FTI supports government strictness in handling illegal industrial waste management, highlighting the Digital Product Passport linked to GS1 to upgrade tracking systems for used batteries and solar panels.
On 11 Nov 2026, Mr. Preeda Watcharathiansakul, FTI Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Water, Environment and Climate Change Institute, revealed that FTI supports the policy and enforcement efforts of the Minister of Industry to intensify inspections and legal actions against factories improperly managing industrial waste, especially cases of illegal dumping, handling waste beyond permitted conditions, and operations potentially harming the environment and communities.
FTI considers serious, transparent, and fair law enforcement a crucial mechanism to raise Thai industrial standards and ensure fairness for compliant businesses. It should not allow operators who avoid environmental costs to gain competitive advantage over those operating legally.
“FTI supports decisive government action against operators violating laws, because illegal dumping or improper industrial waste management not only harms the environment and communities but also damages the credibility of the entire industrial sector. Serious law enforcement protects both the public and responsible businesses,” he said.
Emphasizing that waste generators must be responsible for industrial waste through to final disposal.
Mr. Preeda added that sustainable industrial waste problem solving requires responsibility across the entire management chain, not only inspecting waste treatment or disposal factories, but also focusing on waste generators, waste transporters, and waste processors.
Especially under the Ministry of Industry’s 2023 announcement on waste and discarded materials management, which sets criteria and responsibilities for industrial waste generators, who remain liable under law until waste is properly managed. This principle reflects that removing waste from the factory does not immediately end the generator's responsibility.
Therefore, waste-generating factories should carefully verify and select industrial waste handlers, considering not only waste management costs but also license suitability, management capacity, technology used, pollution control systems, legal compliance history, and environmental risk of the handler.
“Choosing waste handlers based solely on lowest price may overlook true costs, especially environmental risks and legal liabilities. Waste generators must establish verifiable selection and monitoring systems, because responsibility does not end when waste leaves the factory gate.”
Proposing that the government enhances Waste Traceability systems enabling full chain traceability.
FTI believes Thailand should accelerate development of efficient Waste Traceability systems linking data from origin to endpoint, including waste types and quantities, transport, acceptance at facilities, and evidence of treatment, disposal, or reuse.
This should build upon the existing industrial waste transport manifest system to systematically cross-check data among generators, transporters, and handlers, support anomaly analysis and risk assessment, enabling regulators to plan inspections and enforce laws precisely.
“The key to future industrial waste management is knowing where waste is generated, where it is sent, who is responsible, and ultimately how it is managed, with data and evidence that can be reliably traced back,” Mr. Preeda stated.
Focusing on used batteries and solar panels, proposing Digital Product Passport linked to GS1 standards.
Mr. Chayanin Pothiwarakun, Board Member of GS1 Thailand and representative of Mr. Pipop Chokwatana, FTI Vice Chairman and GS1 Thailand Chairman, said Thailand must prepare for managing waste from the energy transition, especially batteries from electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and solar panels, which are expected to increase with clean energy adoption.
These products contain multiple materials that can be recycled, while some components require proper handling under safety and environmental measures.
FTI sees an opportunity to apply the Digital Product Passport (DPP) concept as a tool linking data throughout the product lifecycle—from manufacturer information, material types and composition, safety data, to reuse and end-of-life management guidelines.
This can leverage GS1’s international standards for product identification and digital data linking, such as GS1 Digital Link, to support data access and exchange among sectors under common standards.
“We must look beyond waste management at product end-of-life. Knowing key product information from the start enables better risk assessment, sorting, and selection of appropriate treatment methods when the product becomes waste,” Mr. Chayanin explained.
FTI advocates cooperation among the Ministry of Industry, Department of Industrial Works, GS1 Thailand, industry, and relevant agencies to explore developing a Digital Product Passport system linking product data with waste management data, possibly starting with a pilot project for used batteries and solar panels before expanding to other industrial materials and products.
This approach should align with existing regulatory frameworks and legal requirements, including data protection, to benefit government, industry, and waste handlers effectively.
Promoting a shift from end-of-pipe problem solving to sustainable resource management systems.
FTI sees upgrading Thailand’s industrial waste management system as requiring collaboration from all sectors, with government overseeing and enforcing laws, waste generators and handlers conducting responsible business, and industry participating in developing suitable technologies and management standards.
FTI is ready to support development of mechanisms to advance Thailand from waste problem-solving focused on endpoints to efficient resource management aligned with the Circular Economy concept, while enhancing Thai industry competitiveness.
“Our goal is not only proper industrial waste disposal but also ensuring all sectors take responsibility for waste generated, enabling traceability and safe recovery of valuable resources, so industrial growth proceeds alongside environmental care and sustainable quality of life for the public.”