HomePro launched the HomePro Hackathon under the HomePro Waste to Value for Better Living project, inviting university students nationwide to design home products from recycled materials. A total of 107 teams from over 18 universities across the country applied, with 60 teams selected in the first round to develop ideas with potential for actual production.
HomePro views Thailand as facing various waste problems, especially electronic waste (WEEE) exceeding 700,000 tons, but less than 10% is properly managed. This is because products are often designed without considering disassembly, repair, or reuse from the start, making end-of-life management insufficient to solve the problem.
Over the years, HomePro has advanced a comprehensive HomePro Circular Economy Ecosystem, from repair-before-disposal to extend product life, collecting old appliances from customers, to properly managing old items through recycling partnerships and turning recycled materials into new products.
However, what this cycle still lacks is not raw materials but design work that transforms recycled materials into products that are not only environmentally friendly but also genuinely desirable for everyday use. The HomePro Hackathon is more than a design contest; it offers young people a chance to reshape perspectives on products and resource use for the future.
“From the project's inception, we did not see students as mere competitors but as Change-Makers who bring new perspectives, creativity, and insights—especially from Gen Z—to develop products and services that meet future lifestyles and customer needs,” said a HomePro representative.
The challenge here is not merely creating attractive drawings but turning ideas into real impact—from defining the problem, selecting materials, designing for usability, to assessing production feasibility and practical application.
This competition’s challenge is tougher than typical design contests because submissions must be producible at industrial scale. Mentors who are experts from HomePro and partners provide guidance throughout, including researchers from environmental sustainability institutes.
Experts include those in green polymer business, manufacturers and distributors of plastic and household products, furniture and home textile producers, recycled fiber (rPET) manufacturers, and plastic waste recycling service providers, covering design, technical constraints, production, and marketing.
The Hackathon offers students the opportunity to compete in two tracks:
Track 1 | Eco-Design – Designing products using recycled plastic molds from PP, ABS, and HIPS, focusing on turning recycled materials into practical household items such as storage products, plastic chairs, corner water tanks, and toolboxes.
Track 2 | Free-Form Design – Contestants design products from PET fibers, including furniture, shopping bags, and bean bags.
The top 20 teams from both tracks will compete in the final round on 2 Nov 2026, vying for seven Best Awards plus Special Prize and Popular Vote awards totaling over 314,000 baht. Selected works have a chance to be developed into eco-friendly products sold at HomePro.
. Dr. Mahattana Amornpisit, Managing Director of Government Housing Bank (GHB), joined the opening ceremony of the "Special Olympics Thailand Charity Match 2026" football game between Muangthong United and Police Tero FC as the main sponsor. The event was honored by Dr. Akniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, as the presiding official.
The match was organized by the Special Olympics Thailand Association, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports and social inclusion. It currently offers opportunities nationwide for athletes with intellectual disabilities to develop sports skills continuously and supports dignified living.
Proceeds from this event will be used to improve health for people with intellectual disabilities and to enhance the quality of life of these vulnerable athletes, promoting their acceptance and integration into Thai society. This aligns with GHB’s CSR efforts as a financial institution committed to social inclusion, reducing inequality, and creating equal opportunities for all.
From Plastic Bottles to Reflective Vests MR. D.I.Y. Holding (Thailand) Public Company Limited, a leader in retailing home improvement and lifestyle products, celebrated its 10th anniversary by continuing its environmental collaboration with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for the third year under the MR. D.I.Y. Cares project. They donated over 1,500 sorted used plastic bottles to the “Bangkok Magic Hands Separate to Give...Brother Broom” project by BMA’s Environment Office to produce reflective vests for cleaning staff in Bangkok.
At the handover, Mr. Anupap Kongmalai, Executive Vice President of Marketing at MR. D.I.Y. Holding (Thailand) Public Company Limited, represented the company to deliver the used plastic bottles. Ms. Waranuch Suaykhakao, Director of the BMA Environment Office, received the donation at the waste separation drop-off point at the Bangkok City Hall, Din Daeng.