Conference Review: Creative Economy Taiwan

CIRCULAR ECONOMY TAIWAN: WHAT GOES AROUND

COMES AROUND

From September 26th to 28th, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) hosted the second edition of the Circular Economy Taiwan trade show at Exhibition Hall 1 in the Taiwan World Trade Center in Taipei. Sustainable Business Magazine’s George Bell attended.

The concept of ‘circularity’ sums up sustainability perfectly. Anything that is set up in a ‘circular’ fashion is by definition the antithesis to ‘single-use’ or ‘disposable’. To be ‘circular’ is to be unending, self-perpetuating. 2019’s Circular Economy Taiwan (CE Taiwan) trade show was a showcase for circularity in business. The government of Taiwan recently embedded the circular economy in its 5+2 industrial innovation plan, and the second edition of CE Taiwan, which took place from September 26th-28th at the Taiwan World Trade Center, brought together Taiwanese and international companies to share ideas and products which pushed the envelope for sustainable, circular business.

Looking to the future, and to a place of international collaboration, Taiwan intends to “make contributions to the international community through exchange visits, technology transfer, [and] joint research,” says Yen Hsu-Ming, Executive Secretary of the Environmental Protection Administration Recycling Fund Management Board. Many senior Taiwanese politicians and public figures made impassioned and ambitious addresses at the conference’s opening ceremony.

NOTABLE EXHIBITS

• ECOCO’s public plastic bottle recycling hubs, where users can convert plastic recycling into redeemable points for in-app games. • EPA’s toy polar bear made entirely from recycled plastic. • Plan Tech’s 100%-recyclable sugarcane drinking straws. • GOGO Furniture’s beautiful modular furniture, which emphasizes ‘simplicity, adaptability and portability’. • Ju Tian Cleantech’s plant-based plastic alternatives. • CarWink’s communication tools for cars. • Covestro’s system for returning CO2 to the value chain as a new material. • Cradle to Cradle’s certification system for circular design and production.

ABOUT TAITRA

Founded in 1970, TAITRA is Taiwan’s leading non-profit trade promotion organization. Headquartered in Taipei, TAITRA has a team of 1,300 specialists and operates 5 local offices in Taiwan and 63 branches worldwide. The Taiwan Trade Centre London (TAITRA’s UK office) offers a wide range of free sourcing services. Based on your requirements, the team can prepare lists of potential suppliers and arrange online meetings with those you are interested in connecting with.

AN INTERVIEW WITH CAROLINE CHANG, SHOW MANAGER FOR CE TAIWAN.

WHAT IS NEW AND EXCITING AT THIS YEAR’S CIRCULAR ECONOMY TRADE SHOW?

Circular Economy is a new idea here in Taiwan. Last year, most exhibitors were showcasing recycling and water waste. But our exhibitors tell us that it can be applied to all kinds of fields. In Taiwanese culture we like new things, rather than second-hand, or those made from recycled materials. There’s also no law to enforce using recycled materials in new products. [Our exhibitors] are trying something new - they’re applying the

circular economy into their business model. It’s something that’s easy to apply to an existing company’s current business model.

HAVE YOU SEEN A CHANGE IN PUBLIC PERCEPTION SINCE YOU STARTED PROMOTING CE IN TAIWAN?

Last year, we opened up all three days of CE Taiwan to the public for the first time; the public have shown a lot of interest. Many exhibitors have products that are close to the sphere of people’s daily lives, rather than big incomprehensible machinery. The public care about the issues of today, and this propels businesses to do more with their policies and business models.

HOW DOES CE TAIWAN FIT INTO TAIWAN’S BROADER 5+2 INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION PLAN?

One of the 5+2 plans that is clear is renewable energy: we want to increase renewable energy capacities by 2025; we want to build more wind power plants - there’s a clear map for this. We’ve now seen the government set out clear goals, so in a year or two from now, CE should be as clearly laid out as renewable energy goals. The CE trade show will then be able to follow the government policy more closely. This year’s exhibitors have even been showcasing their green products ahead of any guidance from government policy - they do it because they want to do it. The gov

ernment officials work with us on the trade show, of course, and we hope this will help shape their policy. Our exhibitors are willing to implement CE into their business model, so I hope they can reach more people with their innovations and products!

IS IT DIFFICULT TO BALANCE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THESE STARTUPS WITH THE IDEA OF THEM COLLABORATING WITH EACH OTHER?

That’s the reason we have this platform. A straw company, for instance, told me they met another exhibitor who introduced them to a new material they can use themselves. These companies have new technologies to showcase but might not have the money to develop them or bring them to the market. This year we have investors and buyers. The green trend is all over the world and these investors are looking for something new to invest in.

HAVE YOU SEEN MORE SMALL START-UPS COLLABORATING ON BIG PROJECTS SINCE YOU BEGAN THE CE TRADE SHOWS?

A lot of these start-ups have Facebook groups, and have a gathering once or twice a month.

In Taiwan the culture is such that the start-ups have to find a business to spon

sor them. Even those who can’t attend our trade show actively seek investments outside of the show, to help them grow. Taiwan’s schools and colleges run programs to foster start-ups, and we’re working with universities to help them bring their student start-ups to the show. These are great, interesting products. I hope that both the universities and the government see the potential of showcasing at the CE trade show.

Circular Economy Taiwan (CE Taiwan) and Taiwan International Water Week (TIWW) will be held together at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 from September 24 to 26, 2020.

For those unable to travel, TAITRA will host online product launches and oneon-one procurement meetings alongside the shows. Visit the Taiwan Trade Centre London’s website at https://london.taiwantrade.com to preregister and receive an invitation to the online events.