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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/)

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Circular Taiwan Network

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Business case

Producing electronics products for businesses and consumers, including cellular phones, personal computers, printers, servers, electronic computer components and peripherals, TVs, audio equipment, as well as household appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, etc.

Electronics and Appliances

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

Using open loop recycled materials

Designing products so they use as little materials, water, energy, etc. as possible during use

Design for resource efficiency

Designing products so they are able to be easily repaired

Design for repair

**Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns**

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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)

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12. Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

More efficient use and/or manufacture of products through the use of fewer natural resources and materials.

🏢 Reduce

Repair and maintenance of broken or malfunctioning product, to enable continuation of its original function.



🏢 Repair

The doors, windows, service installations, and even furniture are flexible compared to the building structure. If dismantled carefully, they can be reused elsewhere for the same or different purposes.

Processing of materials to achieve the original high-quality or reduce to low-quality.



🏢 Recycle

Currently, the best practice worldwide for dealing with concrete and brick debris is to recycle it. The debris is collected, transported, manually or mechanically sorted, washed, crushed, and recycled into new building materials and products.

Industries

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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

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

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**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)

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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

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This framework surpasses the famous 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). The nine strategies Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, and Recycle and Recover provide a clear and actionable roadmap for a circular transition. 

Strategies at the top of the hierarchy, such as Refuse, Rethink, and Reduce, are the most effective at increasing a construction project's circularity level. These strategies focus on avoiding or minimising resource use and waste from the project's conception.

That is why a clear hierarchy exists where higher-level R strategies are preferred, and lower-level strategies are deemed more linear. 

In the original 9R framework, the last strategy, Recover, is often considered non-circular since it consists of energy recovery from material waste incineration, which is why it was left out of the scope of this case study collection.

They are applied to the built environment sector here as part of the [Realdania ](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.realdania.org/&ved=2ahUKEwiF74KezMyJAxUpUaQEHURhOOEQFnoECBYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0o-XWvSka80KCHtCG6XDS3) project.

🏢 9R Framework

 Acer launched its first environmentally-friendly laptop, the Aspire Vero, In 2021. This laptop embodies sustainability concepts and is designed to be upgradable, aligning with Acer's commitment to sustainable production and sustainable business practices.Modern technology products are rapidly replaced, and the extraction of raw materials and manufacturing inevitably have certain environmental impacts. However, laptops have become an indispensable necessity in modern life, therefore, finding a balance between meeting these basic needs and environmental protection is an ongoing challenge that Acer is committed to addressing. In 2021, Acer introduced the Earthion initiative, collaborating closely with suppliers and partners to integrate environmental actions into the supply chain ecosystem, helping to address the environmental challenges faced by contemporary society. In 2021, Acer followed through its commitment by launching its first environmentally-friendly laptop, the Aspire Vero. This laptop embodies sustainability concepts and is designed to be upgradable, aligning with Acer's commitment to sustainable production and sustainable business practices.In the product design of Aspire Vero, a circular strategy for recycled materials was considered. By incorporating a certain percentage of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, ocean-bound plastic (OBP), and recyclable packaging materials, the use and circulation of renewable materials were enhanced, reducing the reliance on virgin materials. Simultaneously, the product's repairability was taken into account, with the inclusion of components that facilitate quick disassembly, repair, upgrades, and recycling. This provides consumers, businesses, and organizations with more options to reduce their environmental footprints.1. Recycled/recyclable materialsAcer utilizes PCR plastic in the manufacturing of the laptop's chassis, adapter, and keycaps, and will continue to increase the proportion of PCR material usage. The chassis, which contained 30% PCR plastic in the 2022 Aspire Vero (AV15-52), has been increased to 40% PCR plastic in the 2023 Aspire Vero 15 (AV15-53P). The adapters' housing and keycaps also incorporate 50% PCR plastic.Aspire Vero laptop has an OceanGlass™ touchpad made from 100% Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP).In addition, Acer also incorporates PCR materials into various product lines, including desktops, monitors, projectors, accessories, routers, and its subsidiary Acerpure air purifiers as well.      2. Easy to Repair and MaintainAspire Vero uses standard screws, allowing for an easy-to-repair, maintainance, and upgradable design that extends the product's lifespan.      3. Recycled/Recyclable Packaging MaterialsThe packaging design incorporates a reduction in plastic usage, replacing traditional heat shrinkable film and transparent plastic bags with recycled paper.In 2023, Acer uses up to 90% recycled paper to manufacture the packaging box and employs 100% recycled paper pulp to make molded pulp cushion materials.Acer uses 100% recycled polyester to create laptop bags and keyboard sheets.4. Reusable PackagingThe inner partition is designed for reusability and can be transformed into an ergonomic laptop stand.The package box itself can be easily assembled and repurposed as a storage box or even a cat house.The paper-based cushion can be repurposed as a nursery pot, prolonging the lifespan of the package materials that should have been discarded after unboxing, and echoing Acer’s concept of circular design.      BenefitsIncorporating a certain proportion of PCR plastic and OBP contributes to the material's recycling loop. The use of PCR plastic has been increasing annually, reaching 17% in 2022. A cumulative total of 30 million devices have used PCR plastic from 2020 to 2022. Acer will continue to explore the possibility of replacing components with higher proportions of PCR plastic or OBP in various product lines.According to PlasticsEurope Eco-profile reports, Aspire Vero 15 ( AV15-53) used 40% PCR materials in its chassis which contributes to a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions over a laptop chassis of the same weight made with 100% virgin plastic.To reduce e-waste, Acer has lowered the amount of printed circuit board material used in Aspire Vero. From Aspire Vero 2022(AV15-52) to Aspire Vero 15 （AV15-53P）, there has been a 52% reduction in PCB surface area, which helps decrease associated resource consumption and environmental pollution during production.Furthermore, the Aspire Vero features a paint-free chassis, reducing the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can negatively impact air quality and human health. The built-in battery management application, VeroSense™, also optimizes energy efficiency through its four performance modes: Performance, Balanced, Eco, and Eco+).      

Taiwan

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Acer Inc.

<p>Acer has launched the Aspire Vero laptops, which introduce post-consumer recycled plastics, ocean bound plastics, recycled packaging materials, and easy-to-repair designs to reduce the environmental impact of technology products. </p>

Introducing Laptops Featuring Recycled Materials and Easy-to-Repair Designs

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<p>Acer has launched the Aspire Vero laptops, which introduce post-consumer recycled plastics, ocean bound plastics, recycled packaging materials, and easy-to-repair designs to reduce the environmental impact of technology products.</p>