Mailiao Ecological Showroom is completed, and Chairman of FPG Executive Board personally inspects it!
For a long time, Formosa Plastics Group has upheld the corporate spirit of “seeking the root and pursuing perfection”, dedicating itself to promoting environmental protection, circular economy, green products, and management of sustainable environmental resources. Now, the Mailiao Industrial Complex has gradually implemented the integration of the three aspects (life production, and ecology), practicing sustainable development.
These efforts, accumulated over the years and covering a wide range, have led Safety Health & Environment to establish an Ecological Showroom on the first floor of the administrative building in Mailiao complex. This showroom allows outsiders to have a more comprehensive understanding of the company's efforts through clear information and concise data. The showroom was completed in August 2023. It consists of seven zones, showcasing the beauty of Mailiao Ecological Complex, air quality management, water resource management, circular economy, green products, implementation of ESG, and an interactive photo zone.
Chairman of FPG executive board and Chairmen of the four major companies visited the exhibition hall on September 18th. President Lin from the General Administration personally explained to Chairman of FPG Executive Board how to communicate the achievements and concepts of corporate sustainable development to the public.
About the Exhibited Content of Mailiao Ecological Showroom
Mailiao Ecological Showroom consists of seven zones, showcasing the beauty of Mailiao Ecological Complex, air quality management, water resource management, circular economy, green products, implementation of ESG, and an interactive photo zone. The following content will be introduced one by one.
(1)The Beauty of Mailiao Ecological Complex- Feeling the Ecological Beauty of Mailiao Industrial Complex
When Mailiao Industrial Complex was built, it was planned as an ecological industrial complex. Both inside and outside the complex, lush forests abound, providing abundance in ecosystems . Moreover, Mailiao Port has been certified by the European Union as a ECO Port.
The photos on the display wall at the entrance lead visitors to catch a glimpse of Mailiao Industrial Complex. The distant scenery shows the lush greenery surrounds the park, and the scenery ahead reveals Taiwan blue magpies, little terns, Taiwanese fiddler crabs, and other animals thriving in this area. Hidden beneath the Mailiao Harbor, the coral ecosystem is revealed through underwater photography, showcasing the successful management of air and water quality in the Mailiao Industrial Complex. Also, Industrial development and the environmental protection can be achieved simultaneously.
(2)Air Quality Management - Real-time Monitoring of Air Quality Changes around Mailiao Industrial Complex
In order to detect leakage from the source and proactively monitor the reasons for air quality changes within a forty-kilometer radius around Mailiao Industrial Complex, we establish an "8 Layered Monitoring Network” both inside and outside the Complex. In this area, real-time monitoring data are displayed on screens, showcasing the real-time readings perform much better than the requirement of regulatory standards. Showing Formosa Plastics’ determination to be open and transparent without fear of supervision.
To ensure the effectiveness of the 8 Layered Monitoring Network, we have established the Environmental Monitoring Center, which continuously monitors data changes 24 hours a day. If the monitoring data show any deviation from the internal control standard, the staff on duty at the Environmental Monitoring Center will immediately conduct investigations and request the plant to improve.
In addition, when the process areas of Industrial Complex undergo turnaround, regular inspections, or emergency ventings, the Environmental Monitoring Center will proactively notify nearby residents via text messages. Through effective communication, this not only avoids unnecessary misunderstandings but also demonstrates the commitment to coexistence and prosperity with the local community.
To be playful, this area adopts interactive projection technology, projecting the 8-layered monitoring network onto the wall. Guests can simply touch the wall to browse the distribution locations of the monitoring network. Not only can visitors gain a deeper understanding of the eight-layered monitoring network through interaction, but they can also leave a lasting impression.
(3)Water Resource Management - Each Drop of Water is used 12.7 Times
Where Does Industrial Water Come From?
Located in Nantou, Jiji Weir intercepts approximately 18.9 billion metric tons of water from the Jhuoshuei River annually. According to the Water Resources Agency, this water is primarily supplied for agricultural irrigation in the Changhua and Yunlin areas.
Therefore, the overall water distribution ratio is primarily focused on agricultural water, accounting for 92.7%, with industrial water accounting for only about 5.4%. By the summary of public information above, it aims to help visitors understanding that the Mailiao Industrial Park is not involved in the rumor about seizing water resources from local residents.
The Measures and Effectiveness of Water-Saving
Mailiao Industrial Complex conserves every drop of water through various measures such as rainfall storage, wastewater recycling, and water conservation. Based on water usage data from 2022, Mailiao Industrial Complex can reuse each drop of water 12.7 times, equivalent to the volume of 22 Baoshan Reservoirs annually.
Taking rainfall storage as an example, a total of 5.87 million metric tons of rainfall have been successfully collected, accounting for 7.3% of the total water usage in the Mailiao Industrial Complex. The recovered rainfall is sufficient to supply the water consumption of the population of Yunlin County (670,000 people, in 2021) for 35 days.(250 liters/per person).
In terms of water conservation, from manufacturing process improvements to selecting water-efficient green plants for irrigation, these measures of saving water are bit by bit, from small to large scale. Because of this, it has led to a reduction of at least 24% in overall unit product water consumption during the period 2007 to 2022.
The Tank Displays the Ecology Underwater in Mailliao Port
Mailiao Industrial complex is situated in a coastal area, so the protection of aquatic ecosystems has become a daily priority for Formosa Plastics Group. Under strict water quality monitoring and management, we ensure that the discharged water from the industrial areas has no effects on the adjacent marine environment.
