Samorn Wongmathanukroh's life has revolved around bears, both big and small, for decades and her passion for the animals is still burning strong.The bear that's won her heart more than others is no ordinary bear.
"I fall in love with teddy bears, not real ones with flesh and blood," the bear lover said."To me, a teddy bear is so cute and I like a chubby one. Over the years, I've spent a lot of money buying teddy bears on trips to foreign countries".
Samorn was frustrated because her adorable dolls were buried deep in storage for years: Her house had no more space, not even a small corner,for any more decorative items.
"I was born in a Chinese family and my parents felt that my collectible things could mess up the house. They like a plain house, not a fully decorated one, which is in stark contrast with my lifestyle,"she added.
"They thought what I collected was unnecessary and lavish. I felt somewhat pressured about that. At the time, I really wanted to have my own house so I could decorate it with my personal things," she recalled.
Samorn decided to move all her bears to a new place. This refuge has become a rendezvous point for teddy bear enthusiasts."Initially, I opened the shop to show off my endearing collection. Later, I wanted to share my passion ... so I started designing my own teddy bears."
Apart from her fascination with teddy bears,Samorn is captivated by country-style decorations.This passion has helped her succeed as a veteran designer of country-style odds and ends, sought-after accessories and bedroom linen for those who appreciate the rustic charms of the countryside.
At her Country-R-US shop, a vast array of chic creations is on display, including tissue-boxes,bird houses, tables, chairs, cabinets and beds.
"I love all decorative items that emanate a sense of country style. I also collect books on the topic. I have fashioned country-style objects for 10 years now and I still want to produce more,"Samorn said proudly.
Samorn also creates made-to-order pieces for clients who have their own ideas about style.
Her accessories normally feature pictures of hearts, flowers, teddy bears, and country dolls like the iconic Raggedy Ann and Andy.
Wooden pieces are made to look old in order to fit in with the country theme.
"Normally, I try to find an old piece of wood ...if I can't find it, I need to paint it with a colour that helps make the wood appear old as if it's been used for a long time."
Samorn also sells fabric designs, which are popular because each individual piece is unique,she said.
"All of my works are handmade. No massproduced goods are available in my shop. So I can't produce many works a month because I have to pay so much attention to all the details,for big and small pieces," she added.
Samorn's main clients are adults looking for something to remind them of the good old days.
Whenever Samorn feels disheartened, the things in her shop cheer her up and boost her morale.
"These things can directly connect to me. They have been an integral part of my life and I feel so attached to them. So I have never thought about quitting this job," she said with determination.
"I'm like a dream seller, selling a dream of the countryside so people who love them can be happy like me."m
MOVING TOWARDS A RUSTIC LOOK
For those who want to turn their house into a country-style residence, here are some tips from Samorn:
Before decorating the entire house,start with one room to control the budget and control the tone of the house. For those who enjoy the outdoors, you can choose a cool,shady spot in the garden.Next, search for country-style decorations that go along with the ambience of the room or the area.Their size must be compatible with the place you've chosen to decorate.If you plan to start in the garden, old wooden furniture, a bird house and cowboy dolls can help create the right atmosphere. But if you want to start in the living room, painted wooden furniture is preferable, since it can last longer.
A picture of a vast green field,teddy bear, or bull fighters is an ideal choice when it comes to decorating the walls. But don't put too many pieces together,especially outstanding ones,because they can steal the show.
If you want to start with the bedroom, simply select the bed,bed sheet, pillow case, and curtain in country-style designs.
House owners should bear in mind that country-style homes emphasise simplicity, creativity,relaxation, and cosiness, so any formality is undesirable.
Conserving the country style
Like other kinds of furniture and decorative objects, country-style odds and ends need constant care to lengthen their lifespan.
Old wooden furniture can be preserved with teak oil or oil-based stain that can be applied every three months. For those who like a glossy look,lacquer can help.
They should also be cleaned daily. Use a dry cloth or duster to keep surfaces clean. Don't place the furniture outside, since the sun can fade its colour. Furniture should also be kept away from damp areas, since high humidity can ruin the wood.
As for new wooden furniture, wipe it regularly with a wet, soft cloth.Don't use much water because it can stain the surface.
Painted wooden furniture can be kept clean and gleaming all the time with the aid of a sheet of glass to protect the design from scratches.
