The session focuses on the four strategic goals of the Plastics Convention
Reduction & substitution, design for recyclability, plastic reuse, and managing existing pollution, aiming to showcase Taiwan's innovations in plastic circular industry chains. Renee Chen, Head of Communications of Covestro Taiwan and DEI Leader, will deliver a presentation titled "Advancing Circularity Through Material Innovation," highlighting four of Covestro's circular economy initiatives across different sectors:
Recyclable paper food packaging solution
Traditional paper cups and food containers are difficult to recycle due to fluoride-containing coatings. Covestro's NeoCryl® A 2085 water-based coating contains no fluoride-based chemicals while providing excellent water and oil resistance, enabling paper packaging to achieve over 90% recyclability, providing an innovative alternative to traditional plastic lamination and offering the food service industry a truly recyclable sustainable packaging choice.
Mass balance TPU footwear materials from Changhua
Covestro's Changhua site produces ISCC Plus Certified TPU materials using bio-based renewable resources, reducing fossil material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The first order was from a Taiwan-based footwear manufacturer, with this solution, customer does not need to modify existing production processes, demonstrating circular innovation in Taiwan's footwear industry.
Collaboration with Ausell for end-of-life vehicle plastics recycling:
Covestro is strengthening its partnership with recycling company Ausell, expanding from recycling polycarbonate water barrels to recovering materials from end-of-life vehicle headlamps. This initiative will process these materials into high-quality PCR content for new automotive applications. The recycled polycarbonate materials have already been certified by major automotive manufacturers including Volkswagen, helping the industry prepare for proposed EU ELV Regulations while demonstrating the potential for closed-loop recycling of high-value plastics.
Circular smartphone materials with Fairphone:
Covestro supplies recycled TPU and PC materials with 30-50% recycled content to Dutch social enterprise Fairphone for their modular, easily repairable smartphones. These materials reduce carbon emissions by 30% while maintaining performance comparable to virgin materials, providing innovative solutions for circular design in electronics.
"It is our pleasure to receive invitaiton from Resource Circulation Administration in this important forum," said Annie Chen, Managing Director of Covestro Taiwan. "It's worth noting that one of the case studies we'll be sharing—our collaboration with Fairphone—originated from an opportunity created when the Environmental Protection Administration (now Ministry of Environment) invited Covestro Taiwan to participate in the Taiwan Innotech Expo. This clearly demonstrates the government's crucial role in facilitating industry's circular transformation. Covestro is committed to driving circular economy through material innovation, and we look forward to collaborating with Taiwan's public and private sectors to contribute to the goals of the Plastics Convention."
The "Asia Pacific Circular Economy Roundtable & Hotspot 2025" will be held from October 22-24, 2025, at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, with the core theme "Leading Circular Collaboration." Beyond showcasing Taiwan's circular economy to the world, the event aims to position Taiwan as a driver of global circular collaboration. Through forum exchanges and initiatives, it will promote "Circular Collaboration for Climate Crisis (CC4CC)," establishing Taiwan as a regional sustainability hub while partnering with international stakeholders to accelerate net-zero transition and achieve a sustainable future.
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