In the face of increasingly severe climate and environmental changes, stakeholders from various sectors—industry, government, and academia—are actively promoting the development of 2030 net-zero emissions and circular economy, addressing these critical challenges and future tasks. The 5th “2030 Beyond the Loop – Circular Economy Innovation Exhibition,” organized by the Ministry of Environment and the Resource Recycling Administration and hosted by Spring Culture, was held from September 25 to 28 in the main hall of Taipei Main Station. The exhibition showcased a wide array of innovative circular economy practices and designs, including circular cultural creativity, shared services, and regenerative design, along with interactive experiences.
Chung Yuan Christian University has been actively promoting environmental and sustainability education. At this exhibition, Commercial Design Department graduates Kao Yu-Shan and Tai Chia-Yu, along with assistant instructor Cheng Yun-Feng, presented creative works that reflect their concern for the environment and the concept of sustainable circular design. Kao Yu-Shan pointed out that in Taiwan, approximately one million elementary school uniforms are discarded every two years. Despite being of good quality and holding sentimental value, these uniforms are often thrown away due to size mismatches, leading to resource waste.
During their time at Chung Yuan Christian University, Kao Yu-Shan and Tai Chia-Yu observed that poor posture during nap time negatively impacted the physical and mental health of students. In response, they designed a nap pillow DIY kit made from recycled school uniforms. Tai Chia-Yu explained that their goal is to give new life to old uniforms through handmade projects, not only preserving childhood memories but also teaching students the value of resource conservation.
Chung Yuan Christian University Assistant Instructor Cheng Yun-Feng, who specializes in therapeutic design, founded the brand “Yun Duo” while studying in the master’s program. Combining her expertise and passion, she uses recycled paper from daily life to design and create DIY kits for parent-child games. At this year’s Circular Economy Innovation Exhibition, Cheng collaborated with students from the Product Design Group to create various cute designs and incorporate oyster shell powder from marine waste to produce therapeutic diffusing stones. These works beautifully showcase the integration of professional design and sustainable principles.
Cheng Yun-Feng shared, “The world is vast, and I am so small, yet I hope to contribute my small efforts to the world. Unexpectedly, this process has made me more energized, more in love with myself, and more in love with the Earth. The crafting process not only healed me but also encouraged participants to focus on social issues, promoting sustainable and environmental experiential education.”
Chung Yuan Christian University’s Department of Commercial Design Chairperson, Chen Ching-Yi, expressed her gratitude to the students for their active participation in the event and praised their contributions to environmental sustainability and the circular economy. She emphasized that the department is dedicated to cultivating socially conscious designers, encouraging students to rethink problem-solving through design. Looking ahead, the department will continue its efforts in circular economy and sustainable innovation, seeking optimized design solutions for society and the planet.
In addition, Chung Yuan Christian University is committed to promoting environmental protection and sustainable development by actively integrating internal resources with external support, showcasing the university’s social responsibility. Through collaboration with the “Advertising and Marketing Services” course, students from the Business Administration and Commercial Design departments participated in the Ubag second-hand bag recycling initiative. Guided by the principles of “green, eco-friendly, and sustainable,” the students organized a series of activities, including the first-ever sustainability market with a free recycled bag station. They also partnered with local nonprofit organizations and social enterprises to address environmental and development issues. Under the guidance of faculty, students engaged in practical actions such as reusing second-hand bags and creating sachets from coffee grounds, demonstrating Chung Yuan’s commitment to environmental protection while deepening society’s understanding of sustainability and embodying the university’s service spirit and social responsibility.
