In recent years, Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) has been promoting the development of the circular economy with actions such as reusing soot from power plants or retired power systems and resources. Additionally, Taipower has developed its own cultural and creative products and ocean farms. Following in Taipei 101's footsteps, Taipower is pioneering in the public sector and has worked with IKEA - the world's largest retail furniture enterprise - to enjoy furniture and product servicing through "replacing purchases with leasing," renovating Taipower's nearly four-decade-old staff dining room at the company's headquarters. The inauguration of the staff dining room was launched today (18th). Taipower stated that the model of replacing purchases with leasing can reduce purchase, maintenance and waste disposal costs. It's estimated that approximately 6 tons of waste furniture will be reduced, equivalent to 20 tons of carbon emissions, and equal to the carbon sequestration of 2,000 trees in a year. IKEA will recycle and renovate used furniture to extend its life, creating circular economy value. 

   Taipower held its "Taipower Friendly Dining Environment—Inauguration for IKEA Circular Economy Furniture" at Taipower's headquarters today. Taipower Chairman Wei-Fuu Yang and Martin Lindstrom, the Director of DFI Retail Group and IKEA Group, and other distinguished guests were first to view Taipower's newly renovated staff dining room, which serves as a model for the circular economy.

• Taipower held its "Taipower Friendly Dining Environment—Inauguration for IKEA Circular Economy Furniture " with IKEA today. Starting from the right: Mei-Ling Chen, Chairman of Taiwan Regional Revitalization Foundation; Bin-Li Chung, President of Taipower; Wei-Fuu Yang, Chairman of Taipower; Martin Lindstrom, Director of IKEA Group; Thomas Friberg, Director of IKEA Greater Taipei Branches; and Dr. Eugene Chien, Chairman of the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE).

Taipower Chairman Wei-Fuu Yang said that in response to the enterprise sustainable development trend, Taipower has transformed its linear thinking for its business management into the model of circular economy in recent years in addition to continuing to implement its policy of energy transformation for its original business to achieve stable power supply and environmental protection goals. In 2019, Taipower published its White Paper on the Environment for the first time, and in 2020, the Company announced its Blueprint for Circular Economy Strategies. Additionally, Taipower continues to promote the reuse of soot from power plants, retired power facilities and other power resources. Chairman Yang said it was a great pleasure to be able to cooperate with IKEA this time, and that the circular economy model of replacing purchases with leasing has given Taipower's staff dining room a brand-new look.

• This is an old photo of the staff dining room that had been in use for nearly 40 years in the Taipower Office Building.

• Following in Taipei 101's footsteps, Taipower is pioneering among public sectors and cooperating with IKEA to enjoy furniture and product servicing by "replacing purchases with leasing," renovating the staff dining room at Taipower Headquarters. This is the new look of Taipower's staff dining room.

IKEA Group Director Martin Lindstrom indicated that IKEA actively searches for partners in the field of circular economy, and expects to achieve the objective of circular economy with co-creation. In 2020, IKEA cooperated with Taipei 101, and this time, the enterprise works with Taipower to create a brand-new staff dining room at Taipower Headquarters through the core concepts of "circular furniture," and "furniture and product servicing."

Taipower stated that the Company had applied the concept of product servicing to its office buildings. For example, Taipower has adopted the model of "replacing purchases by leasing" for photocopiers for over 30 years to save on purchase and maintenance costs. Since 2015, Taipower has also displayed the works of art rented from Taiwan Art Bank (Taiwan Fine Arts Foundation), renting about 70 paintings each year.

Taipower started working with IKEA last year (2021) to renovate its nearly 40-year-old staff dining room, which opened in 1983, using a circular furniture model of "replacing purchases through leasing." IKEA took care of spatial design and the planning and arrangement of furniture, decor and soft furnishings, and the maintenance, repair and recycling of the furniture and decor, breaking the traditional linear model of "manufacture, purchase, use, and discard" to realize the circular economy concept. The length of the cooperation is 6 years. During the period, IKEA will customize and adjust the style and arrangement based on seasons, enabling Taipower employees to enjoy the comfortable atmosphere of the Northern European style.

Taipower stated that the space design has been divided into small, medium and large seating areas, and a multi-functional rest area that provides 106 pieces of furniture including tables, chairs, sofas and chandeliers, and back support cushions, carpets, plants, and other decorations and soft furnishing. A total of 438 chairs have been set in an 859 m2 area. The new staff dining room isn't just for dining, but a multifunctional space for holding meetings and activities, and for employees to take a break. It's set to open up after the Lunar New Year.

Apart from all this, Taipower indicated that the circular furniture model with IKEA can reduce purchase, maintenance and waste disposal costs. It's estimated that approximately 6 tons of discarded furniture can be reduced, equivalent to about 20 tons of carbon emissions or equal to the carbon sequestration of 2,000 trees in a year. Additionally, the IKEA's circular supply chain of IKEA can extend the life of used furniture.

Spokesperson: Ting-Shu Chang, Professional General Manager

Tel No.: (02)2366-6271/0936-625-552

Email: u742433@taipower.com.tw

Point of Contact: Wei-Kuang Huang, Director of Secretariat

Tel No.: (02)2366-6300/0989-505-025

Email: u787263@taipower.com.tw