On the tenth anniversary of the 311 earthquake in Japan, Fukushima Prefecture, which suffered a nuclear disaster, is attempting to rise from the ashes by developing renewable energy such as wind power generation and solar energy, and strives to fully adopt renewable energy for power generation before 2040. According to the Asahi Shimbun, according to the power research statistics of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Fukushima Prefecture ranked first among all prefectures in Japan in terms of solar power generation capacity in April last year, and ranked eighth in terms of wind power generation. Fukushima began to develop renewable energy by expanding solar power generation in the prefecture, including encouraging the installation of solar panels on rooftops, abandoned golf courses and other places. Minamisoma City, which was engulfed by the tsunami on March 11, 2011, now also has a large number of wind turbines and solar panels. Source: Environmental Information Center

Panel giant AUO (2409-TW) said today (5th) that extreme climate conditions have made the global industry chain pay more attention to the use of water resources. AUO has also continued to promote green management. Its Taichung Zhongke plant has obtained Taiwan's first ISO 46001 water efficiency management system certification. Earlier this year, the company also increased its overall process water recovery rate to nearly 95%. AUO stated that it began developing sustainable water management technologies in 2015, launching Taiwan's first independently developed innovative process wastewater full recovery technology. It continues to develop more cost-effective water resource solutions to reduce dependence on natural water resources. In 2019, it also included water resource issues in its key climate risk management projects. AUO further noted that, in response to recent production capacity increases, it has been striving to meet its 2025 water conservation and water conservation goals ahead of schedule. At the beginning of this year, the overall process water recovery rate reached 95%. In response to the drought this year, a multi-faceted backup mechanism was activated, including the establishment of a water monitoring center, an expert consultation network, water truck preparation, and water source exploration to reduce production risks caused by water shortages. Looking ahead, in addition to its subsidiary, Yupei Sustainability, continuing to expand water recycling opportunities, AUO itself is also collaborating with the Taichung City Government. The Taichung Shuinan Water Resources Center is expected to provide AUO with 9,400 tons of recycled water per day, creating a diversified production water source. The ISO 46001 water efficiency management system was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It establishes management indicators and uses the Plan-Do-Check (PDCA) process.

In the printing industry, the "product-as-a-service" business model has long been popular in commercial printers and copiers, compared to home printers and copiers. Rather than owning the machines, many companies are opting to purchase the printing functionality and related services, such as maintenance and repair, to reduce operating expenses. This business model has also led to the rapid development of circular economy-related industries in this sector, such as the remanufacturing, reuse, and recycling of related components and modules, maximizing material recycling rates and economic benefits. In this context, this article will introduce APD International Ltd. (APDI), a specialist in electromechanical module remanufacturing within the printing industry chain. A small and medium-sized enterprise with over 30 years of remanufacturing experience, APDI primarily specializes in the remanufacturing of electromechanical modules for medium- and high-volume printing systems, including xerographic and fusing modules. The company was founded in Cinderford, England in 1985 as a developer of polymer paint rollers. It later focused on the refurbishment and remanufacturing of roller modules. In view of the rapid development of printing technology and recognizing the challenges and business opportunities, APDI extended its technology to more complex electromechanical modules in printing systems, thus becoming a

The global COVID-19 pandemic has been raging for more than a year, and the demand for masks needed for epidemic prevention has also increased significantly, exacerbating another pandemic problem: plastic pollution. Therefore, people in the United States, France and Australia have found ways to recycle them, but the challenge remains daunting. According to a survey by the American Chemical Society, about 129 billion disposable masks are currently used worldwide each month. These masks are made of polypropylene, elastic bands and metal. After use, they are usually thrown into the trash and landfilled or incinerated, but they may also be littered and pollute streets, rivers and oceans, thereby harming wildlife. Agence France-Presse reported that researchers and companies are looking for ways to make good use of used masks. For example, Australian researchers are looking for ways to make masks into paving materials, some people in the United States are making benches from recycled masks, and there are companies in France that recycle masks into car mats. However, these pioneering businesses are still a long way from being profitable. Source: Environmental Information Center

At the Earth Day Summit on April 22, 2021, US President Joe Biden pledged to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. Plastics have long been a "special case" when it comes to recycling. Steel, aluminum, glass, cardboard, rubber, and paper typically have recycling rates of up to 70%, but plastics have long been stuck at around 10%. Consequently, President Biden's pledge to reduce emissions will put the plastics industry under pressure from two fronts: accelerating the use of recycled plastics as a raw material. Biden's pledge to accelerate the growth of electric vehicles will necessitate the closure of oil refineries and the elimination of naphtha, the upstream fuel used in plastic production. This will generate nearly 250 million tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to 50 million vehicles. Additionally, the use of single-use plastics generates nearly 7.5 million tons of emissions and results in waste incineration. Furthermore, consumers and brand owners will face increasing pressure to address the issue of plastic waste. Ramesh Ramachandran, CEO of Equate/MEGlobal, mentioned that public policy is a mandatory action to restrict the sale and export of raw plastics. Essentially, exports are not allowed unless the pellets contain at least 30% recycled content and are recycled at the original location. To slow down and address the changes in the situation, new business models must be developed based on circular value chains.

