulada Panthanuvong, founder of an upcycling-focused Social Enterprise (SE).
The Philosophy of Turning Trash into Treasure
Wishulada introduced herself as an artist who works with discarded materials, believing that waste isn't limited to plastic but includes all types of materials that can harm the environment if not properly sorted. Her artistic mission is guided by the philosophy of “Turning Trash to Treasure Art,” which aims to transform refuse into works of art. She explained that creativity makes complex topics like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Circular Economy (CE), and upcycling more accessible, beautiful, and engaging.
The activity emphasized that true sustainability must focus on three core pillars: People, Planet, and Profit. Wishulada explained that this begins with Rethinking the entire design process to Reduce consumption and promote Upcycling.
She also clarified the crucial difference between upcycling and recycling: upcycling is a process that adds both aesthetic and monetary value to waste materials, where the original material is still recognizable but creatively transformed. In contrast, recycling typically requires large-scale industrial machinery to melt down and reprocess materials into something new.
From Discarded Materials to Valuable Art Pieces
The materials provided for the workshop’s bag-decorating activity were diverse, consisting mainly of post-consumer waste. These included:
-
Crystal water bottle labels
-
Small, cut pieces from aluminum cans
-
Used BTS Skytrain cards
-
Wooden beads
-
Colorful pipe cleaners (chosen for their softness and safety)
To spark their creativity, participants were encouraged to design with three questions in mind:
-
Who is this for? (Yourself, a parent, a friend, a loved one?)
-
What is their lifestyle and favorite color?
-
When will you give it to them?
The workshop also highlighted the concept of “Rethinking” at the source, using Crystal's water bottle design as an example. The bottle’s cap is attached to the neck ring, a clever feature designed to keep all components together. This ensures the entire unit can be recycled completely, reducing the chance of small parts like caps becoming litter that pollutes land and waterways.
A Showcase of Creativity
The results from the workshop were a delightful display of ingenuity. Participants used various techniques, from drawing with permanent markers and applying intricate needlework to bending flexible pipe cleaners into whimsical shapes like flowers and leaves.
One participant shared that her design was inspired by the duality of human nature, using durable fabric to represent strength and delicate floral patterns to symbolize a softer side. Others opted for simpler, yet equally charming, techniques like coiling colorful wires and attaching beaded safety pins.
At the end of the session, Wishulada reminded everyone to secure their decorations, ensuring they were durable and wouldn't fall off. She stressed that a core principle of the Circular Economy is creating items with lasting, practical use.
Participants were also invited to visit Crystal's SX KIDS Zone on the LG floor of SX2025 to see a large whale installation and learn about the vital role whales play in Thailand's marine ecosystem. Everyone left the workshop with a lovely handmade bag as a souvenir of their creative journey.