Water stains left on tables can be a big problem. But it can be solved in the blink of an eye.
Wipe the table, then apply mayonnaise on the stain and clean it. If the table is scratched, apply shoe polish with the same colour before cleaning.
Several kinds of cream and spray used to clean wooden furniture are available. Choose the right one for the right piece.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Showering, but not alone
There are some things it is better just not to think about. Like the 10,000 bacteria you inhale with each breath in the average office building.Or the 10 million bacteria in each glass of tap water.
Microbiologists have now added something else to the list of things too gross to contemplate: The deluge of bacteria that hit your face and flow deep into your lungs in the morning shower.
Showers in New York carry a particularly high dose of a microbe related to tuberculosis called Mycobacterium avium. The bacterium and its close cousins can cause a variety of exotic chest complaints, including lifeguard's lung, hot tub lung and Lady Windermere's syndrome.
This unwelcome peek behind the shower curtain has been provided by a group of microbiologists headed by Norman R. Pace of the University of Colorado. As part of a project to measure microbes in the indoor human environment, they looked at shower water, in part because in showers bacteria are incorporated into fine droplets that can be breathed deep into the lungs.
Conventional tests depend on growing cultures of the bacteria to be identified,but because most species cannot be grown in the laboratory, a majority of bacterial species are missed. Pace's method examines the genetic material directly, without the need for culturing bacteria.
He has turned up more than 15 kinds of bacteria in showers across the country,from Tennessee to Illinois, Denver and New York, he reports this week in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .Aside from the thought of being sprayed in the face by a bacterial cocktail every morning, the shower bacteria present no serious danger, with the possible exception of the M. avium. Pace said this microbe could be a risk to people whose immune system was compromised.
The bacteria get into shower heads from the water and build up there, so the dose is highest when the shower is first turned on. Running the water for 30 seconds before stepping in would mean fewer bacteria in one's face, Pace observed.
Also, the bacteria seem to find metal shower heads a less hospitable niche than plastic ones.
M. avium tends to be a particular problem in municipal water supplies,Pace said. The reason is that cities treat their water with chlorine, a poison that kills most bacteria but gives avium a selective advantage.
Pace's news for New Yorkers is not all bad. He has also been testing the air in the city's underground railway systems.Apart from a lot of aerosolised iron particles, presumably ground off the track by the wheels, the underground railway air is remarkably fresh and pretty much equal to outdoor air. The reason is that the movement of the trains pumps fresh outdoor air into the tunnels.
Another paradox of city life: It seems it is healthier to inhale the underground railway's air than the shower's mist.
Pace explained that his shower and underground railway projects arose from a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in New York, which was interested in how to detect microbes that might be used in a bioterrorist attack.
The foundation's officers decided that it was first necessary to understand the natural microbial background in people's houses and public places. The y commissioned Pace, a distinguished microbiologist, to determine what these background levels might be.
Pace said he was still taking showers,which he deemed no more dangerous than getting out of bed in the morning."The yuck factor isn't nearly as great as people may think it is," he said.
But after the findings about showers,he did throw away his scummy plastic shower head and got a metal one instead.
Microbiologists have now added something else to the list of things too gross to contemplate: The deluge of bacteria that hit your face and flow deep into your lungs in the morning shower.
Showers in New York carry a particularly high dose of a microbe related to tuberculosis called Mycobacterium avium. The bacterium and its close cousins can cause a variety of exotic chest complaints, including lifeguard's lung, hot tub lung and Lady Windermere's syndrome.
This unwelcome peek behind the shower curtain has been provided by a group of microbiologists headed by Norman R. Pace of the University of Colorado. As part of a project to measure microbes in the indoor human environment, they looked at shower water, in part because in showers bacteria are incorporated into fine droplets that can be breathed deep into the lungs.
Conventional tests depend on growing cultures of the bacteria to be identified,but because most species cannot be grown in the laboratory, a majority of bacterial species are missed. Pace's method examines the genetic material directly, without the need for culturing bacteria.
He has turned up more than 15 kinds of bacteria in showers across the country,from Tennessee to Illinois, Denver and New York, he reports this week in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .Aside from the thought of being sprayed in the face by a bacterial cocktail every morning, the shower bacteria present no serious danger, with the possible exception of the M. avium. Pace said this microbe could be a risk to people whose immune system was compromised.
