The National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT) and NTUT's EMBA School organised a high-profile circular economy forum featuring prominent speakers that included Leu Jang-hwa, Director-General of the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) under the Minister of Economic Affairs, ECCT Chairman Giuseppe Izzo, and representatives from domestic companies. NTUT President Dr Wang Sea-fue gave welcoming remarks at the event, which was attended by a live audience of around 250 participants and also live-streamed on the internet for an international audience. The forum was supported by the ECCT's Low Carbon Initiative (LCI), the Chunghua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), and the China Productivity Center.

In his presentation, IDB Director-General Leu introduced Taiwan's circular economy policy and how domestic suppliers are working with international companies such as IKEA, Unilever and TESLA.

In his presentation, ECCT Chairman Izzo highlighted some of the best circular economy practices from companies including Atlas Copco, Carrefour, Grundfos, Signify, IKEA, and Unilever.

Atlas Copco is a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions. The group provides innovative compressors, vacuum solutions and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly solutions. As an expert in industrial solutions, Atlas Copco helps its customers to run their operations in the most efficient, economical and ecological way. The company is now promoting its products as a service to assist its customers with reducing energy consumption and water usage.

Carrefour is a leader in the retail industry in recycling plastic packaging. Over the past year alone 13 stores in northern Taiwan and 6 in southern Taiwan have together recycled over 21,000 kilograms of PE film.

Grundfos is the world's largest pump manufacturer, recycling waste water in an effective and efficient way. Grundfos has established large manufacturing facilities for its pumps in Miaoli, hiring 300 local employees.

IKEA is committed to transforming into a 100% circular business. IKEA Taiwan is now testing new models of product ownership, called “furniture as a service”. In its pilot project, Taipei 101 is leasing furniture from IKEA. After the end of the lease term, and after refurbishment, all the products will go back into the IKEA value chain. 

Signify (前身為飛利浦照明) is a pioneer in promoting product as a service. In Taiwan the company is involved in TaiSugar Shalun Circular Village, the first circular village in Taiwan. Instead of users owning their lighting systems, Signify and its partners adopted a “Light as a Service” concept in the project to provide lighting rental services to 429 households and buildings. During the rental and product lifecycle, Signify takes care of maintenance and repair work to make sure the lighting system is used optimally.

Unilever is helping to reduce the use of plastic material by using recycled materials to make bottles for its Bailan liquid laundry detergent (白蘭洗衣精). Each Bailan laundry detergent bottle is made from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic packaging from four PE milk bottles, which reduces carbon emissions by 80% compared to using virgin plastic.