thumbnail_Image1.png

Image1.png

This collection features circular practices across several industries in Taiwan: Agriculture & Food, Textiles and Fashion, Buildings, Furniture and Appliances, Vehicles, Packaging and Containers, Electronics and Chemicals, etc. 

Circular Taiwan Network (CTN) is a leadership initiative in Taiwan that brings together governments, businesses, universities, and NGOs to facilitate the transition to a circular economy. CTN aims to enhance understanding and implementation of the circular economy across Taiwan. We catalyze collaborations in the hope that more circular policies and sustainable business solutions may be created and that the circular economy may flourish in Taiwan. CTN has published two books, ‘Circular Economy’ and ‘Circular Taiwan’, along with several specialized reports, to promote awareness and practices of circular economy in Taiwan.

To learn more about Circular Taiwan Network visit [https://circular-taiwan.org/en/](https://circular-taiwan.org/en/)

thumbnail_images.png

images.png

Circular Taiwan Network

large_thomas-tucker-au3CYbd7vCU-unsplash.jpg

medium_thomas-tucker-au3CYbd7vCU-unsplash.jpg

small_thomas-tucker-au3CYbd7vCU-unsplash.jpg

thumbnail_thomas-tucker-au3CYbd7vCU-unsplash.jpg

thomas-tucker-au3CYbd7vCU-unsplash.jpg

Business case

**Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns**

![12..JPG](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/12_ff44598f2b.JPG)

The world is seriously off track in its effort to halve per-capita food waste and losses by 2030.The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on consumption and production patterns, with disruptions to global supply chains and changes in consumer behaviour. 

Responsible consumption and production must be an integral part of the recovery from the pandemic. 
But the global economy also needs to speed up the decoupling of economic growth from resource use by maximizing the socio-economic benefits of resources while minimizing their negative impacts. 

Reporting on corporate sustainability has tripled since the beginning of the SDG period, but the private sector will need to significantly improve reporting on activities that contribute to the SDGs. 

This primarily entails environmentally sound management of "toxic chemicals" A substantial use of chemicals is essential to meet the social and economic goals of the world community, and these can be used with a high degree of safety when best practices are followed.  Gross chemical contamination, with grave damage to human health, genetic structures reproductive outcomes, and the environment, has been continuing within some of the world's most important industrial areas, and restoration will require major investment as well as the development of new techniques.
Effective control of the generation, storage, treatment, recycling and reuse, transport, recovery and disposal of hazardous wastes is another similar challenge. 
In addition,  solid wastes include all domestic refuse and non-hazardous wastes such as commercial and institutional wastes, street sweepings construction debris, and, in some countries, human wastes. As hazardous waste is frequently intermixed with other waste, this poses particular management challenges.
Finally, this target ensures that radioactive waste is safely managed, transported, stored and disposed of, with a view to protecting human health and the environment. 

To deliver SDG12, it is crucial to implement policies that support the shift to sustainable practices and decouple economic growth from resource use.

Sources: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12](https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12)
[https://sdgs.un.org/topics/chemicals-and-waste](https://sdgs.un.org/topics/chemicals-and-waste)

thumbnail_12.png

12.png

12. Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Producing textile and leather products and processing them into apparel and accessories

Fashion and Textiles

Producing and gathering crop and animal products from land and water through farming, hunting, and fishing

Agriculture

Transforming waste products, materials for reuse within other industries

Open loop upcycling

Using waste materials that have been processed and recycled to produce new products within other industries

Using open loop recycled materials

![fh.JPG](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/fh_45de648312.JPG)

**These 17 Goals recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.**

The SDGs build on decades of work by countries and the UN, and especially on the Millennium Declaration adopted in September 2000 at UN Headquarters in New York which let to the elaboration of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.

In 2015, the Paris Agreement was signed. A major blueprint came out of this: The Sustainable Development Goals: 17 overarching goals—and 169 targets—that governments are aiming to meet by 2030. Significant progress has been made in terms of poverty, health and inequality, but there's still a way to go. This is where the circular economy comes in: by circulating resources multiple times, the circular economy tackles issues of scarcity and allows all to access what they need—without overburdening the earth. If it's implemented in a holistic way—affording attention to social considerations and the fair distribution of resources— it also offers a pathway for achieving the SDGs; and the link between the two is ever-growing. To read more about the link between the SDGs and the circular economy, click [here](https://www.circle-economy.com/blogs/how-the-circular-economy-can-help-us-reach-the-sustainable-development-goals).

It is the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) which provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues. TheDSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and in advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. In order to make the 2030 Agenda a reality, broad ownership of the SDGs must translate into a strong commitment by all stakeholders to implement the global goals. DSDG aims to help facilitate this engagement.
Alongside this, the annual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development serves as the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the SDGs.
In addition, the UN Secretary-General presents an annual SDG Progress report, which is developed in cooperation with the UN System, and based on the global indicator framework and data produced by national statistical systems and information collected at the regional level.

