Supporting a circular economy: Insights from Taiwan's plastic waste sector and lessons for developing countries

Area of Science:

• Circular economy
• Industrial ecology
• Waste management

Background:

• Industrialization in developing nations often faces challenges in waste management.
• Establishing a circular economy requires robust social capabilities and governance frameworks.
• Taiwan's plastic waste industry offers a model for developing nations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Taiwan's successful development of a plastic waste industry into a circular economy.
• To identify key strategies for developing nations to build industrial-level circular economies.
• To explore the role of network-based collective bricolage and adaptive institutional governance.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of Taiwan's plastic waste industry.
• Examination of network-based collective bricolage strategies.
• Assessment of adaptive institutional governance frameworks.

Main Results:

• Industrialized manufacturing sectors provide a foundation for social capabilities and collective bricolage.
• Network-based collective bricolage combined with adaptive institutional governance is effective for circular economy development.
• Transitioning to green sectors drives economic growth and job creation.

Conclusions:

• Developing nations can build circular economies by fostering social capabilities and network-based collective action.
• Adaptive institutional governance is crucial for managing waste and promoting industrial symbiosis.
• Green sector transitions offer significant economic and environmental benefits for developing countries.