The bacteria get into shower heads from the water and build up there, so the dose is highest when the shower is first turned on. Running the water for 30 seconds before stepping in would mean fewer bacteria in one's face, Pace observed.
Also, the bacteria seem to find metal shower heads a less hospitable niche than plastic ones.
M. avium tends to be a particular problem in municipal water supplies,Pace said. The reason is that cities treat their water with chlorine, a poison that kills most bacteria but gives avium a selective advantage.
Pace's news for New Yorkers is not all bad. He has also been testing the air in the city's underground railway systems.Apart from a lot of aerosolised iron particles, presumably ground off the track by the wheels, the underground railway air is remarkably fresh and pretty much equal to outdoor air. The reason is that the movement of the trains pumps fresh outdoor air into the tunnels.
Another paradox of city life: It seems it is healthier to inhale the underground railway's air than the shower's mist.
Pace explained that his shower and underground railway projects arose from a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in New York, which was interested in how to detect microbes that might be used in a bioterrorist attack.
The foundation's officers decided that it was first necessary to understand the natural microbial background in people's houses and public places. The y commissioned Pace, a distinguished microbiologist, to determine what these background levels might be.
Pace said he was still taking showers,which he deemed no more dangerous than getting out of bed in the morning."The yuck factor isn't nearly as great as people may think it is," he said.
But after the findings about showers,he did throw away his scummy plastic shower head and got a metal one instead.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
FUN PIECES FROM SCRAPS
All creative minds are invited to witness the wonder of recycling in the "Scrap Lab Exhibition 2009: Reloaded" which showcases over 50 pieces of art, furniture and appliances brilliantly created out of scraps at the Grand Hall,1st floor of Siam Discovery, from today (Sept 18) until Sept 23.
The exhibition is part of Eco Projects by Siam Centre and Siam Discovery, which aims to create outside-the-classroom experience for participating students and encourage them to produce wonderful work of art from wasted materials under the "reduce,reuse and recycle" concept.
Joining the project are students and professors from Kasetsart, Rangsit and Thammasat universities,with Assist Prof Singh Intrachooto as consultant.
The creative works on show are created by students and participants of a workshop held earlier.They include a chandelier and a lamp made from lightbulbs, a variety of recycled bags, a chair,multi-purpose boxes, wall sculptures and more.
Those wishing to learn to transform scraps into work of art are also invited to a Scrap Lab workshop scheduled from Sept 19-20.
For more information about the event and workshop, please call 02-658-1000 ext 215.
The exhibition is part of Eco Projects by Siam Centre and Siam Discovery, which aims to create outside-the-classroom experience for participating students and encourage them to produce wonderful work of art from wasted materials under the "reduce,reuse and recycle" concept.
Joining the project are students and professors from Kasetsart, Rangsit and Thammasat universities,with Assist Prof Singh Intrachooto as consultant.
The creative works on show are created by students and participants of a workshop held earlier.They include a chandelier and a lamp made from lightbulbs, a variety of recycled bags, a chair,multi-purpose boxes, wall sculptures and more.
Those wishing to learn to transform scraps into work of art are also invited to a Scrap Lab workshop scheduled from Sept 19-20.
For more information about the event and workshop, please call 02-658-1000 ext 215.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Charming stars from the Land of the Rising Sun
Every country has its own symbolic icons that make it well remembered by other populations. Many of them possess unique features and some even come with amazing tales, making them popular beyond the coasts of their land of origin.
Owl piggy bank (3,900 baht).
How could we imagine the cute beckoning cat with a raised paw from Japan could find its way to station itself happily at the entrance of nearly every restaurant and shop in the Kingdom?
It must be the lovely characteristic or the reputedly attracting power of Maneki Neko, also called Fortune/Lucky Cat, that wins the hearts of many Thais. We don't seem to care if the smiling feline has its right or left paw raised and at what height, as long as it is sitting proudly on the desk or accompanying us everywhere as a charm accessory.
The Daruma doll, likewise, is a symbol of good luck and completion in Japan. With no arms and legs but a round face with a moustache and beard, the doll seems to look more sacred to us as it's said to be modelled after an ancient Buddhist monk in a sitting meditating position.
Looking a bit scary due to its horns, bulging eyes and sinister looking smile and sharp teeth, Oni is the demon of Japanese folklore which is, however, widely accepted as a good luck symbol.
