Circular Economy Evaluation System－Application of Taiwan Steel Cycle

循環經濟是轉型過去以來仰賴「大量開採－生產製造－大量廢棄物」的線性經濟，邁向永續發展的途徑，而規劃管理者在研擬循環經濟的方案時，需從循環的角度，以系統觀點來思考、分析並解決問題。然而，目前全球對循環經濟的定義與意涵仍有待釐清且循環經濟的評估方法難以整合操作。 本研究嘗試對循環經濟提出一較完整的定義，並以系統理論為基礎，揭示循環經濟相關要素及其與系統彼此之間的整體概念，建立循環經濟評估系統，提供較具完整性的系統架構，進一步歸納整理各單元面向相關的指標，並提供基礎的循環度計算原則方法，以利更完善的檢視及周全的評估循環經濟發展情況。最後，本研究以台灣鋼鐵循環為案例，實際檢視台灣鋼鐵之循環狀況。 本研究釐清循環經濟之意涵，將循環經濟精要定義為「在提升原投入之再利用所產生的經濟增長方式」。本研究之循環經濟評估系統，涵蓋投入、過程、產出、反饋單元的核心系統與外部環境系統，以反應循環經濟之系統性、封閉循環、反饋功能及社會、經濟面向的複雜性。指標項目可作為各系統範疇的檢核名單，幫助決策者更有次序地進行循環經濟的評估參考。本研究發現，台灣鋼鐵循環目前缺乏推動的主要項目是投入單元的生態化設計，過程單元的延長產品使用壽命與強度以及存量增長，反饋單元的資源共享與產品服務以及外部環境單元的創新科技與政策法規。整體而言，2012年台灣鋼鐵循環度為24%，顯示台灣鋼鐵循環仍相當需要積極推動朝向循環經濟發展。 本研究所提出之循環經濟評估系統，可方便掌握評估的流程與項目，彙整評估對象的相關績效，將有助全盤瞭解循環經濟的發展現況及鑑別不足之處，並據以規劃持續改善的策略方向。Circular economy is a transition path toward sustainable development which re-places the linear ‘take-make-dispose’ consumption patterns. On the way toward a circular economy, a systematic assessment is required to examine the current circulation performance of an economy. However, there is no commonly accepted definition of circular economy and integrated methodologies for effective implementation so far. In this study, a definition of circular economy is provided more precisely. Next, a circular economy evaluation system, based on the system theory, is presented. Then, a systematic framework and indicators of circular economy to evaluate the circularity of Taiwan’s steel cycle is provided. Circular economy is defined as an economic growth from promoting feedstock in-put into reuse in this study. The circular economy evaluation system includes input, process, output, feedback and external environment unit. Indicators in each unit can serve as a checklist for decision-makers to evaluate the circularity. The result based on the evaluation of Taiwan’s steel circulation system has identified the key factors to overcome the barriers along the steel products supply chain and reverse cycle, including eco-design of input unit, product lifetime and utility and stock growth of process unit, resource sharing and product service of feedback unit, technology, policy and legislation of external environment unit. The overall circularity in Taiwan’s steel cycle is 24% in 2012. This circular economy evaluation system may enrich the knowledge of current barriers to circularity. It can help shed light on strategy making to reach desired outcomes