Environmental Double Law Effect: Retailers Vie for Circular Consumption Opportunities

(Central News Agency, Reporter He Xiuling, Taipei, June 29) The "Environmental Double Law" will take effect on July 1, prompting retailers to accelerate their layout in the circular economy and green design. FamilyMart announced the launch of its own brand products made from recycled materials such as coffee grounds and tea fiber, and expanded the number of stores that collect coffee grounds; Shin Kong Mitsukoshi is holding a green circular living exhibition, gathering 60 sustainable brands and recycling activities to seize the business opportunities of sustainable consumption.

The Executive Yuan recently passed the amendments to the "Environmental Double Law," including the Waste Disposal Act and the Resource Circulation Promotion Act, to promote the goal of "maximizing resource circulation benefits and minimizing the final disposal of waste."

FamilyMart stated in a press release today that starting from 2023, it has taken its own coffee brand Let's Café's coffee industry chain circulation as a starting point, connecting recycling, remanufacturing, and product application to gradually establish a circular value chain.

FamilyMart said that Let's Café sells about 200 million cups annually, generating about 6,000 tons of coffee grounds each year. Since 2023, it has partnered with the beauty brand Oright to apply extracted coffee grounds to bath and body products, and has recycled used milk bottles into recycled plastic, which is used in bath and body product bottles and store trash bags. Last year, the amount of recycled used milk bottles exceeded 800 tons.

In addition, FamilyMart pointed out that under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment's Resource Circulation Administration, it joined hands with cross-industry partners in December last year to establish Taiwan's first coffee ground circular regeneration alliance. Starting in April this year, a coffee ground drying and recycling mechanism was launched in 50 stores nationwide, and more than 2,200 kilograms of coffee grounds have been collected so far. By the end of this year, it will be expanded to 2,000 stores.

FamilyMart stated that the "Coffee Ground Odor-Removing Water Filter" and "Coffee Ground Sponge Scrubber" to be launched in July this year will contain Let's Café coffee ground powder, extending the application of recycled materials to high-frequency home cleaning scenarios. The "Tea Fiber Double-Strand Dental Floss" is made from recycled tea stems and is 100% naturally biodegradable. FamilyMart also incorporates recycled plastic from Let's Café used milk bottles into the packaging of daily necessities, including the outer packaging of plant-based laundry detergent and plant enzyme multi-purpose cleaner, to implement the circular economy in daily life.

FamilyMart told CNA that the purpose of the Environmental Double Law is to encourage businesses to introduce green design into product sourcing and life cycle management, and to form economies of scale by expanding the application of circular materials. The cost of circular and recycled products is usually higher than that of general products, but according to surveys, consumers have a higher price acceptance for sustainable products, so the company is optimistic about the development of related markets.

As for department stores, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi will hold the second "RE:ACTION Green Circular Living Exhibition" from today until July 6. The exhibition will bring together 60 sustainable brands and public welfare organizations, with exhibition areas for beauty, apparel, home goods, food and beverage, and local development. It will also set up an object transfer station, providing recycling services for 14 items including PET bottles, old clothes, empty cosmetic bottles, and books, hoping to promote circular consumption through exhibitions and interactive experiences. (Editor: Yang Lanxuan) 1150629

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