Japanese style cloth bags (50-180 baht).
It is also credited with bringing good health, safety, peace and avoiding disaster. That's why having an Oni devil mask decorating your wall should be a good omen.
While Totoro, one of the greatest cartoon characters, is as famous among Japanese children as Winnie the Pooh is among British kids, the thumb-sucking Monchhichi monkey is also well-loved in some European countries. It's affectionately called Kiki in France and Chic-a-boo in England.
Having those little iconic figures here and there around your place and everywhere as a companion should make you give Japan the thumbs-up for coming up with so many cute icons for the world to enjoy.
Owl piggy bank (3,900 baht).
How could we imagine the cute beckoning cat with a raised paw from Japan could find its way to station itself happily at the entrance of nearly every restaurant and shop in the Kingdom?
It must be the lovely characteristic or the reputedly attracting power of Maneki Neko, also called Fortune/Lucky Cat, that wins the hearts of many Thais. We don't seem to care if the smiling feline has its right or left paw raised and at what height, as long as it is sitting proudly on the desk or accompanying us everywhere as a charm accessory.
The Daruma doll, likewise, is a symbol of good luck and completion in Japan. With no arms and legs but a round face with a moustache and beard, the doll seems to look more sacred to us as it's said to be modelled after an ancient Buddhist monk in a sitting meditating position.
Looking a bit scary due to its horns, bulging eyes and sinister looking smile and sharp teeth, Oni is the demon of Japanese folklore which is, however, widely accepted as a good luck symbol.
Japanese style cloth bags (50-180 baht).
It is also credited with bringing good health, safety, peace and avoiding disaster. That's why having an Oni devil mask decorating your wall should be a good omen.
While Totoro, one of the greatest cartoon characters, is as famous among Japanese children as Winnie the Pooh is among British kids, the thumb-sucking Monchhichi monkey is also well-loved in some European countries. It's affectionately called Kiki in France and Chic-a-boo in England.
Having those little iconic figures here and there around your place and everywhere as a companion should make you give Japan the thumbs-up for coming up with so many cute icons for the world to enjoy.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
THE TORSO BECOMES A TRASHCAN IN THE WORLD'S TOP HOUSEWARES SHOW
Squeeze lemons on a pair of breasts or chuck the trash into a lifelike life-sized posterior.
After contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst, whose recreated skulls fetch record prices on the art maket, designers increasingly are basing objects for everyday life on all sorts of body parts.
"The human body has become a source of inspiration," said trendspotter Francois Bernard at the Maison and Objet trade fair, one of the world's top home shows taking place in Paris this week.
There were chairs covered in hair from Austria, internal organs doubling up a swater-bottles from Denmark, and porcelain fingers and hands beckoning to be used as coat hooks.
A Dutch garbage bin titled "Fill Bill" came in the shape of a man bent over double a the waist, his open posterior ready for the trash.
"The body has been very much in focus in Western society, in plastic surgery and the obsession with exercies, but only recently has featured strongly in art," added Bernard. "The body, natre, life forms, are a primary influence."
Alongside a stool pretending to be a brain and a chair a skull - iconic pieces from Ukraineborn designer vladi Repaport-came pieces closer to Mother Nature than to her earthlings.
Desinger darling Philippe Starck's latest creations are tall womb-like seats topped by hanging gardens, while tiny nomadic apartment gardens that can hang upside down or be moved around were on show by France's Green works.
"After the economic crisis, people want to be protected and enveloped. Designers are inspired by the softness of nature," said trend-watcher Vincent Gregoire.
Exploring the possibilities of low energy lighting as the world prepares to do away with incandescent lighting, a young Dutch duo connected actual dandelions to a light-emitting diode circuit to produce rivers of soft natural light.
"The little luminous sculpture reconciles nature and technology," said Drift Design.
Another technologicall lighting effor ttitled Fiat Lux was a lamp whose sphere-shaped switch levitates int he air when the light is on and attaches to the lampshade magnetically when the light is switched off. "the user becomes a magician," said designer Constance Guisset.
Another innovation is a concrete wall that doubles as a sound system.
"People want to stay close to mother nature, to authnticity, to the past," said award-winning architect Vincent Van Dysen. "They are attracted by purity."
After contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst, whose recreated skulls fetch record prices on the art maket, designers increasingly are basing objects for everyday life on all sorts of body parts.
