Carbon reduction standards were raised in line with the global trends.
The Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) released the Roadmap for the Sustainable Development of Listed Companies in March 2022. However, WT has already begun GHG inventory development as early as 2018 and voluntarily extended the boundaries. In 2022, the external GHG inventory verification scope has been extended to include operating bases such as Hong Kong and Singapore logistics centers. In 2022, the GHG inventory of operating bases such as China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore was also be voluntarily completed (without third-party verification). In 2023, the GHG inventory will be further extended to more operating bases and verified by a third party. The GHG inventory of all the Group’s operating bases estimated to complete in 2025, with third-party verification to be completed by 2027 at the latest.
Environmental management spending has been increased over the years.
In order to fulfill its responsibility for environmental sustainability, WT’s Taiwan and Hong Kong Logistics Centers have both been certified with ISO 14001: Environmental Management System (see 6-8 for details of the effective date for the management system), and have been developing GHG inventory for many years. In addition to third party verification, the inventory has been extended to include more operating bases over the years for a more precise and accurate information disclosure. Additional environmental management training sessions have also been conducted across departments to enhance sustainable development awareness for all employees and promote reduction programs. In 2022, training on SASB sustainability accounting, TCFD risk management and others were introduced, and the Taiwan headquarters invested NT$3.23 million in environmental-oriented management systems, training, and related activities. In addition, a total of 208 hours of training on environmental management and goal implementation were delivered at Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen Logistics Centers in 2022.
Much attention has been paid to climate change in response to UN SDGs
In 2015, the United Nations formulated the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in hope that the collective attention of countries around the world to climate change will help stakeholders identify climate change-related risks and opportunities. In line with the international trend, WT has been improving environment-oriented development.
Increased proportion of renewable energy use
In response to the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs’ plan to achieve 20% renewables in electricity generation matrix by 2025 and the Paris Agreement’s goal to keep the temperature rise under control, despite not being a major electricity consumer or carbon emitter which is subject prioritized control, WT voluntarily planed and invested RMB 1.428 million to set up a 100 KW solar power generation system on the roof of the Shanghai office. The system generates about 9,000 kWh of electricity per month, and the power generated is mainly for self-use. WT will continue to conduct feasibility assessments on future green energy power generation, voluntary purchase of green electricity, and renewable energy certificates, in order to adopt green energy solutions that are most beneficial to the environment, gradually increase the proportion of renewable energy usage, and reduce WT’s GHG emissions.
NTD 15.66million were spent on purchasing green-labeled products in 2022
WT, as an IC distributor, mainly works in electronic components trading and research and development. Although the trade does not involve manufacturing or significant environmental pollution, WT has been making efforts with it suppliers to develop and apply green technologies, and mitigate the concerns about exhaustion of energy sources. WT is committed to purchase green-labeled products whenever possible. It has been filing its green procurement under the guidance of the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau every year, and recognized for three consecutive years in the “New Taipei City Private Enterprises and Organizations Green Procurement Excellence Awards Ceremony”. The amount declared at the end of 2022 was NTD15.66 million, up 5% from the previous year. In the future, WT will continue to purchase green products whenever possible as an effort towards green consumption, choose products that cause less harm to the environment and human health, and give preference to products with the Environmental Protection Label, Energy-saving Label, Green Building Material Label, Water-saving Label, Category II Environmental Protection Label, Carbon Footprint Reduction Label which the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency urges the private sector to choose.
WT continues to advocate the spirit of environmental sustainability, and participate in activities such as community greening, ecological protection, recycling and reuse, and sharing of old objects. In order to shape a sustainable environment, it also adopted beach cleanup areas, and has been urging the employees to participate in beach cleanups and tree planting activities.
The protection of environmental resources has always been an issue that the world attaches great importance to. In addition to reducing the source of pollution at all levels, the disposal of garbage is crucial as well. A lot of garbage discarded in the ocean are brought up to the shore by waves, and over time, the beautiful coast became filled with all kinds of garbage, among which dead marine creatures. In 2022, two beach cleanups were organized, where 137 participants removed a total of 1,484.2 kilograms of marine debris. Since 2023, WT adopted Shimen Baisha Bay, Kite Park, and Laomei Lushicao Beach on the north coast of New Taipei City and organized beach cleanups on a monthly basis, during which knowledge may be disseminated with increased interactions. Starting from beach cleanups, WT went further to advocate effective waste treatment, remind individuals not to litter, and encourage sorting at office or home , etc.
With the successful hiking in 2022, a series of Gathering For Fun activities will be held in conjunction with beach cleanups in 2023. In addition to the beach cleanups for public interest, employees are encouraged to go hiking for their own heath. Employees may enjoy the beauty of the mountains in northern Taiwan and breathing in energy-boosting phytoncides with their families. Moreover, the participants were invited to progress through a number of challenges intended for them to better understand the background stories of each peak and each trail, so as to enhance their knowledge and physical fitness at the same time.
The much-awaited company outings will resume in 2023, after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much has been asked about the outings, as the itineraries have been distinctive and employees are invited to come with their families, whose expenses are also subsidized. The outings are designed to offer an in-depth understanding of local cultures, exclusive attractions, seasonal food, etc. of various places in Taiwan, and a variety of interactive games and experiences are incorporated to the program for ice breaking and team building.
Employees are offered a variety of itineraries in different styles, including parent-child experiences, amusement parks, extreme challenges, and sightseeing trips, to choose from according to their interests and whether they come alone or with families. For example, rafting trips that would fit energetic young groups, and parent-child itineraries that would be suitable for family outings. The latter would feature fun attractions that parents can enjoy with their young children and DIY activities that attract all ages. During the day, parents can exchange parenting information with each other, and children meet new friends and have fun together.
With the successful hiking in 2022, a series of Gathering For Fun activities will be held in conjunction with the monthly cleanups at different beaches on the north coast in 2023.
Waste has been sorted and recycled and packaging materials reused.
WT is committed to waste reduction and recycling from the source, and selects qualified suppliers to properly dispose the waste. The waste produced during WT’s operation is mainly made up of operational waste and daily-life waste discarded by employees in the offices, and cartons, paper boards, filling materials and waste left from carton sealing at the logistics centers. They are all non-hazardous waste.
In order to reduce the amount of waste generated at logistics centers, the packaging materials required for logistics operations, such as cartons, cardboard boxes, paper boards, etc., are actively cut down from the source. At receiving, empty cartons are recycled and to be reused for shipping packaging; and for shipping, either reusable or bio-degradable recycled materials are used for packaging. WT has a centralized waste management system, and keeps a regular record of waste quantity and waste transport data.
In order to achieve the goal of reducing the amount of waste, efforts have also been made in daily office management to buy less disposable consumer goods, use durable and recyclable products whenever possible, enhance employee education campaign on waste reduction and carbon reduction, and engage in waste sorting and recycling. As of the end of 2022, those wastes sent to the waste treatment facilities were all non-hazardous, those diverted from disposal were to be recycled and prepared for reuse only, and those directed to disposal were to be incinerated (with energy recovery) only. No waste was land-filled.
In 2022, the Hong Kong and Singapore logistics centers began to be kept track of for waste. A total of 101.2 metric tons of waste were incinerated (with energy recovery) in Taiwan, a decrease of 17.1 metric tons from 2021. The results show a year-on-year reduction in daily-life waste, and represent an achievement of WT’s continuous efforts in environmental protection.
