On 26 June 2025, at 11:00 hrs., Dr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), presided over the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance Thailand’s implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 12: “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” Fifteen pilot organizations co-signed the MOU as a vital force to inspire participation across all sectors nationwide and drive behavioral change toward reducing food waste, thereby creating a sustainable society of consumption and production in the future. Attending and witnessing the signing were Mr. Apichart Sakdiset, Consultant to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE); Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE); Dr. Chayanan Pakdeejit, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; senior executives of the Ministry; and representatives of relevant partner agencies. The event took place at the Sakdisit Tridej Conference Room, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Dr. Chalermchai stated: “The issue of food waste is not merely a national problem—it is a global crisis that all sectors must recognize and work together earnestly to address. Food waste affects the environment, society, and the economy. Reducing food waste is not the responsibility of any single person; it is a collective mission. Therefore, we aim to declare 2025 the ‘Year of Food Waste Reduction Awareness’ as the foundation for driving communication, public campaigns, and concrete pilot projects in influential organizations to ignite momentum and expand results into Thai society’s everyday life. We seek to produce tangible outcomes on a broad scale and link surplus food to future sharing initiatives. I invite all sectors to join the food waste reduction network at every level—government, private sector, and citizens—covering all 77 provinces, with a particular focus on engaging children and youth.” “To advance the concept of ‘Stop Food Waste Start the Future,’ it is essential to promote sufficient food consumption, reduce edible waste, ease the burden of waste management, save household expenses, and cultivate sustainable consumption habits among all Thais.”

This signing represents collaboration among 15 entities across government, private, and academic sectors, led by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) and the Pollution Control Department (PCD), in cooperation with implementing pilot organizations including Seacon Department Store, Siam Piwat, Central Pattana, The Mall Group, the Sustainable University Network of Thailand, and supporting pilot organizations including Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Department of Climate Change and Environment, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, National Science and Technology Development Agency (by the Metallurgy and Materials Technology Center and the Center for SDG Research and Support), Thailand Environment Institute Foundation, Sustainable Consumption and Production Promotion Association, and Thai Youth Group Co., Ltd.