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202309/26
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA), in collaboration with Muji Taiwan Ltd., established the first domestic timber furnishing showroom in the MUJI Yulon City Store, using domestically produced Japanese cedar and Taiwania timber materials that meet CAS specifications. The showroom officially opened on September 26, offering visitors a shopping experience filled with warm textures and the aroma of wood. Here, shoppers can experience in person the premium quality of spaces decorated with domestic timber. The MUJI Yulon City Store used approximately 20 cubic meters of domestic timber, which sequesters approximately 3.5 metric tons of carbon, to create this domestic timber furnishing showroom. This showroom can help connect the production and consumption ends of the timber industry, while also simultaneously showcasing environmentally friendly small-scale agricultural products on local product shelves, thereby contributing to “Sustainable Forestry, Ecological Taiwan.”
The FANCA explained that domestic wood is mainly used for construction and furnishing. To encourage the use of domestically-produced, legal, and certified timber for interior furnishing and decor, in May of this year the FANCA started openly seeking out demonstration site locations with a floor area of 100 or more ping (approximately 330 square meters) that were willing to use domestically certified wood and bamboo materials for the furnishing. After the evaluation process, Taiwan’s MUJI Yulon City Store was selected as the demonstration site, and it finally made its grand opening after nearly four months of renovations. This site will allow more people to experience the beauty and texture of a space created by Taiwan’s wood and bamboo furnishing while they shop and enjoy leisure activities.
According to the FANCA, wood and bamboo products are closely related to the safety of buildings and living environments. Businesses are encouraged to participate in certification to help ensure the quality of Taiwan wood and bamboo materials and products. Furthermore, the “Subsidy Selection Guidelines for Public Venues Using Domestic Timber and Bamboo Materials” have been introduced to help transform certified domestic timber and bamboo materials from faraway forests into everyday spaces and turn them into more accessible and familiar daily objects. These efforts have led to the establishment of the first demonstration store to promote the unique aromas and textures of domestic wood and bamboo materials to shoppers.
In response to the international trend of net-zero carbon emissions in recent years, afforestation and the improvement of forest land management are the easiest ways to increase natural carbon sinks, which highlights the importance of sustainable production and utilization of wood and bamboo timber. Under the two major objectives of “protecting natural forests” and “effectively managing and utilizing plantation forests,” Taiwan has adopted three major strategies: increasing forested areas, strengthening forest management, and increasing the utilization rate of domestic timber. These strategies aim to enhance the carbon sequestration function of forests while providing forest ecosystem services and industry economic value. The collaboration between the FANCA and MUJI Taiwan will not only allow consumers to experience the charm of domestic timber and bamboo materials in a physical showroom, but will also offer various activities, courses, and promotions related to wood culture, forest products, and sustainable forestry at the MUJI Yulon City Store. Through this innovative production and marketing model, the benefits of utilizing domestic timber will be spread far and wide.