HubSustainMat Leads Eco-design Trip to Taiwan to Advance Thailand’s Circular Economy

Hub of Talents: Sustainable Materials for Circular Economy (HubSustainMat), led by Mr. Varoon Varanyanond, HubSustainMat member and Industrial Partnership Advisor of the Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology (PETROMAT), co-organized an Eco-design Innovation Study Trip to Taiwan during November 10–14, 2025. The visit was conducted as part of the Eco-design Sparking Innovation Award Contest under the MA-RE-DESIGN project, jointly led by GIZ Thailand, Thailand’s Pollution Control Department (PCD), PETROMAT, and HubSustainMat.

The study trip brought together winners of the Eco-design competition, including students, Thai startups, and SMEs, who were warmly welcomed by leading Taiwanese experts and organizations within the eco-design ecosystem. Participants visited the Taiwan Design Research Institute and the National Taiwan Science Education Center to gain insights into Taiwan’s national eco-design strategies. The group also toured the New Taipei City Resource Recycling Education Center to learn about Taiwan’s advanced waste management system, including closed-loop resource management, as well as O’right, a sustainability-driven company showcasing business adaptation toward green design.

A key highlight of the trip took place on the final day at the Sustainable Materials Library (SML) at Taiwan’s Plastics Industry Development Center, guided by Ms. Chin-Shan Chen, Leader of SML. Participants explored more than 700 sustainable material solutions, covering mono-material design, plastic reduction, closed-loop manufacturing, enhanced waste sorting and recycling, and the adoption of clean technologies and renewable energy. The SML also serves as a collaborative platform connecting policymakers, designers, manufacturers, and business owners, while providing material certification and talent development programs to support Taiwan’s sustainability transition.

This study trip not only inspired Thai innovators and entrepreneurs, but also strengthened Thailand–Taiwan cooperation in sustainable materials and eco-design, reinforcing Thailand’s journey toward a sustainable materials-driven circular economy.