TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung-based Ta Chen Fong Umbrella Co. on Monday unveiled an umbrella designed with replaceable parts, enabling users to replace damaged components instead of discarding the entire product, as part of its effort to promote a circular economy.

Company Deputy General Manager Chen Yi-chang (陳奕錩) said the umbrella can be assembled in five minutes. Supported by the Resource Circulation Administration and the Taiwan Design Research Institute, the product will first be promoted for use by businesses and government agencies before entering the consumer market, per CNA.

Chen noted that many people throw away umbrellas when a single part breaks, increasing environmental waste. To address this, the company plans to partner with social welfare groups to dismantle discarded umbrellas and assemble new ones as part of its sustainability efforts.

At a Monday press conference, the Taiwan Design Research Institute said that around 30 million umbrellas are discarded in Taiwan every year. Because umbrellas are made of composite materials — metal, textiles, and plastic — most recyclers are unwilling to process them, creating a major waste issue.

The institute called on manufacturers to establish repair and recycling channels for umbrellas, adopt more recyclable materials such as single-type fabrics and metals like aluminum or stainless steel, and move toward modular designs that make maintenance easier.

At the event, local companies also showcased their efforts to turn waste into products, including Founder Aluminium’s recycled aluminum modular tables and chairs, Lion Pencil’s stationery made from recycled materials, FamilyMart Taiwan’s reusable food bags, Unipapa’s modular lighting series, and Yang Ming Marine Transport’s furniture made from discarded ship equipment.

To encourage better waste sorting, the environment ministry has partnered with the Taipei City Government to redesign trash bin labels. The new labels will be installed on public waste bins throughout the city.