THE TRANSFORMATION OF AGRICULTURAL WEEDS SUCH AS SEDGE FOR DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT INTO ECO PRODUCT

Abstract

The transformation of agricultural weeds such as sedge for design and development into eco products was the central focus of this research. The objectives were: (1) to process sedge, an agricultural weed, into usable materials; and (2) to design and develop eco-economic products derived from the processed sedge. This applied research employed interviews and questionnaires as primary research instruments. The sample consisted of three groups: nine community members engaged in sedge processing in Tha Chang Subdistrict, selected through simple random sampling; three design experts, selected through purposive sampling; and 50 consumers, selected through accidental sampling. The findings indicated that eco-economic products from sedge can be effectively developed by substituting nylon plastic warp threads with spun yarn blended with polyester and replacing chemical dyes with natural indigo. Furthermore, the *Rak Tha Chang* pattern, representing the cultural identity of Tha Chang Subdistrict, was identified, achieving a high mean score for design evaluation with a mean score 4.83 Four categories of eco-economic products were designed: a set of stool chairs, cushion pillows, seat pads, placemats, and coasters. The appropriateness of using biodegradable natural materials in these products was rated very highly, with a mean score  4.96