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The ECCT’s Low Carbon Initiative (LCI) was the co-organiser of the 2024 Europe-Taiwan Forum on Environment and Science Circular Economy Forum, together with the European Union Centre in Taiwan (EUTW). The event was arranged to advance industrial circularity in Taiwan, focusing on the critical importance of resource efficiency and waste reduction in the industrial sector. At the event, opening remarks were made by Lai Ying-ying, Director-General of the Resource Circulation Administration (RECA), under the Ministry of Environment (MOENV); Olivier Letessier, LCI Co-chair and Dr Su Hung-Dah, Director-General of EUTW. This was followed by presentations on topics related to the circular economy, examining how innovative technologies, best practices, and policy frameworks can be leveraged to accelerate Taiwan's transition towards a circular economy.

In his keynote presentation, Lai Ying-ying gave an overview of the policy and regulatory frameworks supporting the circular economy in Taiwan. He outlined the government’s resource recycling and zero waste strategy, which is part of Taiwan’s net zero transition plans. It includes strategies to design products better (green design of consumer products), reduce the use of water and materials in the production and construction process, and reduce waste by transforming waste materials into useful resources.  

In his keynote presentation, Hiroyasu Sato, General Manager of Life Science for the Merck Group in Taiwan spoke about his company’s efforts towards a circular economy, including changing designs for sustainability, adopting green chemistry principles, water purification, reducing packaging and switching to green sources of electricity.

In her presentation, April Yu, Head of Government Affairs, Communications and Sustainability for Zuellig Pharma spoke about how to make the healthcare supply chain greener, including rethinking plastic waste, recycling and packaging.

In his presentation, Chi Jyh Sheng, Business Development Director for Veolia Taiwan outlined his company’s sustainable resource strategy.

The event concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Dr James Leu, Senior Partner, Asia Sustainable Product & Supply Chain Lead and Chem/Pharma Industry Lead, ERM Taiwan Co, Ltd., which featured all the speakers as well as Dr Lewis Chen, General Director, Commercialization and Industry Service Center for the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).