Taiwan has made its debut on Japan’s premier circular economy stage, presenting achievements in marine debris management and circular industry development. The Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) announced that from now until September 19, it is leading nine representative enterprises at the 2025 Circular Economy EXPO in Chiba Prefecture under the banner of the “Taiwan Ocean Circular Hub.” The participation highlights Taiwan’s innovative capabilities in marine waste recycling and circular transformation, bringing its achievements to the attention of the international community.
 
Taiwan Showcases New Value of Marine Circular Economy at Japan’s Largest Circular Economy Exhibition
   The Circular Economy EXPO, one of Japan’s leading professional exhibitions, focuses on solutions such as resource recycling, sustainable materials, and circular design, attracting more than 500 participating companies. At this year’s event, Taiwan made its debut with the “Taiwan Ocean Circular Hub,” uniting nine leading enterprises to highlight progress in marine debris management and cross-border collaboration. The pavilion underscores Taiwan’s innovation and growing strengths in the emerging field of the blue circular economy.

Nine Enterprises Debut Together with Innovative Ocean Circular Products
   This year’s delegation brings together nine enterprises from the textile, biotechnology, recycled plastics, and low-carbon design industries: Far Eastern New Century, Sun Jen Textile, Uni-Paragon Enterprise, Formosa Taffeta, Ecomax Textile, Yong Li Biotechnology, Zhongjie Biotechnology, Fengyi Green Energy Materials, and Hightrend Merchandise Corp. (Tzulai Branch). Collectively, they are showcasing innovations that range from apparel made with recycled marine fibers to diverse applications of regenerated materials. For the first time at a major international exhibition in Japan, Taiwan is demonstrating how “waste” can be transformed into “sustainable resources,” driving forward industrial innovation and sustainable development.
 
Taiwan–Japan Partnership to Deepen Blue Circular Cooperation
   In addition to presenting marine debris solutions and product innovations, the OAC is hosting the Taiwan Circular Focus Forum and the Taiwan–Japan Blue Circular Industry Matchmaking Session during the exhibition. These events bring together international experts and Japanese industry leaders to foster cross-border collaboration and expand the blue circular industry value chain. According to the OAC, this initiative not only extends Taiwan’s domestic Marine Debris Recycling Alliance but also advances the Indo-Pacific Region Marine Debris Collaboration Platform—an initiative strongly championed by Minister Kuan Bi-ling.
 
Minister Kuan Encourages the Delegation: Turning Challenges into Opportunities, Making Oceans a Shared Asset
   On the eve of the exhibition’s opening, OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling addressed the delegation and international partners via live video, offering words of encouragement and support. She highlighted that Taiwan’s ocean partners have already made concrete progress in promoting marine sustainability and, more importantly, have embedded sustainability into everyday life—embodying the spirit of being “small but beautiful, technologically strong.” Kuan underscored Taiwan’s determination to transform the challenge of marine debris into opportunities for the global circular economy. Looking ahead, the OAC will continue to advance the Indo-Pacific Region Marine Debris Collaboration Platform, working with Japan and other international partners to build a new paradigm for the ocean circular economy and ensure the ocean becomes a sustainable asset shared across generations.
 
From Marine Debris to Sustainable Lifestyle: Circular Design Sparks a New Wave
   Waste once discarded into the sea through human neglect is now being reborn through creative design. No longer mere refuse, these materials are transformed into practical, everyday products—from fabrics to household goods—that serve as constant reminders of environmental responsibility. This transformation highlights the power of circular design and signals that sustainability has evolved into an unstoppable lifestyle trend.