ECOVE believes that a company does not only exist to make profits, but as a corporate citizen, we also have the responsibility to actively participate in the development of society. In addition to our commitment to the development of the Company's operations, we actively implement the concepts and objectives of giving back to the community and fulfilling our corporate social responsibilities. In addition to optimizing our business operations, we have also expanded our focus to social participation, and have been working on the three major themes of "operations-related community activities," "long-term community building," and "friendly corporate volunteers for the common good." By encouraging employees to participate in joyful and meaningful volunteer activities, we expect to bring a positive impact on society and enable them to strike a balance between their work and life, thus realizing the value of corporate sustainability. In 2023, ECOVE continued to be committed to the public welfare and care for the local disadvantaged communities, with a total of 520 persons and 3,808 hours of participation in social activities by ECOVE's colleagues.
Operations-related community activities
To promote public participation in environmental protection, environmental education and communication channels are essential. Therefore, ECOVE actively promotes environmental education and has established five certified environmental education facilities. These facilities serve as enjoyable learning centers for the public and are equipped with educational resources. One notable example is the Miaoli Incineration Plant, which was designated as a visitation facility for the international event "Taiwan in My Eyes 120H." To instill the basic ideas, values and sustainable lifestyle in the next generation, ECOVE has been partnering with CTCI EF to launch the first phase of the 3-year Step by Step: Factories for Sustainable Environmental Education program since 2018. The program targets elementary schools from all over the country to promote environmental education on campus, passing on the sustainable lifestyle to children. In 2021, we continued to cooperate with CTCI EF and launched the second phase of the 5-year Step by Step: Factories for Sustainable Environmental Education program, which is still targeting all elementary schools in Taiwan, in order to align with the United Nations' initiatives and promote environmental education downstream.
Taiwan in My Eyes 120h
The "Taiwan in My Eyes 120h" initiative is an international event organized jointly by the CTCI Education Foundation (CTCIEF) and the Center for Corporate Sustainability (CCS) in Taiwan, which integrates the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each year, the program specially arranges visits to exemplary Taiwanese companies for undergraduate and graduate students from domestic and international universities. For the 2023 opening ceremony and first day of field exploration, ECOVE's headquarters has been designated as the site to be visited. The headquarters building is designed with the concept of intelligent energy management and eco-friendliness. It has obtained the "Taiwan Green Building EEWH Diamond Certification," "Smart Building Diamond Certification," and "LEED Gold Certification" from the United States Green Building Council. Through participation, the participants gained insights into the overall planning of ECOVE's headquarters. In addition to having a user-friendly, practical, and comfortable flexible office space, the headquarters incorporates advanced green building and smart building design techniques. It aims to create an intelligent green building that can engage in dialogue with people, facilities, and the environment while promoting energy efficiency, sustainability, and environmental harmony. The visiting participants also utilized social media platforms like Facebook to amplify their voices internationally, showcasing Taiwan's profound sustainability efforts to the world. The Miaoli plant was again selected as a designated visit site in 2024, which will be the seventh consecutive designation since the program. With its distinctive thematic exhibition spaces and various multimedia features, it serves as a connection point to showcase the operational aspects of the incineration plant and related environmental concepts. The goal is to create a green dream factory, emphasizing sustainability and environmental consciousness. Under the guidance of ECOVE staff, the participants are provided with explanations on practical knowledge related to waste resource sorting, waste incineration treatment, air pollution control technologies, and energy recycle for power generation. This educational experience aims to enhance participants' knowledge and values in environmental protection, cultivating a strong foundation in sustainable practices.
Environmental education facilities and venues, cultivate green future
ECOVE has a long history of working closely with local resources and has been deeply involved in local environmental issues through continuous investment in environmental education. In our philosophy, an environmental education facility is not only located in an area full of environmental education resources, but is also a place to integrate professional competencies, curriculum programs, and appropriate environmental education resources to provide professional environmental education services to school students and the community at large, and to achieve the multi-functional goals of education, research, conservation, culture, and recreation. Therefore, ECOVE actively participates in the accreditation of environmental education facilities and venues, and at the same time, combines the industry's resource recycling efforts to tailor-make a wide range of environmental education programs based on the characteristics of the incineration plant's manufacturing process, as well as its human and geographical features, in order to achieve cooperation and contribution to the community.
