Alumni Hall of Fame, Episode 3: Sustainability Matters at Nirun by Earn, Class of 2013
Alumni Exceptional People Our Spotlight SHR ArticleHonoring Life with Purpose – The Story of Nirun
Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside proudly celebrates the inspiring journey of our alumna, Orn-Naphat Boonanantaphat (Earn), Class of 2013, who has transformed a personal mission into a meaningful social enterprise.
Creating Impact with Purpose: The Story Behind “Nirun”
When people think of innovation, funerals aren’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. But for Earn, this was exactly where her story began with quiet observation and a desire to make a difference.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Earn saw a need that many overlooked. Rescue units in rural areas were short on basic funeral supplies. So, she launched a small Facebook page to sell burial cloths and body bags, donating part of the proceeds to support those communities.
But that wasn’t enough.
“If we’re putting this much effort into making something… should it really be used just once?”
That question sparked the idea behind Nirun, a social enterprise that rethinks how we mourn with compassion and sustainability at its heart.
With Tradition and Sustainability in Mind
Traditional funeral wreaths, while beautiful, often create unnecessary waste. Nirun offers a more thoughtful alternative: elegantly designed fabric wreaths that can later be donated and reused as burial cloths.
They look just like the floral arrangements we’re familiar with but serve a greater purpose. It’s a simple idea that blends tradition, beauty, and sustainability and it’s already making a meaningful impact.
A Journey of Trial, Error, and Purpose
Earn didn’t have a background in design. Most of her early inspiration came from Pinterest.
“I just knew what I wanted it to feel like,” she shares.
Bringing that vision to life meant communicating with designers, testing materials, and learning through trial and error.
Before launching Nirun, Earn’s path took her from Shrewsbury to the Glion Institute of Higher Education and the University of Bristol. She worked at Marriott Headquarters, managed a property in Phuket, and spent nearly four years at PwC Thailand. But this mission feels like the most personal chapter of her journey.
Why It Matters
Today, Nirun wreaths are helping families mourn in a way that honors both loved ones and the planet.
“Why does saving the world have to cost more?”
Earn believes it doesn’t and Nirun proves that meaningful change can start with a simple idea and a lot of heart.
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