Innovation catalysts for industrial waste challenges: Sri Lankan and Thai cases

We explore the specific challenges that Asian developing countries experience with their industrial waste from manufacturing. We collected empirical data in Sri Lanka and Thailand through four workshops, 16 interviews and in-situ observations within Sri Lankan garment manufacturers, academics and NGOs; and Thai SMEs of wood, metal, plastic, automobile part and glass. Whereas garment manufacturing is the single biggest export industry in Sri Lanka, the Thai economy operates with wider industry sectors. The synthesis of the identified challenges is fed into a set of innovation catalysts along with sustainability consideration points that will support future innovation concept generation. The findings would allow a better understanding of current waste problems and navigate the starting point to tackle the waste problems for academia and industry in both countries. The study lays the foundation for further investigation into sustainable value creation through creative waste innovations