
The Perfect Blends: Brewing a Sustainable Future
International Environmental Issues and Education Workshop
Adhering to the core spirit of "Global Vision, Local Action," this workshop aims to deepen Taiwan's leadership role in environmental education within the Asia-Pacific region and actively respond to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using Taiwan as a starting point, we will guide participants to deeply analyze local environmental issues and global ecological threats, thereby inspiring innovative capabilities and concrete actions to solve environmental crises.
In the pursuit of 2050 net-zero emissions, we focus not only on end-of-pipe waste treatment but also on resource consumption at the source. Taking the highly globally traded coffee industry as an example, its hidden "water footprint" crisis is an issue that cannot be ignored: producing 1 liter of liquid coffee entails a water footprint of up to 140 liters. As climate change intensifies, coffee-producing regions face severe water shortage challenges, gravely threatening ecological balance and farmers' livelihoods. This makes the efficient use and fair distribution of water resources the core of industrial sustainability.
Combining the "Lifestyle Transition" and "Zero Waste, Low-Carbon Diet, Food Reuse, Recycling, and Circular Recovery" policies of "Taiwan's 2050 Net-Zero Transition," this course will begin by addressing resource depletion at the planting stage and further focus on the issue of 111,000 metric tons of coffee grounds generated annually from Taiwan's consumption of over 3.7 billion cups of coffee.
Themed [The Perfect Blend: The Perfect Circular Chain of the Coffee Industry], the workshop will share how Taiwan realizes practical actions "from policy to product" through public-private partnerships to address food waste issues. We will deeply explore how the Resource Circulation Administration of the Ministry of Environment harmonizes regulations and integrates with the convenience store reverse logistics system to establish a stable recycling chain. Furthermore, through the "Plant-Based Residue Sustainable Management Platform," participants will learn how coffee grounds are transformed into high-value products such as functional fabrics and cosmetics, jointly building a net-zero circular ecosystem extending from coffee to tea and fruit residues, conveying Taiwan's practical strength of moving from resource depletion to renewable circulation to the world.
August 10 (Monday) to August 11 (Tuesday), 2026 (2 Days, 1 Night).
The primary target audience is students from Asia-Pacific countries studying in Taiwan; secondary targets include domestic and international youth interested in environmental education. Priority is given to first-time applicants. The organizer will review qualifications upon registration and select the final participants.
Expected to admit 30 international students and 5 youth participants (domestic students and environmental education practitioners), totaling 35 participants. Waitlist admissions may be considered based on actual registration.
To avoid the waste of resources, an "Attendance Confirmation Deposit" will be collected and refunded after the event concludes.
| Payment Method | ATM Transfer or Bank Counter Payment |
| Bank Name | Taipei Fubon Bank (Jingmei Branch) |
| Bank Code | 012 |
| Account No. | 00670102012459 |
| Account Name | 環境友種子股份有限公司 (Friendly Seed Co., Ltd.) |
Costs for courses, meals, accommodations, and event shuttles are covered by the organizer. However, transportation to and from the initial shuttle meeting point is at the participant's own expense.
Based on "Inspire, Create, Practice," the core objective is to enhance understanding of Taiwan's environmental education and actions, encouraging participants to translate these experiences into addressing local environmental issues in their home countries. The five core objectives are:
| Time | Topic | Issues & Concepts / Instructor | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30-09:00 | Shuttle Meeting | Friendly Seed Team | Taichung HSR Station |
| 09:00-09:30 | Travel & Check-in | Friendly Seed Team | |
| 09:30-09:50 | Opening Remarks | MOENV, GEEP APRC Advisor Tzuchau Chang, NAAEE Exec. Director Judy Braus | Come True Coffee (Shenji) |
| 09:50-10:20 | [Warm-up] Light Roast | Peer interaction & motivation / Friendly Seed Team | Come True Coffee |
| 10:20-12:20 | [Field Visit & Keynote] Come True Coffee Shenji |
Water issues & circular concepts in B2C operations / Ching-Pei Tsai, Brand Marketing Director | Come True Coffee |
| 14:30-15:30 | [Keynote] Regulatory Adaptation for Coffee Grounds |
How Taiwan deregulates to turn waste to treasure / Resource Circulation Admin, MOENV | National Hotel Taichung |
| 15:30-17:00 | [Coffee Light Roast] Team Discussion I | Discussing circular economy concepts / Friendly Seed Team | National Hotel Taichung |
| 19:00-20:00 | [Coffee Grinding] Global Food Waste Cases |
Students share home country cases / Friendly Seed Team |
| Time | Topic | Issues & Concepts / Instructor | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-10:00 | [Keynote] FamilyMart: From Waste to Resource |
Corporate autonomous management & industry links / Jui-Sheng Liu, Section Chief | Changhua Xiangshan Cihui Temple |
| 10:10-12:00 | [Field Visit II] Gorgeous Turnaround of Grounds |
Coffee planting & high-value product development / Chih-Min Chang, General Manager | Changhua Guocun Coffee Estate |
| 14:00-16:00 | [Coffee Dark Roast] Team Discussion II | Exchange & discuss environmental creations / Friendly Seed Team | Changhua City Farmers' Association |
| 16:00-16:30 | [Coffee Regeneration] Team Presentation | Share group results / Advisor Tzuchau Chang, Friendly Seed Team | 2F Classroom |
| 16:30-17:00 | Closing Ceremony |
The Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP) was launched in 2014 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Taiwan Ministry of Environment, and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). GEEP is committed to promoting environmental education globally, aiming to create a fairer, more sustainable future. Environmental education is a driving force for circular economy concepts, transforming traditional linear thinking to redesign production and consumption processes.
Founded in 2015 with the mission to "let coffee circulate a better world," it is Taiwan's first B-Corp certified coffee company. They pledge to donate 50% of their profits to the "Water to Africa" project, assisting with well construction and hygiene education in Africa.
A social enterprise dedicated to "waste circular regeneration," heavily focused on the coffee industry's resource recycling. Regarded as a successful case study of combining agricultural material regeneration with green technology in Taiwan, the visit includes DIY activities utilizing recycled coffee grounds.