Together with the textile circular chain, we are creating a new stage for sustainability.

To get in line with the international trends of sustainable development and resource recovery and recycling, Taiwan Textile Research Institute and Taiwan Textile Federation jointly organized Taiwan Circular Textile Initiative (TCTI) in June 2019, with former Minister of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Mr. Yen-Hsiang Shih, as the Convener of TCTI, to pool resources from the industry, government, academia, and research institutes, and to promote cooperation and alliance in the innovations of resource recycling for the textile industry in Taiwan. In view of the fact that the global wave of carbon reduction continues to rise, TCTI has transformed itself into “Textile Industry Sustainable Development Association of Taiwan” (abbreviated as TST), with the inaugural (general) meeting held on July 14, 2023, in which 15 directors and 5 supervisors were elected and Mr. Yen-Hsiang Shih appointed as the first Chairman of the Board. It was then reported to the competent authority (Ministry of the Interior) in accordance with the law and was approved to be established.

The establishment of TST not only declares that Taiwan’s textile industry is actively moving towards the sustainability goals, but also carries through the call for more participation from the textile industry players to accelerate the implementation of the industry’s low-carbon transformation through the resources of MOEA and other relevant government agencies. Secondly, we will link the upstream, midstream, and downstream of the industry to implement sustainable strategies, expand sustainable export business opportunities externally, and work together with the textile industry chain to form a “sustainable textile” national team, as the first solid step towards net zero for the textile industry in Taiwan.

Main Missions:

1. Actively promoting the implementation of sustainable development strategies in the textile industry
2. Promoting resource recovery and recycling in the textile industry, and expand the acquisition and application of sustainable materials.
3. Strengthening quality production and international competitiveness
4. Strengthening production and sales cooperation and integrating with international markets

History