Government honors 91 organizations for sustainable purchasing practices
Taiwan's Private Sector Embraces Green Procurement
Taiwan's private sector is making significant strides in promoting green procurement and sustainable operations, as evidenced by the Ministry of Environment's recent awards to 91 companies and organizations. This shift towards environmental responsibility began in 2007 when the ministry extended the green procurement policy from the public sector to the private sector.
The Ministry of Environment encourages the supply of green products or services through the Green Mark Program, a scheme introduced in 1992. As of now, 168 hotels have obtained a green mark, with 36 advancing to the silver or gold-level green mark. Over the past year alone, 36 hotels obtained gold or silver-level green marks.
Cathay Financial Holdings Co, a major real-estate owner, is leading the charge by purchasing green electricity from renewable energy suppliers and distributing it to all its tenants. The company has 11 solar energy-powered banks nationwide, generating a total annual power of 477,000 kilowatt-hours. Last year, Cathay achieved NT$375.7 billion in low carbon investments, a 13.7 percent increase from 2023.
Cheng Loong Corp, another prominent player, has integrated digital technology into its supply chain management. The company and its industrial chain partners have collectively reduced carbon emissions by nearly 12,000 tonnes and saved NT$55 million every year. Cheng Loong Corp's material procurement department accounted for 46.6 percent of the paper manufacturer's total procurement last year, and the company has managed to reduce paper residues by nearly 40 percent from 2018 to last year.
The government has set ambitious targets for green procurement, aiming for a broader scope of products and services, greater participation from private firms, and integration with circular economy principles. The ultimate goal is to reach NT$128 billion in green procurement by 2030, with a 10 percent annual increase in total green procurement by the private sector.
Five companies have kept their "green mark" for 20 consecutive years, a commendable achievement that reflects the long-term commitment of these companies to sustainable practices. The green procurement of 3,148 entities reached NT$74.3 billion (US$2.47 billion) last year, up by 15 percent from the previous year.
As the private sector continues to embrace green procurement, Taiwan is poised to make significant strides towards sustainable development and environmental responsibility. For more detailed information on the evolution of Taiwan’s private sector green procurement and future targets, consulting Taiwan government environmental policy reports or industry publications would be necessary.
- In the sustainability efforts of Taiwan's private sector, businesses like Cathay Financial Holdings Co are investing heavily in renewable energy, such as purchasing green electricity and generating substantial amounts through solar energy-powered banks.
- The integration of digital technology in supply chain management, as demonstrated by Cheng Loong Corp, has significantly reduced carbon emissions and paper waste in the private sector, aligning well with the government's green procurement targets.
