Abstract:
This qualitative research, titled "Promoting Green Economy and Sustainable Materials in the Development of Thai Textiles for One Tambon One Product Entrepreneurs in Chiang Mai Province," aims to study government policies promoting the development of Thai textiles toward a green economy, explore the feasibility of developing eco-friendly Thai textile products, support entrepreneurial groups in adding product value, and align this development with New Public Management (NPM), green economy concepts, and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model. Data was collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 21 key informants, comprising entrepreneurs, government officials, and consumers. The collected data was subjected to content analysis based on the CIPP Model evaluation framework to draw inductive conclusions. The findings reveal a high commercial viability for developing Thai textiles within a green economy. Key drivers include the COVID-19 pandemic, which heightened consumer awareness regarding health and the environment, alongside government demand-stimulation policies through the "Pha Thai Sai Hai Sanook" (Fun with Thai Fabrics) project. Entrepreneurs can enhance product value by adopting circular economy concepts, such as upcycling fabric scraps and waste materials into new products, utilizing innovations like elephant dung-based dyes, and integrating storytelling strategies. However, this transition faces a "green paradox" in the production process. Natural dyeing processes still rely on firewood as fuel, contributing to air pollution (PM 2.5), and certain procedures still require chemical mordants. Furthermore, significant consumer purchasing barriers remain, notably price disparities exceeding perceived value, maintenance difficulties, and designs that lack suitability for everyday wear. From a policy integration perspective, a conflict exists between the sustainable goals of a green economy and the performance indicators of operational agencies, which predominantly focus on short-term quantitative outputs. Additionally, legal restrictions concerning national forest reserves impede communities' access to natural raw materials. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the government undergo a paradigm shift from being a "regulator" to a genuine "facilitator." Legal restrictions on forest resource management should be reviewed and eased to enable sustainable community access to raw materials. Additionally, the phenomenon of 'Cross-spatial Circular Economy Innovation' is distinctly evident through the case study of developing an innovative fabric dye from elephant dung. Examined through the lens of spatial problem analysis, this initiative represents the outcome of collaborative integration between weaving collectives and geographically distinct tourism sectors within Chiang Mai province. Furthermore, the government should provide research funding to develop green technology innovations, such as energy-efficient and smokeless dyeing stoves, to mitigate pollution. Moreover, the public sector should act as an intermediary to facilitate business matching between elderly local weavers and the new generation of digital marketers. This initiative would bridge gaps in e-commerce and contemporary design, ensuring the products better meet current market demands.