"The human body has become a source of inspiration," said trendspotter Francois Bernard at the Maison and Objet trade fair, one of the world's top home shows taking place in Paris this week.
There were chairs covered in hair from Austria, internal organs doubling up a swater-bottles from Denmark, and porcelain fingers and hands beckoning to be used as coat hooks.
A Dutch garbage bin titled "Fill Bill" came in the shape of a man bent over double a the waist, his open posterior ready for the trash.
"The body has been very much in focus in Western society, in plastic surgery and the obsession with exercies, but only recently has featured strongly in art," added Bernard. "The body, natre, life forms, are a primary influence."
Alongside a stool pretending to be a brain and a chair a skull - iconic pieces from Ukraineborn designer vladi Repaport-came pieces closer to Mother Nature than to her earthlings.
Desinger darling Philippe Starck's latest creations are tall womb-like seats topped by hanging gardens, while tiny nomadic apartment gardens that can hang upside down or be moved around were on show by France's Green works.
"After the economic crisis, people want to be protected and enveloped. Designers are inspired by the softness of nature," said trend-watcher Vincent Gregoire.
Exploring the possibilities of low energy lighting as the world prepares to do away with incandescent lighting, a young Dutch duo connected actual dandelions to a light-emitting diode circuit to produce rivers of soft natural light.
"The little luminous sculpture reconciles nature and technology," said Drift Design.
Another technologicall lighting effor ttitled Fiat Lux was a lamp whose sphere-shaped switch levitates int he air when the light is on and attaches to the lampshade magnetically when the light is switched off. "the user becomes a magician," said designer Constance Guisset.
Another innovation is a concrete wall that doubles as a sound system.
"People want to stay close to mother nature, to authnticity, to the past," said award-winning architect Vincent Van Dysen. "They are attracted by purity."
Saturday, September 12, 2009
UP TO BT1 BN IN SALES EXPECTED AT HOME EXPO
Home-buyers will be treated to a collection of residential projects worth more than Bt10 billion at the Thailand Exclusive Property Show 2009, starting today at Siam Paragon.
Developers of 13 residential projects, offering homes ranging from condominium units to luxury detached houses, are also offering a wide range of inducements to drive sales.
The event, organised by the Thailand Real Estate Association, will run until September 20.
Association president Kittipol Pramoj na Ayudhya said the show would offer residences for buyers from every segment of the property market. The range will include condominium units priced from Bt1.9 million to more than Bt10 million and single detached houses, double houses and townhouses in Bangkok and resort destinations such as Rayong and Hua Hin priced from Bt3 million to more than Bt100 million.
The residential projects taking part include Issara @ Sukhumvit 42, the Ratchaprasong project, Link Advance by Tararom Group, Fine Home @ River Charoen Nakorn, The Fine by Fine Home at Aree Soi 4, My Resort at Phetchaburi, Diamond at Sukhumvit, Charn Talay at Hua Hin, Phuphatara at Rayong, Golden Heritage @ Ratchapreuk, Golden Monaco at Bang Na and the Thanyathani project by NC Housing.
People who buy a residence at the event will get a gift voucher for two nights at Anantara Hotel in Hua Hin or Trang, Kittipol said.
Now is a good time to buy or invest in residential property because of low mortgage interest rates, he said. Investors will get the best prices on properties that will generate returns averaging 6 or 7 per cent per year - far better than interest on bank deposits.
"Customers who buy at this time will get tax incentives from the government's stimulus package for the property sector - which expires in March next year - as well as the best conditions from property developers," he said.
The organisers are hoping to generate sales of between Bt600 million and Bt1 billion from the 10-day show.
Fine Home Housing Development managing director Sukit Triwanapong said his company was expecting sales of at least Bt50 million from the event. It is offering to fully furnish a home up to a cost of Bt200,000 as a special promotion for customers buying from The Fine by Fine Home at Aree Soi 4 during the show.
Because of the signs of economic recovery, he believes now is a good time to buy a home.
"Our customers began to increase in the third quarter of this year. The number of visitors to our projects increased by 10 to 20 per cent over the number in the first half of the year. As a result we believe this is a good time for home-buyers to buy a residence," he said.
Vilailux Development general manager Teeravat Pipatdhitakul said demand for new homes in Rayong had continued - especially from foreign buyers coming from Scandinavian countries.