ECOVE has currently obtained certifications for five environmental education facilities, diversifying the integration of environmental education into our core business. We transform complex and abstract environmental knowledge into engaging experiential programs, promoting environmental conservation knowledge and skills. Our employees excel in various fields, leveraging their expertise to drive initiatives such as the Green Life Cycle, utilizing technology to achieve green supply chains and product carbon footprints. We harness the resources of ecology, production, and daily life to demonstrate our industry's core values. Through environmental education facility certifications, we aim to transform the environmental education DNA of every individual. Each of our locations has its unique teaching system and a mission to promote environmental conservation. In the future, we will continue to develop new environmental education programs to provide our neighborhoods and communities with engaging and locally-focused environmental education services, enriching their experiences and emphasizing the local characteristics. A total of 15 trained and certified environmental educators from the Environmental Protection Training Institute of the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan, have been trained as lecturers at ECOVE's environmental education facilities to provide the public with professional environmental education lectures and tutorials, as well as a rich variety of interactive experiences. In 2023, a total of 116 environmental education services have been provided, with a total number of 4,330 people participating.
The environmental education journey of ECOVE
ECOVE Environmental Education Facilities Specialized Teaching System
Environmental protection is not far away from us, nor is it difficult. Through various environmental education programs, we can practice green actions in our daily lives to be friendly to the land and protect the earth. The ECOVE Environmental Education team offers a variety of environmental education courses, including engaging SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) curriculum, waste-to-energy education, sustainable living, and upcycling workshops. These courses are provided free of charge, and applications from all sectors are welcome. Activity Program: Various Environmental Education Visits Target audience: Schools, institutions, organizations, and community groups are all eligible to apply.
Step by step: Factories for sustainable environmental education
In order to help our next generation understand the relationship between human beings and the natural environment, as well as the relationship between human beings and the man-made environment (including the social and economic environment), and at the same time cultivate the basic concepts and values of caring for the environment as well as an appropriate and sustainable lifestyle, for the sixth consecutive year, ECOVE has partnered with CTCI EF to organize the “Step by step: Factories for sustainable environmental education” program. Through this program, we continuously enhance the content of our teaching materials. In addition to focusing on ECOVE's incinerator operation and recycling as core materials, the content is designed for different age groups and incorporates environmentally friendly hands-on activities. Examples include making crafts with recycled paper, such as handmade fans, and reusing seeds. We also integrate the concept of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) in daily life and address current environmental issues. This allows children to learn about important environmental concepts, such as the principles of waste-to-energy incineration, environmental certifications, and waste sorting, in an engaging and enjoyable way. Through videos, we also educate children about the presence of one hundred million tons of plastic waste in the ocean and guide them to reject plastic products like straws. In 2023, the second phase of the “Step by step: Factories for sustainable environmental education” was held for the third year, with a total of 25 sessions and 3,000 teachers and students participating. The activities were held in Keelung Hwa-Hsing Elementary School and An-Le Elementary School in the north, and in the south to Tainan Lung-Tan Elementary School, Deng-Zhou Elementary School, and Hsin-Hsing Elementary School, and to the Jhupu Elementary School in Tainan and the Qiao-Yi Elementary School in Xi-Chow, Chang-Hua, for activities in remote rural elementary schools. ECOVE hopes that through continuous promotion, environmental education will permeate from school children to families, and then to rural and local neighborhoods, so as to maintain our beautiful living environment.
Social Benefits from "Step by Step: Factories for Sustainable Environmental Education"
Long-term community building
In the past, ECOVE's operating sites were classified as NIMBY facilities, which gave local residents a sense of disgust and insecurity. ECOVE takes the initiative in showing concern for the locals, and strives towards pollution reduction, energy-saving and carbon-reduction, and environmental beautification and greening. It also makes the effort to get along with the neighbors, safeguards the community environment, organizes coastal cleanup, participates in community activities, builds environmental protection facilities, and maintains a quality and safe living environment, transforming the place which people keep away from, into a facility welcome by everyone. ECOVE has long been committed to community building and has been organizing regular fundraising activities for toys, clothes and books for regular use to kick-start the “cycle of goodness”. At the same time, it also appeals to colleagues to pay attention to the issues of community participation and environmental education, which in turn promotes an atmosphere of sharing among owners and supply chain contractors, as well as a culture of volunteering among all employees, in order to fulfill its corporate social responsibility. In response to the Group's ESG Award for Sustainability and Impact Excellence call for entries for 2023, two proposals won awards. The winning proposal, “Carbon Reduction • Love Sustainability • Circular Economy Never Dies”, which was inspired by our previous fundraising activities, combined with our own work and the spirit of ESG, was highly recognized by the judges. The proposal has been expanded from a regular activity to a group-wide activity, and we will continue to contribute to the sustainable development of the planet based on the winning proposal.
