Marine Debris Governance Goes Global! Ocean Affairs Council Partners with Benchmark Companies to Deepen Indo-Pacific Cooperation and Lead the Blue Economy

Marine debris knows no borders. To further advance cross-border cooperation and address the global marine debris crisis, the Ocean Affairs Council hosted the "Marine Debris Innovation × Sailing Toward the Indo-Pacific: Blue Economy Forum," inviting experts from industry, government, academia, and research to share marine debris recycling technologies and industry innovation case studies. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Wu Mei-hong also announced plans to establish an Indo-Pacific regional marine debris governance platform to foster international exchange on marine debris management. The initiative aims to deepen collaboration with Indo-Pacific nations, advance a circular economy for marine debris, and promote ocean sustainability — co-creating a thriving blue economy.

Sailing Toward the Indo-Pacific: Advancing Regional Cooperation on Marine Debris Governance

In response to the challenge of marine debris, the Marine Conservation Administration of the Ocean Affairs Council established the "Marine Debris Recycling Alliance" in 2021, successfully linking upstream and downstream operators to build a complete marine debris resource circulation chain and improve the effectiveness of marine debris recovery and reuse. Recognizing that marine debris is a global issue, Deputy Minister Wu Mei-hong stated that the Ocean Affairs Council is building on the foundation of the Marine Debris Recycling Alliance to establish an Indo-Pacific regional marine debris governance platform. "We want to make Taiwan a hub for marine debris governance dialogue, promoting cross-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration among industry, government, and academia to advance the sustainable development of the blue economy across the region." This four-year initiative was officially launched in 2024, bringing Taiwan together with Indo-Pacific nations to confront the global marine debris challenge.

Deputy Minister Wu noted that Taiwanese businesses possess innovative capabilities and flexibility in handling marine debris, adding that "our technology is also at the forefront of the world," enabling Taiwan to offer effective and sustainable cooperation models for the Indo-Pacific region. India-Taipei Association President Yadav also expressed hope for deeper collaboration with Taiwan on marine debris governance and the blue economy. He said: "The Indian Ocean is the only ocean in the world named after a country — we share a profound connection with the sea. India also has a blue economy initiative, and we are proud to be Taiwan's partner in effectively addressing marine debris." President Yadav noted that India's Prime Minister has raised the issue of marine debris at forums including the G7 and G20, underscoring India's commitment to tackling marine debris.

The Ocean Affairs Council invited an inaugural cohort of benchmark enterprises to attend and share their marine debris recycling experiences. Deputy Minister Wu expressed her hope that through such exchanges, Taiwan would "bring international friends in, while also integrating industry, government, and academia to go out together."

Upcycling Marine Debris to Create a Blue Economy: 5 Innovation Case Studies

At the Blue Economy Forum, experts from industry, government, and academia shared how marine debris can be upcycled into products with market value — using innovative technologies to give plastics, oyster shells, discarded fishing nets, and other forms of marine debris a second life.

Marine Debris Recycling Case 1: Far Eastern New Century

"Taiwan's PET bottle recycling rate has reached a world-leading 95%!" Far Eastern New Century Vice President Huang Quan-yi backed up his claim with data, noting that Taiwan's recycling system is already highly mature and can serve as a model for the world. "We don't just recycle waste — we transform it into high value-added products," he said. Since 2015, the company has been extensively using marine debris recycled plastics in athletic footwear, and continues to collaborate with internationally renowned brands such as Patagonia, Adidas, and Puma to enhance the environmental value of their products. Vice President Huang emphasized that every step of the recycling process is highly transparent, ensuring that the source and manufacturing process can be verified — thereby building consumer trust in eco-friendly products.

Marine Debris Recycling Case 2: Lite-On Technology

Lite-On Technology Director Chen Qing-hui shared that in recent years, the company has progressively integrated marine debris recycling technology into its product supply chain. Using expanded polystyrene (EPS) — commonly known as Styrofoam — as an example, he noted that while it is a frequently encountered type of marine debris, its structural properties make it extremely difficult to recycle. Lite-On Technology and its partners jointly developed a heat-compression technology that can "volume-reduce" EPS, successfully transforming it into a material usable in electronic products such as keyboards and mice. "Our goal isn't just to produce high-quality products — more importantly, we want every product to contribute to environmental protection," he said. These innovative materials have already gained recognition in international markets, and Director Chen stressed that the company will strengthen cooperation with Indo-Pacific nations to continue upcycling marine debris into commercial products.

Marine Debris Recycling Case 3: ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute)

To bolster Taiwan's technological capabilities, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) continually develops advanced technologies and collaborates with industry to enable real-world application across a range of products. As one example of front-end marine debris processing, ITRI has developed advanced spectral analysis technology capable of precisely sorting different plastic materials. ITRI Material and Chemical Research Laboratories Deputy Division Director Huang Guan-ye noted that precise sorting is essential to achieving efficient downstream reuse. In addition, ITRI is dedicated to enhancing the performance of recycled materials by endowing them with additional functions such as antibacterial and UV-resistant properties, helping recycled materials become more competitive in the market.

Marine Debris Recycling Case 4: Singtex

It's not just plastics — discarded oyster shells can be given new life too! Singtex Chairman Wang Ye-xun explained that the brand's product development philosophy is "visible, tangible, and sensory." For instance, textiles made from recycled oyster shells replicate the feel of wool while offering antibacterial, heat-retaining, and odor-eliminating properties. The company continues to apply nanotechnology to incorporate oyster shells into textiles, building materials, and everyday goods, and is now expanding into electronic products. Singtex is also preparing for an IPO, aiming to broaden its market influence.

Marine Debris Recycling Case 5: Formosa Taffeta

Tackling the stubborn problem of discarded fishing nets, Formosa Taffeta has developed a 100% ocean-recycled nylon fabric from reclaimed fishing nets. Vice President Chen Kun-yuan generously shared the company's experience at the forum, noting that since 2018 it has partnered with Formosa Chemicals & Fibre to restore discarded fishing nets back into "Nylon 6" for reuse — not only as textiles, but also making Formosa Taffeta the world's first brand to apply this material in tire cord fabric. Tire cord fabric is a reinforcement material used inside tires that provides stability, handling performance, and durability.

Expanding the Circle of Marine Debris Governance: The Public Can Get Involved Too

Government agencies and the industrial supply chain play a key role in marine debris innovation and governance — but "how do we increase public participation?" is equally critical. During the forum, an audience member asked: "How can members of the public and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) get involved and contribute to marine environmental conservation?"

Deputy Minister Wu Mei-hong responded: "We are actively promoting citizen science programs, inviting members of the public to join in the survey and data collection of marine debris — this is enormously helpful for marine environmental conservation." In addition, the Ocean Affairs Council organizes multiple beach cleanup activities each year and strengthens outreach and education to help the public understand the hazards and severity of marine debris. By fostering civic participation and raising societal awareness of and action on marine conservation issues, these efforts also contribute to improving the marine ecosystem.

The ocean is a bridge connecting the world. The Ocean Affairs Council is expanding the vision of its local marine debris alliance into an Indo-Pacific marine debris governance ecosystem. By deepening international exchange, Taiwanese brands can broaden their cross-border collaborations and amplify their influence on the international stage.