Unilever presented its circular economy strategy ("Closing the Loop") at the Circular Economy Forum 2026, positioning sustainability as core to business operations rather than a standalone CSR initiative. The company is addressing Thailand's plastic waste challenge—27 million tons produced annually but only 25% recycled—by integrating design-phase thinking that extends material value throughout product lifecycles. This aligns with Unilever's Net Zero 2039 commitment and offers operational efficiency lessons for Thai SMEs managing resource constraints.