As a result, the ecological resources are abundant in the waters of Mailiao Port. Mailliao Port has also become the first industrial port in Asia to obtain the EU's Green Port Certification for its ecological practices. In addition to enriching the local fishing resources in Mailiao and contributing to marine conservation efforts, Formosa Plastics Group also conducts annual operations for releasing small fish into the waters.
The display tanks in this area have bred common fish species found in the port, allowing visitors to observe the fish's activities and confirm the health of the released small fishes.
4.Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
Formosa Plastics Group places great importance on sustainable development, presenting its business strategies and the carbon neutrality goals and timelines for the year 2050 in the exhibition area. This includes establishing a specific organization for promoting sustainable development, one-series execution measures such as energy conservation, emissions reduction, circular economy, and ESG practices.
Take promoting circular economy as an example, we have been fully committed to promoting 5S since 1993. Besides, we have further promoting "three-point no-leakage," energy conservation, emission reduction, and AI projects. We applied AI combined with virtualization to improve manufacturing processes in 2021, and now, we comprehensively apply digital technology to enhance operational efficiency. Due to president's firm determination to successfully promote the circular economy, each company also presents various circular economy cases in the exhibition area.
Take Formosa Plastics Corporation's n-butanol plant for example, reusing unrecoverable resources from each plant as raw materials or fuel for n-butanol plant is widely applied. By integrating resources in four circular aspects including raw materials, water resources, energy, and waste, the aim is to achieve energy conservation, emissions reduction, and improve energy efficiency. This allows visitors to understand the possibilities and achievements of Formosa Plastics Group's sustainable development.
5.Green Products - Immersive Experience
Formosa Plastics Group recycles waste materials into raw materials, which are used by other manufacturers to develop daily necessities. In the exhibition hall, various products such as clothes, slippers, socks, eco-friendly bags, and fertilizers are displayed to let visitors practically understand Formosa Plastics Group's commitment to sustainable development.
Take "antibacterial shell powder and EVA granule-made antibacterial slippers" as the example, because approximately 160,000 metric tons of waste oyster shells are generated in Taiwan each year, Formosa Plastics Corporation has successfully developed "antibacterial shell powder" by using waste oyster shells as raw materials. This powder is combined with polyethylene (PE) and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) to create a natural antibacterial plastic composite material. It has been successfully applied in everyday consumer products such as shoes, sports equipment, and laundry detergents.
6.ESG Practices
In recent years, extreme climate change and the instability of international political and economic situations have accelerated the arrival of a new era. In the post-pandemic era, regardless of industrial structure or evolution processes, it will be totally different from the past. However, what remains unchanged is that Formosa Plastics Group continuously move forward this path of sustainable development.
In 2020, the Sustainability Development Committee was established, firmly believing that robust governance and risk management contribute to enhancing the value of the enterprise, with a focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. We actively integrate sustainability strategies with the core of the business. To achieve this goal, countless efforts have been done. Therefore, this exhibition area integrates and categorizes these efforts, allowing visitors to search and understand easily on interactive screens.
In the environmental protection exhibition section, it can be roughly divided into eleven major areas, including improvement of manufacturing process, combination of AI with Simulation, low (zero) carbon energy transformation, plastic recycling and reuse, investment in new energy technologies and carbon capture, as well as carbon storage technology research and development. Most of these initiatives have been successfully implemented, and efforts will continue to be directed towards the development of new energy, carbon capture and storage technologies in the future. These works are towards achieving the goal of carbon neutrality by the year 2050.
In the social responsibility exhibition area, it showcases long-term investment in social welfare such as education, healthcare, culture, sports... elderly care, disaster relief, and other eleven major areas, with a total investment exceeding one hundred billion.
In terms of corporate governance, according to the 2022 Corporate Governance 100 Index ratings, six listed companies including Formosa Plastics, NanYa, Formosa Chemicals & Fibre, Formosa Petrochemical, Nanya Technology, Nan Ya PCB were selected. This corporate governance evaluation, NanYa Technology has been ranked in the top five percent of all listed companies in Taiwan for four consecutive years. It demonstrates company has earned recognition for the achievements in corporate governance.
7.Interactive Area for Photo-Taking
To enhance interactive fun and commemoration, an interactive area for photo-taking by visitors has been set up in the exhibition hall. Using the real scenery of the Mailiao Industrial Complex as a background, visitors only need to press the photo-taking button to receive a composite photo with the Mailiao Industrial Complex as background. There are many different kind of backgrounds can be easily chosen, such as Mailiao ECO Industrial Park, Mailiao Harbor,and so on. Additionally, visitors can adjust the size and placement of the image, allowing them to create their own unique commemorative photos.
Conclusion
Thank you for the President's guidance, which has inspired each department to work harder in preparation. The Mailiao Ecological Exhibition Hall has been completed, but there is still room for improvement. We will continue to optimize it, hoping the Mailiao Ecological Exhibition Hall can be perfected in the further.
After the President's inspection, the Mailiao Ecological Showroom is opened to the public! We eagerly welcome guidance from all sectors and appreciate any valuable suggestions to help us continue promoting energy conservation, emission reduction, and optimizing circular economy practices. We are working towards the goal of carbon neutrality. Also, we earnestly hope to integrate feasible technologies for environmental sustainability from all sectors and combine with local industries to promote local prosperity. By this effort, we hope to achieve the goal of coexistence, mutual prosperity, and symbiosis with local communities.