The moment of inquiry sparked a reverse-engineered design process, tracing waste back to its origin and giving rise to recoplast, a new material born from a growing sense of accountability toward WPC, the brand's core offering since 2015.
Construction Waste Challenge
Construction waste typically stems from two primary sources: materials discarded during installation, such as wood offcuts, and waste resulting from the deterioration of materials after use, necessitating replacement with new components.
Where does all this waste go?
This led Siravich Mankongtanapron, CEO of Watsaduniyom, to pose a critical question: Where does all this waste go? This question emerged just as Thailand advances its national plastic waste management roadmap (2018–2030), spearheaded by the Pollution Control Department. That moment of inquiry sparked the genesis of a reverse-engineered design process that traces waste back to its origin to create a new material solution called recoplast. The project arose from a deepening sense of accountability toward WPC (Wood-Plastic Composite), the brand's core offering since 2015.
The Nature of WPC Composite Materials
WPC, a popular wood-alternative material, poses a particular challenge: unlike conventional plastics, it cannot be easily recycled or upcycled. The reason lies in its hybrid nature—a composite of wood and plastic that cannot be separated. No established market or waste-handling infrastructure currently exists for such composites in Thailand. With limited academic or industry research available on recycling or repurposing these materials, Watsaduniyom's R&D team collaborated with Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi in 2024 to investigate new possibilities.
The Birth of recoplast
recoplast is a novel material born of both environmental necessity and material innovation. The project culminated in creating a viable recycled composite and garnered international recognition, receiving a Silver Medal at the Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions in Hong Kong in late 2024. The material is officially patented.
Complexity of Research
"The challenge with this research was that composite waste made from a mix of wood and plastic holds virtually no value. No one wants to buy it. It can only be disposed of in a landfill. And since there has been little to no study, let alone commercial production, focused on the upcycling or recycling of composite materials, we had to start entirely from scratch. That meant going back to the lab and working our way forward from the fundamentals to an industrial production process. You could say we're among the first to do this."
The Production Process
The result of that effort is recoplast, Watsaduniyom's debut collection of modular pavers and interlocking blocks. The process involves combining waste material from WPC (wood-plastic composite) with discarded plastic collected from the sorting systems of partnering factories in a 50:50 ratio. The blend is then upcycled at a carefully controlled temperature to create a new product made from 100% waste-derived materials - a closed-loop upcycling process in which sorted waste is reprocessed into new, high-quality products without degrading its original properties.
Material Properties & Performance
In terms of performance, recoplast reflects the company's commitment to environmental responsibility by helping to reduce industrial waste and offering tangible, functional benefits. The material is lightweight yet strong, thanks to its plastic content, making it highly resistant to weathering and wear. It reduces the need for virgin resources and is well-suited for various uses, from paving and wall-building to garden and home landscaping applications. Its lightweight makes it ideal for rooftop gardens or green terraces, minimizing concerns over structural load and eliminating the need for additional reinforcement.
Our Sustainable Brand Goal
The product born out of this research has become a catalyst for Watsaduniyom's long-term vision: to position itself as a leader in the WPC market by prioritizing innovation and advancing the development of closed-loop upcycled materials to the fullest extent possible.
Patented Innovations & Certificates
"recoplast is recognized as a patented innovation, particularly for its ability to replicate real wood's surface texture and tonal richness at a nano-pixel level. This Watsaduniyom product has also received low-carbon certifications from two key organizations, LCMP (Low Carbon Manufacturing Programme) and EPD (Environmental Product Declaration), making it eligible for inclusion in LEED calculations and other green building benchmarks."
Raising Awareness in Construction
One of the key conversations we hope to ignite within the construction materials industry through our inaugural recoplast collection is the potential of modular pavers and interlocking blocks. We're not aiming to compete with conventional concrete pavers on their own terms because recoplast is made primarily from recycled plastic with only a small percentage of wood fiber. Rather, our goal is to reframe the value proposition by offering a fundamentally more sustainable material. We envision a future where architects choose this product for its aesthetics and because it aligns with low-carbon design goals.
The Net-Zero Architecture Challenge
"In architecture, reaching what we call Net Zero is no simple feat. So we've started with a more immediate and achievable goal: to make our materials increasingly low-carbon. This collection was developed clearly with that intention, starting from the manufacturing process. Ultimately, we aim to strike a balance between beauty and functional performance, as one of the most pivotal challenges for architects and designers today is acknowledging their broader responsibility to society and the environment. (Special thanks to asa selected magazine)"
Awards & Recognitions
- ASA Expo 2025 - Chosen as ASA Platform Selected Materials 2025
- The 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong - recoplast Silver Medal Certification
- The 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong - Recrete, Gold Medal, Taiwan Special Award For Technological Innovation
Catalogs & Installation Guides
Download recoplast Product E-Catalog: /downloads