Taiwan manufacturer TCI to source 100% of its energy from renewables by 2030

The firm made the pledge at the World Climate Summit last month.

The summit was an official side event held in conjunction with the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24).

The firm shared its sustainability progress at two sessions which focused on the growing role of manufacturers in mitigating climate change.

Representing TCI at the event, Remi Lee, TCI's chief sustainability officer, said: "TCI is honoured to stand on stage and represent Taiwan, to show the world that this island has a role to play in preventing climate change."​

Green strategy

According to Lee, TCI has an interim target to hit 30% by 2020. Due to a “sizeable” investment, he added that the company anticipated reaching the 25% mark by the end of last year.

Lee said the company intended to reach its goals by purchasing renewable energy and developing new solar plants.

Additionally, Taiwan's new T-REC program enables TCI to selectively purchase renewable energy from the grid.

As part of their overall strategy, TCI has recently unveiled the world’s first green facial mask factory, which has obtained a LEED silver ranking.

The facility is fortified with efficient environmentally-friendly designs, such as solar panels which help further reduce energy demand.

Its cleaner operations reduce energy demands by 65%. Such efforts will help TCI reach its 100% renewable goal, said Lee.

TCI also cooperates with the Taiwan Forestry Bureau to plant 17.25 hectares of forest in Pingtung, located in Southern Taiwan.

On top of renewables, TCI announced carbon offsets for their major operations in Taiwan totaling 5,959 tons. The offsets come from a wind-power facility located domestically.

With these efforts TCI hopes to completely neutralise 5,959 tons of total carbon emissions and meet the gold standard of the Kyoto Protocol.

"When we first started, big brands encouraged us to develop green products, now we are the ones pushing them to adopt more sustainable practices,"​ said Lee.

A call for change

At the event, Lee called for other companies to join TCI in driving change.

"For us, sustainability is competitiveness. From our packaging to raw materials we adopt circular principles, with green factories we save energy. In the future every company will do this, we are protecting the environment because we see it as a way to sustain our business."​

He noted that the mission is not without its challenges. Emerging countries, for example, face strong economic pressure, and the cost ratio for renewables has not shifted everywhere.

Taiwan, he elaborated, still uses 95% fossil fuel energy, and despite a generous feed in tariff (FIT), policy gaps remain.

“As a manufacturer, we have changed our production procedures to be more sustainable and it even helps to reduce the cost,”​ said TCI in a press statement on the summit. “Environmental protection is not an ideal but a business which is worth of investment.”​