In recent years, issues related to resource usage and the circular economy have continued to receive international attention. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have led to changes in the production and lifestyle of countries worldwide, including Taiwan, highlighting Taiwan's high dependence on imported materials. According to data from the year 2022, domestic material consumption in Taiwan is approximately 260 million metric tons, with an average annual per capita consumption of 11.30 metric tons. To promote resource circulation, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) established the Resource Circulation Office in July 2021, tasked with planning and managing comprehensive resource recycling policies for biomaterials, organic chemicals, metals and chemicals, and inorganic recycled granules.
In 2022, the "Taiwan 2050 Net Zero Emission Pathway" was announced, and the Resource Circulation Administration of Ministry of Environment formulated the 8th key strategic action, the "Resource Recycling and Zero Waste" action plan. This plan, approved by the Executive Yuan in April 2023, aims to achieve sustainable consumption and production, improve resource use efficiency, and add value to waste treatment. Through four main strategic initiatives, priority is given to promoting resource circulation for 10 key projects. The Resource Circulation Administration of Ministry of Environment was officially established on August 22, 2023, with the aspiration of moving towards the dual vision of zero waste and zero emissions.
This year's plan has three main focuses. First, analyze international resource circulation policies and initiatives, such as monitoring the latest developments in Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), collecting relevant environmental footprint data, calculating the life cycle footprint of electronic-grade sulfuric acid, and formulating localized coefficients for Taiwan's sustainable development goals. Second, assist various departments in collaborating on resource recycling, regularly review action plans, facilitate committee meetings, assist in organizing relevant outcomes, and calculate each unit's contribution to general indicators. Finally, based on the national trend towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, develop trial functions for calculating the benefits of resource circulation policies and carbon reduction, integrating carbon footprint coefficients related to recycled materials. This will provide a reference for the government in formulating industry-level resource recycling policies and carbon reduction benefits, serving as a scientific basis for policy-making and a basis for businesses to assess and analyze carbon reduction benefits at the product level.
In response to the elevation of the EPA to the "Ministry of Environment" and the establishment of the "Resource Circulation Administration", this project also upgraded the Resource Circulation Network webpage to the Resource Circulation Administration's global website. The content includes explanations of resource circulation policies, core business information, downloadable data, news, and meeting announcements. Through information dissemination on the official website, policy annual reports, and communication channels such as advisory committees and seminars, this project will continue to engage in discussions with experts and scholars to advance the goal of achieving zero waste in resource circulation and realizing a society with sustainable utilization of resources.