Get along with neighbors, integrate into community
As a corporate citizen, ECOVE emphasizes interactions with the community and seeks common good with the neighborhoods. Under ECOVE's management, the Linkou Water Resources Center integrates 3C technology with environmental education by introducing a learning-oriented mobile phone microscope. Through interactive games, the public can observe microorganisms in water, learn about wastewater treatment, and cultivate a sense of water resource conservation. Additionally, the Houli EfW Plant, located in the Jiushe community of Taichung, co-organizes the "Jiushe Cultural Festival" annually, which has been held for 20 years. This event combines traditional cultural practices with new environmental concepts, creating a platform for exchange and heritage preservation. It enhances public awareness and interest in local cultural arts while fostering a sense of attachment and cohesion among the local community. The ecologically rich Tainan Plant, located in the vicinity of diverse ecosystems, actively collaborates with the "Chengxi Community Development Association, Annan District, Tainan City" by signing a memorandum of understanding for environmental education cooperation. The plant also hires professional environmental education instructors to assist in the development of environmental ecology and green industries in the Annan District of Tainan City. Through the expertise of these instructors, who have extensive experience in hands-on teaching, participants are taught to create interesting and aesthetically pleasing artworks using simple tools and readily available waste materials in their daily lives. The aim is to stimulate their creativity and cultivate a habit of utilizing and recycling waste materials throughout their daily lives, reducing resource wastage, promoting cultural development, and deepening public concern and attention to local environmental ecology and industrial development. In addition to investing in relevant human and material resources to participate in the community, ECOVE's staff from the grassroots to senior management have also enthusiastically responded to community events, such as the “2023 Sustainable Miaoli Green Life Kick-off Party” at the Miaoli EfW Plant, the “Sport in STSP” at the Nanke plant, and the “Neighbourhood Sweeping” at the Wujih EfW Plant, which saw the enthusiastic participation of ECOVE's senior management and staff, with their families and relatives. This shows the enthusiasm of ECOVE in integrating into the community.
Safeguard community environment, be a good neighbor
ECOVE not only pioneers as a green enterprise but also acts as a good neighbor in the community. It has been committed to maintaining the factory premises and the surrounding environment. Regular and ad hoc road cleaning operations, lawn restoration, and utilization of waste materials for art installations are conducted. In some of the operational sites, such as Keelung Plant, Southern Taoyuan Plant, Miaoli Plant, and Tainan Plant, beach cleaning and forest cleaning activities are organized. Although these activities have limited impact on reducing marine and forest litter, they have raised environmental awareness among colleagues and promoted the practice of reducing plastic and avoiding single-use plastics in their daily lives. In 2023, a total of 1,138.50 hours of community service were dedicated, and 6 beach cleaning/forest cleaning activities were organized, resulting in the collection of 4,966.10 kilograms of trash. In addition, ECOVE has been actively utilizing its influence by joining the CommonWealth Magazine to advocate the Danshui River Convention for four consecutive years since 2020, and actually participating in the Danshui River Environmental Action. In 2023, with biodiversity as the main theme, we combined with the Guandu Art Festival to conduct the “Protecting Wetland Biodiversity, Creating a Sustainable New Future” environmental action in Guandu Nature Park. 57 colleagues were gathered to participate in the event, which included not only the environmental action into the heart of the wetland - removing the invasive plant bitter vine, assisting the park to maintain the function of the wetland, and the environmental education - a DIY activity for parents and children, and a guided tour of the exhibits created by artists based on the concept of environment. We also visited the exhibits created by the artists based on the concept of environment. We aim to make a positive impact on society by actively participating in environmental conservation efforts and creating a high-quality living environment and urban landscape for the local community. When the relationship between enterprise and society becomes closer, the role of enterprise is not only to create output value, but also to create its own "value”. We believe that in time to come, with the participation of corporate partners, greater and stronger energy will be injected into the communities and we can realize a friendly and sustainable development lifestyle for the common good.
Friendly corporate volunteers for the common good
Employees from ECOVE set up "Friendly Charity Society", which organizes charity activities from time to time every year. To further emphasize corporate social responsibility on the employees, ECOVE actively cooperates with external parties in practicing "green living" in everyday life.
