A growing number of companies in Taiwan are using circular economy design for sustainable environmental, social and governance solutions.

Case in point is Miniwiz Co. Ltd. Committed to realizing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 12: responsible consumption and production, the Taipei City-based firm converts post-consumer waste such as electronics, glass, plastics and metals into 1,200-plus construction, furnishing and consumer product materials.

According to Arthur Huang, founder and CEO of Miniwiz, the company promotes sustainability by developing financially viable environmental, social and governance solutions for businesses based on the three paradigms of reduce, reuse and recycle. It also provides integrated services ranging from product design, engineering and manufacturing to marketing.

A prominent Miniwiz project is EcoARK, the world’s first fully functional, large-scale building made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, bottles. Erected in 2010 at Taipei Expo Park, it minimizes energy consumption by fully harnessing the power of air and light design elements.

Miniwiz employs a variety of eco-friendly materials in the construction of apartments, hotels and offices, as well as in interiors, furnishings and in-store installations. Nine international Nike Lab stores, including those in London, Paris, Tokyo and New York, are outfitted with these upcycled materials.

With its strong R&D capabilities, Miniwiz developed Trashpresso, an autonomous mobile recycling machine for plastics in 2017, and followed up in 2019 with energy efficient mini Trashpresso. The devices enable plastics to be washed, sorted, shredded, softened and molded into valuable materials and useful products.

In the last two years, Huang said, his company has sought to employ circular economy design principles to assist numerous sectors tackle challenges triggered by COVID-19. One such effort led to the creation last year of a Modular Adaptable Convertible ward in partnership with Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital in New Taipei City, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Taipei-based Taiwan Design Research Institute.

All MAC ceilings, joints and walls are made from recycled materials, and the building kit is designed for easy transport and fast assembly. The mobile system is engineered to transform space into wards as varied as intensive care units and isolation rooms.

Over the years, Miniwiz has proven that circular economy design is the means to tackle climate change and other environmental problems. Huang said his firm’s ultimate goal is to transform consumers into recyclers. (E) (By Kelly Her)

(This article is adapted from Sustainable Loops in the March/April Issue 2022 of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.)