"We believe that this event will be a good time for buyers and investors because they will get the best conditions from property developers," he said, adding that his company would also offer special promotions.
NC Housing managing director Somchao Tanterdtham said his company would launch what it called its E-Quick Plus promotion for buyers from its residential projects at the show.
E-Quick Plus will offer price discounts of up to Bt1 million per unit, depending on the type of residence. Customers will also get gift vouchers for furniture or home appliances if they speed up the transfer of residential properties. The customer who achieves the fastest transfer will receive a free package tour for two to Maldives.
"We expect sales worth between Bt20 million and Bt30 million from this event," Somchao said.
Developers of 13 residential projects, offering homes ranging from condominium units to luxury detached houses, are also offering a wide range of inducements to drive sales.
The event, organised by the Thailand Real Estate Association, will run until September 20.
Association president Kittipol Pramoj na Ayudhya said the show would offer residences for buyers from every segment of the property market. The range will include condominium units priced from Bt1.9 million to more than Bt10 million and single detached houses, double houses and townhouses in Bangkok and resort destinations such as Rayong and Hua Hin priced from Bt3 million to more than Bt100 million.
The residential projects taking part include Issara @ Sukhumvit 42, the Ratchaprasong project, Link Advance by Tararom Group, Fine Home @ River Charoen Nakorn, The Fine by Fine Home at Aree Soi 4, My Resort at Phetchaburi, Diamond at Sukhumvit, Charn Talay at Hua Hin, Phuphatara at Rayong, Golden Heritage @ Ratchapreuk, Golden Monaco at Bang Na and the Thanyathani project by NC Housing.
People who buy a residence at the event will get a gift voucher for two nights at Anantara Hotel in Hua Hin or Trang, Kittipol said.
Now is a good time to buy or invest in residential property because of low mortgage interest rates, he said. Investors will get the best prices on properties that will generate returns averaging 6 or 7 per cent per year - far better than interest on bank deposits.
"Customers who buy at this time will get tax incentives from the government's stimulus package for the property sector - which expires in March next year - as well as the best conditions from property developers," he said.
The organisers are hoping to generate sales of between Bt600 million and Bt1 billion from the 10-day show.
Fine Home Housing Development managing director Sukit Triwanapong said his company was expecting sales of at least Bt50 million from the event. It is offering to fully furnish a home up to a cost of Bt200,000 as a special promotion for customers buying from The Fine by Fine Home at Aree Soi 4 during the show.
Because of the signs of economic recovery, he believes now is a good time to buy a home.
"Our customers began to increase in the third quarter of this year. The number of visitors to our projects increased by 10 to 20 per cent over the number in the first half of the year. As a result we believe this is a good time for home-buyers to buy a residence," he said.
Vilailux Development general manager Teeravat Pipatdhitakul said demand for new homes in Rayong had continued - especially from foreign buyers coming from Scandinavian countries.
"We believe that this event will be a good time for buyers and investors because they will get the best conditions from property developers," he said, adding that his company would also offer special promotions.
NC Housing managing director Somchao Tanterdtham said his company would launch what it called its E-Quick Plus promotion for buyers from its residential projects at the show.
E-Quick Plus will offer price discounts of up to Bt1 million per unit, depending on the type of residence. Customers will also get gift vouchers for furniture or home appliances if they speed up the transfer of residential properties. The customer who achieves the fastest transfer will receive a free package tour for two to Maldives.
"We expect sales worth between Bt20 million and Bt30 million from this event," Somchao said.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Export markets will require a greener approach
Strict environmental regulations in key markets could cause Thai furniture exports to slump unless local manufacturers start making more eco-friendly products,experts say.
Local firms need to become alert to the increased demand for green products and the fact that they could save costs by using more efficient manufacturing processes, said Somchai Chatratana, deputy executive director of the Technology Management Center, a state agency that provides technological assistance to the private sector.
"Five years ago, promoting the concept of eco-friendly products would have been impossible because manufacturers were scared of higher costs. But now we have to give more importance to it,"said Dr Somchai, speaking yesterday at the Woodworking Forum 2009, which focused on boosting the competitiveness of Thai furniture.
Many countries are moving to ban products with a large carbon footprint.International standards, such as the Green Label, are being increasingly used to verify products' environmental impact.
