This is an English translation of the report originally published by Strategic Style Knowledge News, written by reporter Cheng Yun-chung, on October 12, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Taiwan time. The original report is reproduced with permission. Read the original report.
The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) will take place next month, in November, with a central focus on implementation rather than additional commitments. Its recently released action agenda includes three major themes: global electrification, resilient cities, and climate finance. These involve strategic planning for national infrastructure and policies.
At the same time, the conference has identified global waste reduction as another core indicator, with a goal of halving the growth in global waste by 2035. This declaration has brought new goals and challenges directly to business models and supply chain management.
The urgency of global waste reduction and its practical risks
Startrust General Manager Chen Chun-tao points out that Taiwanese companies transforming their green supply chains must take market developments and relevant requirements seriously as they face new waste reduction goals. First, global waste reduction is urgent: neither the data nor international pressure can be ignored. The waste sector accounts for approximately 20% of human-caused methane emissions, making it a less visible contributor to global warming.
International brands such as Apple, Nike, and Microsoft have made zero waste and greater use of circular materials firm supplier audit criteria, in line with the COP31 initiative to raise circular material use to 15% by 2035. Taiwanese companies that cannot reduce waste and reuse resources in their production processes may face the practical risk of being excluded from international supply chains.
Align with market requirements: waste reduction needs more than slogans
Second, corporate waste reduction frameworks need to align with legislation and international standards. Chen explains that waste reduction cannot rely on slogans alone. Businesses must build a systematic compliance management system based on national legislation, closely following requirements such as the Resource Circulation Promotion Act, formerly the draft Circular Economy Act, and the Waste Disposal Act. Waste reporting, recycling, and reduction must fully meet regulatory requirements.
Businesses should follow international standards and adopt the ISO 59000 circular economy series. Standards such as ISO 59010, which provides guidance on circular business models and value chains, can serve as a framework for setting measurable waste reduction goals, redesigning product life cycles, and incorporating resource circulation into core corporate management mechanisms.
Use government support to keep pace with green transformation
Finally, businesses should make use of government resources to keep pace with green transformation. To help Taiwanese businesses follow international developments surrounding COP31, the Industrial Development Administration and the Ministry of Environment continue to offer funding support, including resource circulation implementation subsidies and green process assistance. Applying for government resources can lower the initial cost of establishing circular economy management systems.
Sustainability consultants can also help businesses align with the latest requirements, from organizational carbon management, energy management, and sustainability disclosure to newer circular economy standards. For example, introducing the ISO 59000 series allows information on raw materials, waste, and resource circulation to be tracked comprehensively through a digital platform, following the approach previously used to digitize carbon and energy management.
Professional support for frameworks that meet international waste reduction expectations
Chen emphasizes that professional consulting firms can help businesses assess their current situation, evaluate process waste, connect with applicable policy resources under the Resource Circulation Promotion Act, and establish management systems. They can support adoption of the ISO 59000 framework and the setting of waste reduction goals that reflect international trends associated with COP31. During implementation, data tools can manage waste reduction performance and produce reports that meet international brands’ audit requirements.