From Carbon Management to Ecological Care: TCC and Supplier Partners' Path to Sustainability

Yen-Chieh Tseng｜Researcher, Office of Responsibility and Sustainability

At the 2023 Supplier Convention, TCC Chairman Nelson Chang remarked, 'We are a big family. If suppliers encounter any difficulties, we are more than willing to offer support.' For TCC, promoting sustainable development is not something to pursue alone; instead, it requires collective efforts with supplier partners to achieve a broader positive impact. To fulfill its corporate social responsibility, TCC has actively pursued a low-carbon transition since 2017, focusing on three core businesses: Low-carbon Building Materials, Resource Recycling, and Green Energy. Although the supply chain accounted for only 13% of TCC's total carbon emissions in 2023, TCC still aspires to leverage its influence as a larger enterprise to support smaller partners. By collaborating with like-minded suppliers, TCC aims to drive carbon reduction across the entire value chain.

 

To drive sustainable actions among its business partners, TCC has incorporated the ESG performance of suppliers as part of its procurement criteria and set goals for sustainable supply chain management. TCC regularly collects and reviews suppliers' ESG performance, phasing out the suppliers that are substandard and uncooperative with improvement measures. Beyond setting these requirements, TCC actively enhances suppliers' sustainability capabilities through guidance and concrete support.

Zefeng Mining, located in Hualien and comprising only six employees, is a testament to how TCC leverages its influence to empower supplier partners. Lin Ruo-Yi, Deputy General Manager of Zefeng Mining, pointed out that the company began engaging with sustainability issues in 2020 due to TCC's influence. Initially struggling to kick off their ESG actions, they benefited from TCC’s education, training, and assistance provided by colleagues at TCC’s Ho-ping Power while filling out forms. This guidance enabled them to learn and establish norms. 'We hope to participate in environmental sustainability and social responsibility initiatives together with TCC,' Lin remarked.

Building Suppliers' Carbon Management Capabilities: Establishing the 'Green Value Chain Alliance'

Through regular Supplier GHG Inventory Counseling and GHG workshops, as well as training sessions at the annual Supplier Convention, TCC assists suppliers in enhancing their carbon inventory and carbon management capabilities. To unify the efforts of its supplier partners, TCC took a further step in 2024 by establishing the 'Green Value Chain Alliance' with 19 key partners, mainly in the transportation and raw material area. The alliance has committed to providing product carbon footprint information by 2025 and reducing carbon emissions by 10% by 2030. TCC will continue to rally more suppliers to join this initiative, working together to achieve a low-carbon transition.

 

Strengthening Human Rights Protection in the Supply Chain: Upholding the Spirit of 'Human-centered'

In 2023, TCC expanded its human rights survey to include suppliers. Furthermore, in 2024, TCC proactively aligned with the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) by initiating supplier human rights due diligence. This process involves identifying potential human rights risks every three years and developing appropriate mitigation and remedial measures to ensure comprehensive human rights protection across the supply chain.

Additionally, TCC conducts physical Sustainability Governance Workshops to enhance awareness among suppliers about annual high-risk issues, providing education, training, and opportunities for exchange. By working together, TCC aims to build mutually beneficial and prosperous long-term relationships with its supplier partners.

Initiating Biodiversity Protection Programs: Achieving Co-Prosperity with Nature

TCC's core mining business is inherently connected to nature, and the same applies to its raw material suppliers within the supply chain. TCC actively implements ecological conservation efforts, including long-term support for the world-class Dr. Cecilia Koo Botanic Conservation Center in Gaoshu township of Pingtung, and the Coral Rehabilitation Project at Hoping Port.

Extending its commitment to the supply chain, TCC launched the Little Tern Conservation Project at the Ho-ping Power Plant in Hualien in 2024. Collaborating with 10 local suppliers and the Wild Bird Society of Hualien, TCC aims to increase the local Little Tern breeding success rate by 10% within three years, working towards achieving Nature Positive. Additionally, through environmental education and activities, TCC seeks to raise awareness of ecological protection among local employees, residents, and suppliers.

Little Tern Conservation Project - Hoping Welcomes You

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AUTHOR

Yen-Chieh Tseng｜Researcher, Office of Responsibility and Sustainability

A new-generation girl who is passionate, adventurous, and brave to explore. She is enthusiastic about nature and hopes to contribute to the Earth’s sustainability.