To read more information: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals](https://sdgs.un.org/goals)

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

large_sdgs.png

medium_sdgs.png

small_sdgs.png

thumbnail_sdgs.png

sdgs.png

Industries

small_coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

thumbnail_coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

large_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

medium_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

small_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

thumbnail_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

![Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2024_10_21_at_16_53_12_12858da6aa.png)

Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

medium_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

small_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

thumbnail_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

 UKL Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Tuchen Textile Co., Ltd. are collaborating with the Pineapple Leaf Fiber Production and Marketing Alliance to recycle waste pineapple leaves and remanufacture them into fibers for textiles, thereby increasing rural value and creating job opportunities.Taiwan produces 480,000 metric tons of pineapples every year, and also produces more than 700,000 metric tons of pineapple leaves. However, these leaves are treated as agricultural byproducts by farmers. UKL Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Tuchen Textile Co., Ltd. collaborated with the Pineapple Leaf Fiber Production and Marketing Alliance to establish the first fully localized trial production line, and developed textile products using pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) made from pineapple leaves, thereby also achieving the objective of recycling agricultural byproducts.Cross-industry Collaborations to Optimize Pineapple Leaf Fiber TechnologyThe fiber extraction rate and quality were improved thanks to design enhancements in Green 1 Specialized Organic ANANA Farm’s fiber extraction machinery. With Tuchen Textile Co., Ltd.’s technology and Yarn Sky Textile Technology Co., Ltd.’s improvements to the circular knitting machine’s processes, high-quality pineapple yarn was created. The yarn is made up of natural fibers, and though it is not a 100% mono-material design, it remains an environmentally friendly natural fiber for clothing design. Aside from the textiles themselves, the biodegradable materials were also chosen for the packaging.Waste Materials Used in High-Value ApplicationsThe waste materials produced by the pineapple leaf fiber extraction process can be used to improve the decomposition efficiency of compost, which means it has fertilizer applications in agriculture. Furthermore, the companies also used the waste materials create environmentally-friendly PU leather, serving as a substitute for leather.BenefitsThe economic status of pineapple farmers can be improved by recycling and reusing agricultural waste.Pineapple farmers can continue to generate income by processing pineapple leaves even after the harvesting season.Creation of natural, low-carbon, recycled fibers that can be mass-produced in Taiwan.


Taiwan

medium_blob

small_blob

thumbnail_blob

blob

Tuchen Textile Co., Ltd.

UKL Enterprise Co., Ltd.

UKL Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Tuchen Textile Co., Ltd. are collaborating with the Pineapple Leaf Fiber Production and Marketing Alliance to recycle waste pineapple leaves and remanufacture them into fibers for textiles, thereby increasing rural value and creating job opportunities.

Turning Pineapple Leaves into Innovative Textile Materials

Using premium stock fabrics to make women’s underwear and scraps to make reusable logistics packaging bags, picupi helps textile factories reduce inventory and discarded fabrics while creating economic benefits.

Revitalizing Idle Textile Materials Through Repurpose Initiatives

deya created Taiwan’s first carbon-neutral zero-carbon backpacks. Leading the supply chain to form “Taiwan’s low-carbon bag production chain,” deya has launched backpacks made of recycled marine debris, with 90% mono-material rPET, and built a closed circular system to promote circular economy concepts and green consumption models.

Launching Net-Zero Carbon Emission Backpacks Integrated with Recycled PET from Marine Debris and Circular Models

RebornPlas collaborated with Duolog Design, a manufacturer of eco-friendly eyeglasses frames, to use discarded fishing nets to make the first pair of 100% recyclable eyeglasses frames.

Introducing 100% Recyclable Eyeglasses Frames Made from Recycled Fishing Nets

With a one-stop service from materials to sales, Feebees enables its sock sneakers to be continuously recycled, creating a new industry model and putting a stop to waste generation.

Simplifying Product Design and Processes to Create Recyclable Sock Sneakers

Kun Huang Enterprise uses re-foaming and recycling technology to collect and recycle foam in its factories and across industries; subsequently, the company provides it to manufacturers of insoles, building materials, floor mats, etc., as raw materials.

Supplying Recycled Foam from Within and Across Industries to Shoe Manufacturers

Lealea has developed a recycling technology for recycling textile waste and discarded clothing into yarn, and has cooperated with shoe material suppliers to recycle scraps into new shoe material cloth, thus reducing reliance on petrochemical raw materials and reducing carbon emissions.

Promoting Closed-Loop Recycling of Shoe Manufacturing Process Residues

Hop Lion has developed a down recycling system that transforms discarded down duvets and production scraps from the hospitality industry into new items. These items are then reintroduced into accommodations under a fresh identity. In addition, this Product-as-a- Service model adds new value to the hospitality industry.

Revitalizing Down Bedding in the Hospitality Industry with Circular Practices

Yee Chain International Co., Ltd. (Yee Chain) is a fabric supplier for international brands, connecting the industrial chain to achieve the first cloth-to-cloth cycle in Taiwan.

Initiating Brand Supply Chain Collaboration for Cloth-to-Cloth Circularity

Yi Chun Green Technology Co., Ltd. has developed a recycling technology for extracting recycled plastics, pulp and water-absorbent polymers from diapers, so that waste diapers can be reused with high value.

Initiating High-Value Recycling Pathways for Waste Diapers

large_blob

UKL Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Tuchen Textile Co., Ltd. are collaborating with the Pineapple Leaf Fiber Production and Marketing Alliance to recycle waste pineapple leaves and remanufacture them into fibers for textiles, thereby increasing rural value and creating job opportunities.