Engaging in Public Welfare by Caring for the Disadvantaged
ECOVE is committed to fulfilling its corporate social responsibility. In 2017, it established the "Friendly Charity Society," which encourages employees to proactively contribute to acts of kindness and share innovative ideas for promoting social welfare. In addition to the “Love Computer Dream Project”, “Guanyin Love Home”, “Taichung Baby Care Program”, and “Chung-Yi Social Welfare Foundation Invoice Collection”, which have been in existence for seven years, we continue to cooperate with external public welfare organizations, and in conjunction with the United Nations' SDGs, and based on the core concept of ECOVE, which is to cherish every resource, we awaken the awareness of our colleagues to love and cherish resources. For example, since 2020, we have been working for four consecutive years with Step30 International Ministries on the “Life Without Spare Old Shoes Saves Lives” campaign, calling on colleagues to participate in donation of used goods; in 2023, we continued to expand to the Group by jointly organizing the “Donate Books, Spread the Love of the Sunshine” campaign, targeting at the donation of books with a shorter lifespan; and we have formed a coalition with the Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation to invite all colleagues to participate in second-hand book donation activities, awakening the awareness of colleagues to love and cherish goods. In the same year, the Company further allied with the Sunlight Foundation, upholding the ESG spirit of the entire group, and organized the “Christmas Gifts Sustainable Spreading Love Activity” in conjunction with the joyful and warm festivals. The Christmas gifts wished by the children and the donations of goods recognized by the colleagues were warmly and efficiently delivered to each of the children through the social welfare volunteers and staff of the Sunlight Foundation, completing their Christmas gift wish lists. In addition to this, each unit synchronizes its donation of materials by linking with volunteer activities and community care, such as the Houli EfW Plant linking with the community activities of the old community and donating love boxes, ECOVE Waste Management Corp. and Southern Taoyuan EfW Plant synchronizing their understanding of the lack of materials in their homes through the Love Home activities and giving them back, and the Company's Zhong Yuan Pudu collection of worship materials that were given back to the units in the nearby communities, so that they can be more effectively utilized.
Embracing multiculturalism, cultivating future impact
"In order to enhance the cultural connotation and boost the cultural economy, in 2023, ECOVE gradually implemented two activities, namely the “Little Engineers Camp” and the “City Seekers - Biodiversity Collaboration Project”, and also continued to promote the staff's Green New Life Campaign to implement green consumption, with the hope that through the dissemination of the cultural economy, we can promote local culture to the world, and in turn, boost the economy, so that the cultural and creative industries can form a positive cycle and realize the cultural value of “the more local, the more international”. The ""Little Engineers Camp"" is a collaborative event organized by ECOVE, the CTCI Education Foundation (CTCI EF), and the parent company, CTCI. The aim is to enhance elementary school students' professional knowledge and skills in the areas of environmental sustainability and engineering, as well as foster their self-directed learning abilities. The camp includes visits to sustainable living environments, environmental education activities, and engineering workplaces. Through observation, hands-on experiences, and engagement with popular topics such as SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) board games, the young participants unleash their creativity and engage in engineering DIY projects to put the concept of environmental sustainability into practice. In 2023, a total of 51 young engineers from 33 elementary schools participated in the three-day camp. Through their experiences and learning, the students shared their insights during the closing ceremony by taking turns to share on stage. We aspire for the future generation to embrace the concept of sustainability and become ambassadors for it. We hope they will embody the role of young advocates and, with the spirit of engineers, work tirelessly towards a sustainable future. The “City Seekers - Biodiversity Collaboration Project” is an activity jointly organized by ECOVE and its parent company, CTCI. Starting from the theme of biodiversity, ECOVE will work together with the Zhishan Cultural and Ecological Garden and the nine cultural heritage pavilions to practice ecological conservation and invite the public to care about the issue of biodiversity, from participating in surveys to implementing conservation projects, and taking practical actions to protect the environment."
The cultural industry combines with the employees' new green life movement, and after the employees complete the voting, 15 special manufacturers with ESG highlights are selected, allowing employees to freely choose according to their needs, so that they can use healthy and environmentally friendly products and do their part for the earth. From the perspective of sustainable management, we hope to promote the importance of health among our employees and their families through the Green Lifestyle Campaign, and to support environmental and social care through the power of green consumption. For the Sustainability and Net Zero Office, we communicate and understand the ESG content of manufacturers, and during the negotiation process, we review local raw materials, friendly goods, and employment programs for the disadvantaged to reduce energy consumption on the environment and society, not only to provide colleagues with better consumer choices, but also for the earth and the environment to coexist and enhance the cultural economy.
Response to International Initiatives
ECOVE actively connects with external initiatives, with senior executives and personnel serving as initiative ambassadors and leading all personnel to embrace green practices in their daily work and to take an interest in social charitable activities. In addition to responding to the international initiative to promote energy conservation and carbon reduction, each branch also participates in social welfare activities, providing care to vulnerable groups. By participating in these activities, we not only raise employees' awareness of issues like climate change and the environment, but we also promote the idea of charity. We believe that everyone has the ability and responsibility to make a difference in the world in the face of global climate change. By caring for the land on which we live with dedication and taking action, we can support our planet and make a significant positive impact on society.
