Elephant Poo Poo Paper? An Expat’s Ingenious Alternative to Our Paper Waste Problem

Audio By Carbonatix

Have you ever wondered what happens to that sticky note you scribbled on once and threw away? According to the American Forest & Paper Association, the amount of paper and paperboard generated in 2023 in the USA alone is 79.7 million tons and over 400 million tons worldwide.

Despite the rise of digital documents and an uptick in recycling efforts, global paper waste still contributes to a staggering 26% of landfill waste each year — most of it unrecoverable. 

Instead of feeding the cycle of deforestation to meet paper demand, one entrepreneur has turned the problem into a pile of opportunity. The Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park, founded by Mike and Tun Flancman, turns an unusual material — elephant dung — into eco-friendly paper products.

Located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, their primary business focuses on exports to tourist destinations in the USA and Europe. They have also turned their inventive process into a local attraction. Visitors can tour the park to see the entire paper-making process from start to finish.

93% of the global paper production is still sourced from trees. Paper also accounts for the highest weight by material generated per year, making it a significant contributor to landfill waste.

From data collected by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, paper recycling has seen big successes, jumping from a rate of merely 17% in the 1970s to 68% in 2018. However, recycling methods are far from perfect. 

“Most recycled paper still requires chemicals like bleach to strip away ink. We don’t do any of that,” Mike explained as he pointed out his finished product.

Instead, the uniqueness of the Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park’s process relies on raw, naturally fibrous materials like elephant dung paired with clever manual techniques. 

“Our products are fully biodegradable,” Mike highlighted. “And if you don’t want to keep it, you can put it in your garden — there are no chemicals.”

Mike, a Canadian expat, and his wife, Tun, a Chiang Mai local, have been at the forefront of this unconventional business for nearly two decades. Starting as mere buyers in the handicraft market, the duo decided to take a creative leap. 

“When we were working in export, we collected and sold everything from silk to ceramics to candles,” Tun recalled. “At one point, we decided to focus on a single material. Paper, but not just any paper — recycled paper from waste materials.” 

They soon realized they had stumbled upon something more unique than they could have imagined. By experimenting with handmade mulberry paper and other fibers, they discovered they could diversify their raw material sources. 

Mike chimed in with a laugh, “I thought she wanted to work with endangered species, but she said feces!” 

The process of utilizing Thailand's natural resources begins with collecting elephant dung, a material rich in fibrous vegetation, thanks to their plant-heavy diets. The dung is then carefully rinsed and slow-boiled to eliminate bacteria. 

“We separate the fibers from foreign materials like pebbles and twigs,” Mike explained as he demonstrated the cleaning process. 

The pulp is then mixed with other agricultural waste fibers, such as coconut husks and banana stalks.

The pulp is then hand-shaped into sheet molds, dried in the sun, and cut into various shapes and sizes to make products like notebooks, greeting cards, and even elephant-shaped paper souvenirs. The majority is then shipped to zoos, national parks, and boutique shops around the world.

For Mike, sustainability has always been a guiding force. “I spent ten years living up in hippieville in Vancouver in British Columbia, and I love the outdoors. So, I thought it would be nice to have some aspect of our business have a sustainability angle," he shared. "Not only for business reasons and an overarching idealism but because of the need for it.”

The project doesn’t stop at producing sustainable paper. The POOPOOPAPER Park has created an entire ecosystem of benefits for its surrounding community and workforce.

Thailand is famous for its many elephant experiences. “Collecting poo actually creates extra income for the elephant camps,” Mike explained. “It’s just sitting there otherwise.”

The park has also provided jobs to local artisans who help craft and assemble the products. Beyond production, it’s become an educational destination, partnering with schools and corporate groups to spread awareness about sustainability.

“The Tourism Authority of Thailand has been a great supporter,” Tun said. “They’ve helped us promote our park to international visitors, and it’s amazing to see how far the word has traveled.” 

What started as an unlikely business idea has grown into one of Chiang Mai’s most creative, sustainable ventures. But Mike and Tun aren’t stopping there. They’re now exploring partnerships with other eco-conscious businesses and regions. 

“With every experiment, you learn something new,” Mike explained. “We’re looking into using other materials, like pineapple husks or Canadian moose dung, to push the limits of what waste can become.” 

From being an eccentric idea about elephant poo all the way to becoming a functional, sustainable business model, Mike and Tun have shown the world how transforming waste into worth isn’t all that far-fetched.

“The next time you jot down a note, just think,” Mike said with a grin, “an elephant helped make that happen.”

The Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park stands as a shining example of how innovation, hard work, and a touch of humor can transform even waste into wonder.