Such initiatives would effectively become non-tariff barriers for Thai furniture exports to developed countries if the sector does not shift to greener production techniques, said Dr Somchai.
Thailand's main furniture export markets are Japan, the US and Britain,according to the Thai Furniture Industries Association.
The sector's export figures for the first seven months to July plummeted to $500 million from $1.2 billion in the same period last year.
Nudjarin Ramungul, a researcher with the National Metal and Materials Technology Center, said eco-friendly products had become more popular since the beginning of the economic crisis as consumers are more conservative.
"We are seeing pollution controls on products to ensure they contain the least amount of resources and that they create the least damage to the environment.This is what we call sustainability," she said.
Many countries are discussing levying green taxes. Products would be taxed according to the amount of carbon dioxide created by the manufacturing process. If producers cannot show improve-ments, they will be taxed heavily.
"Japan, for instance, has a policy to eliminate waste at the very start of the production cycle, whereas European countries include waste fees in products that cannot be destroyed," said Dr Nudjarin.
Government agencies such as the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) have played a key role in encouraging manufacturers to become more green focused.
The NSTDA acts as a matchmaker between researchers and business operators. Its industrial technology assistance programme supports the private sector in developing technologies.
"By adjusting the production cycle to become more efficient on waste management and energy costs, the product's overall cost will be lower," said Dr Somchai.
Thailand still has a long way to go due to a lack of eco-design experts and the fact that many firms are simply not interested in being more green, said Prin Boonkanit, and engineering manager at Eco Design Consultant Co.
"The Thai government has no business paradigm, even though the country shows high potential to develop towards the trend given the strong skills of its [furniture] designers," Dr Prin said.
Only about 20% of Thailand's furniture products are considered to be ecofriendly, said the TFIA.
"In the future we should place importance on the life cycle of a product,starting from production to waste management," said Dr Prin.
Local firms need to become alert to the increased demand for green products and the fact that they could save costs by using more efficient manufacturing processes, said Somchai Chatratana, deputy executive director of the Technology Management Center, a state agency that provides technological assistance to the private sector.
"Five years ago, promoting the concept of eco-friendly products would have been impossible because manufacturers were scared of higher costs. But now we have to give more importance to it,"said Dr Somchai, speaking yesterday at the Woodworking Forum 2009, which focused on boosting the competitiveness of Thai furniture.
Many countries are moving to ban products with a large carbon footprint.International standards, such as the Green Label, are being increasingly used to verify products' environmental impact.
Such initiatives would effectively become non-tariff barriers for Thai furniture exports to developed countries if the sector does not shift to greener production techniques, said Dr Somchai.
Thailand's main furniture export markets are Japan, the US and Britain,according to the Thai Furniture Industries Association.
The sector's export figures for the first seven months to July plummeted to $500 million from $1.2 billion in the same period last year.
Nudjarin Ramungul, a researcher with the National Metal and Materials Technology Center, said eco-friendly products had become more popular since the beginning of the economic crisis as consumers are more conservative.
"We are seeing pollution controls on products to ensure they contain the least amount of resources and that they create the least damage to the environment.This is what we call sustainability," she said.
Many countries are discussing levying green taxes. Products would be taxed according to the amount of carbon dioxide created by the manufacturing process. If producers cannot show improve-ments, they will be taxed heavily.
"Japan, for instance, has a policy to eliminate waste at the very start of the production cycle, whereas European countries include waste fees in products that cannot be destroyed," said Dr Nudjarin.
Government agencies such as the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) have played a key role in encouraging manufacturers to become more green focused.
The NSTDA acts as a matchmaker between researchers and business operators. Its industrial technology assistance programme supports the private sector in developing technologies.
"By adjusting the production cycle to become more efficient on waste management and energy costs, the product's overall cost will be lower," said Dr Somchai.
Thailand still has a long way to go due to a lack of eco-design experts and the fact that many firms are simply not interested in being more green, said Prin Boonkanit, and engineering manager at Eco Design Consultant Co.
"The Thai government has no business paradigm, even though the country shows high potential to develop towards the trend given the strong skills of its [furniture] designers," Dr Prin said.
Only about 20% of Thailand's furniture products are considered to be ecofriendly, said the TFIA.
"In the future we should place importance on the life cycle of a product,starting from production to waste management," said Dr Prin.
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