Products development guidelines for leaf packaging product by Mae -Faekmai Sub-District housewives group, Sansai District, Chiangmai Province

Abstract

This research is a qualitative research, aiming to (1) study the operations, analyze the issues of leaf-based packaging products and (2) develop knowledge in product development by engaging with the community to find ways to create leaf-based packaging products that meet market demands.The samples in the study were obtained from purposive sampling, specifically selecting 15 members from the homemaker group in Mae-Faekmai subdistrict, Sansai district, Chiangmai province. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, group discussions, and by implementing a community learning process through community visits. The research findings revealed that the group faced challenges in production operations due to lack of knowledge and production technique,  resulted in issues such as breakage and swelling of packaging surfaces, coupled with a deficiency in understanding the machinery and equipment operation system, making it challenging to address the arising problems. After the group underwent knowledge and production technique development, they were able to successfully resolve issues and innovate new products by incorporating “Hieang leaf” (Hairy keruing leaf) into the production process to create product variations.