Yuan Ze University Visits Meta Design to Explore New Possibilities in Circular Economy

As ESG and sustainable development issues continue to gain importance, on March 12, under the arrangement of Chen Ying-Lin, founder of Yunjian Mountain Creative Company, Dean Sun Yi-Ming of Yuan Ze University’s College of Engineering and Professor Chen Huai-Jie, head of the Low-Carbon and Intelligent Transformation Advisory Team from the College of Management, led students from the Postgraduate Program in Net-Zero Carbon and Sustainable Development to visit Meta Design in Tamsui. The visit aimed to gain deeper insights into the company’s innovative practices in design and environmental sustainability.

The visit consisted of three main parts: a company introduction, an on-site product tour, and a Q&A session. The event began with a warm welcome from Zheng Yuan-Yang, a senior executive at Meta Design and an alumnus of Yuan Ze University’s Department of Information Communication (Class of 1987), and Project Manager Feng Shi-Yi. They provided a detailed introduction to the company's design philosophy. Director Zheng emphasized that Meta Design is committed to giving new life to discarded resources through the power of design and culture. He stressed that the company goes beyond merely "reusing materials" by integrating humanistic values and functional design.

Following this, Director Zheng shared successful collaboration cases with Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) and Far Glory Construction. He introduced how retired insulators from Taipower were transformed into innovative building materials, "Insulator Artificial Stone Panels," and how construction waste was upcycled into high-quality marble storage boxes through meticulous design. These examples showcased Meta Design’s tangible achievements in promoting the circular economy.

During the discussion, Professor Chen Huai-Jie shared two classic circular economy models:Hengqi Brewing, which uses distillery waste to cultivate earthworms, achieving a circular use of agricultural byproducts.Mangodan, which promotes a rental model instead of traditional purchases to change people’s consumption and disposal habits.

Additionally, the Meta Design team mentioned the challenges of marketing products made from recycled materials, such as consumer concerns about hygiene in second-hand clothing upcycling.

Toward the end of the visit, Director Zheng expressed the company’s need for carbon footprint analysis and carbon auditing, particularly in preparing proposals for Taipower that require data support. In response, Dean Sun Yi-Ming and Professor Chen Huai-Jie agreed to provide technical support and explore potential future research collaborations with Meta Design.

This corporate visit not only allowed the academic sector to gain deeper insights into Meta Design’s innovative practices in design and sustainability, but also helped bridge the gap between academia and industry, paving the way for future green transformation and ESG implementation.