Taiwan Power Company (Taiwan Power Company) has partnered with IKEA to replace all furniture in the Taipower building's employee cafeteria, including tables and chairs, through a "rent-to-buy" model. The opening ceremony was held today (18th). Taipower stated that the rent-to-buy model can reduce purchase, maintenance, and disposal costs. The furniture will eventually be recycled by IKEA, which is estimated to reduce approximately 6 metric tons of furniture waste, equivalent to approximately 20 metric tons of carbon emissions.
This marks the second time IKEA Taiwan has partnered with a business to launch a furniture subscription service, following Taipei 101. Taipower Chairman Yang Wei-fu expressed his desire to lead the public sector in minimizing carbon emissions, using diverse approaches to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Hundreds of furniture items are rented and recycled by IKEA after use.
Taipower is promoting a circular economy by collaborating with furniture retailer IKEA to transform the employee cafeteria at its headquarters using a "rent-to-buy" furniture product service model. Taipower noted that the cafeteria, which has been in operation for nearly 40 years since 1983, partnered with IKEA last year (2021) to establish a circular furniture model. The two parties signed a six-year contract during which IKEA will oversee the space design and planning and layout of the furniture and home furnishings. IKEA will also be responsible for subsequent maintenance, renovation, and eventual recycling. This differentiates the cafeteria from the traditional linear model of "make, buy, use, and discard," realizing the concept of a circular economy.
Taipower explained that the employee cafeteria occupies approximately 260 pings (approximately 800 square meters). IKEA provided 106 items of furniture, including dining tables, chairs, sofas, and pendant lamps, for a total of 438 seats. This will allow the cafeteria to function not only as a dining space but also as a venue for meetings, events, and employee relaxation. It is expected to officially open after the Lunar New Year.
Recycling furniture can reduce carbon emissions by 20 tons; Taipower hopes to become a leader in the public sector
Taipower stated that it has previously implemented this product-as-a-service concept in office buildings, such as a lease-instead-of-ownership model for photocopiers that has operated for over 30 years. This furniture recycling model will also reduce subsequent purchase, maintenance, and disposal costs. It is expected to reduce furniture waste by approximately 6 metric tons, equivalent to approximately 20 metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of 2,000 trees. Ultimately, the used furniture will be recycled and refurbished by IKEA, extending the life of the product through a circular supply chain.
Taipower Chairman Yang Wei-fu emphasized that facing the threat of climate change, a circular economy is a crucial option. In recent years, Taipower has not only promoted energy transformation within its core power business, but has also shifted its corporate operations from a linear mindset to a circular economy model. Future new projects will be designed with recycling in mind, with post-decommissioning or retirement recycling methods considered during the design phase to achieve zero waste. Yang Wei-fu expressed his hope to lead the public sector, driving all sectors to minimize carbon emissions and using diverse approaches to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/233236)
