Circular Economy Roadmap Draft Unveiled: Aiming to Decouple Economic Growth from Resource Consumption by 2050

On October 22, 2025, Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment officially unveiled the draft of the “2050 Taiwan Circular Economy Roadmap,” with the final version expected as early as the end of 2026. The roadmap outlines three major goals compared to 2020 levels: doubling resource productivity, reducing per capita material consumption by 30% to about 6-7 tons per person annually, and increasing the circularity rate by 2.5 times. The Ministry estimates that the circular economy could contribute one-third of Taiwan’s green GDP and generate over 100,000 jobs. This is also the first time that resource circulation goals have been included as a complement to Taiwan’s net-zero emissions roadmap, making a step forward integrated sustainability policy.

To support a systematic transition, the draft identifies six priority sector: textiles, biomass, plastics and packaging, construction, high-tech electronics, and energy infrastructure and critical materials. Is also proposes seven governance areas, including regulations and systems, eco-design and reduction, sustainable consumption and circular procurement, resource efficiency, economic and financial tools, technological innovation and applications, and education and talent development. Director Lai Ying-Ying of the Resource Circulation Administration emphasized that through circular design, innovation, and source reduction, Taiwan aims to decouple economic growth from excessive resource consumption. The roadmap is still in the public consultation phase and is expected to be finalized after revisions and legal amendments—specifically updates to Taiwan’s waste and resource management laws—are completed.

Reference:

https://e-info.org.tw/node/242365