France's National Assembly has voted to eliminate some domestic routes in an effort to reduce carbon emissions. If the journey between two destinations can be completed by train in under 2.5 hours, the route will be eliminated. The National Assembly, equivalent to the lower house of parliament, approved the measure on the 10th. The bill will now require the Senate's approval and a final vote by the National Assembly for formal passage. If enacted, routes between Paris and Nantes, Lyon, and Bordeaux will be eliminated, but connecting flights will not be affected. The elimination of short-haul domestic routes is part of a sweeping package of legislation introduced by the French government to combat climate change, a key initiative championed by President Emmanuel Macron during his tenure. According to AFP, MPs representing southwestern France strongly opposed the bill, but others argued that eliminating short-haul routes is insufficient and that stricter regulations are needed to eliminate some of the country's most polluting routes, such as those between Paris and the southern cities of Nice, Toulouse, and Marseille. Source: Environmental Information Centre

The Japanese government's decision to dilute the Fukushima nuclear waste water and discharge it into the sea in two years has caused backlash from neighboring countries. The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it will send an international investigation team composed of experts from various countries to Japan to verify whether the practice of discharging nuclear waste water is safe. Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported that Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshi Kajiyama held a video conference with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi on the 14th. The Japanese government formally commissioned the IAEA to assist in handling matters related to the discharge of nuclear waste water. Grossi said that in order to resolve doubts, the IAEA will send an investigation team to Japan to verify whether the practice of discharging nuclear waste water is safe. Members may invite experts from various countries and regions to participate, discuss all concerns and conduct technical analysis. He said that he expects to discuss the composition of the investigation team with the Japanese government this summer and send it to Japan as soon as possible. Source: Environmental Information Center

The Guardian reports that according to a new study, "The Plastic Waste Makers Index," 20 companies—both state-owned and multinational, including oil and gas giants and chemical giants—produce 55% of the world's single-use plastic waste, exacerbating the climate crisis and causing environmental disasters. The study, a collaboration between the Minderoo Foundation in Australia, Wood Mackenzie, the London School of Economics, and the Stockholm Environment Institute, reveals for the first time the companies that produce the most polymers. These polymers are used to make single-use plastic products like masks, plastic bags, and PET bottles, which quickly end up polluting oceans, being incinerated, or ending up in landfills. The report also reveals that Australia is the largest per capita producer of single-use plastic waste, ahead of the United States, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. ExxonMobil is the world's largest producer of single-use plastic waste, contributing 5.9 million tons globally. Dow, the world's largest chemical company, headquartered in the United States, generated 5.5 million tons of plastic waste, while Sinopec, a Chinese oil and gas company, produced 5.3 million tons. Eleven of these companies are located in Asia, four in Europe, three in North America, one in Latin America, and one in the Middle East. Their plastic production is financed by top global banks, including Barclays, HSBC, Bank of America, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase.

Previous studies have found microplastics—plastic fragments or fibers smaller than 5mm—in a variety of foods, including tea, salt, seaweed, milk, seafood, honey, sugar, beer, vegetables, and soft drinks. They're also found in tap water, and even more so in bottled water. Microplastics have been found in most places scientists have visited, both on land and in the ocean, including the most remote. Microplastics threaten wildlife and can even cause death. But how exactly do these ubiquitous plastics affect human health? Professor Mark Taylor, an environmental pollution expert at Macquarie University in Australia, said, "No one really knows the answer. But the absence of evidence doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist." Scientists have found microplastics in rice from various countries. Last week, an analysis by Australian scientists found microplastics in every sample of rice purchased from supermarkets and grocery stores in Queensland, regardless of whether the rice was grown in Thailand, India, Pakistan, or Australia, and whether it was packaged in plastic or paper. Washing rice can remove some microplastics, but this study used specially filtered water for washing, while most households only have access to tap water, which contains trace amounts of plastic. Microwave-cooked rice contained the most microplastics, but the amount was small overall. Studies have shown that unwashed rice typically contains 3.7 mg of microplastics per 100 g, while washed rice contains 2.8 mg. Instant rice contains 13.3 mg of plastic per 100 g. A grain of rice weighs about 30 mg.

Cleaning the beaches of Xiaoliuqiu, Pingtung, and exchanging them for beach currency, which can be redeemed for discounts, has become a unique travel experience for tourists visiting Xiaoliuqiu in recent years. This trend of encouraging plastic reduction has reached mainland Taiwan, with Donggang also experiencing a surge in responsible tourism. This inaugural beach currency event, promoted by the Pingtung County Government's Department of Transportation and Tourism, brought together industry, government, and academia, including the Dapeng Bay Tourism Industry Alliance, teachers and students from Donggang Maritime School, and the general public. The event involved a beach cleanup at Donggang Zhenhai Park and a beach currency exchange competition. The Donggang beach currency, also painted by Lin Pei-yu, is made from discarded bottle caps with low recycling value. The county government stated that the first batch of "Donggang Limited Edition" beach currency features Xiaoliuqiu's sea turtle, symbolizing the expansion of Xiaoliuqiu's "plastic reduction to save the ocean" spirit to Donggang on mainland Taiwan, allowing Donggang to contribute to the promotion of responsible tourism awareness. The county government stated that 14 businesses in Donggang have already responded to the call to become currency exchange points at Donggang Beach. The first batch of limited-edition beach bottle caps will be redeemable for discounts at hotels, restaurants, beverage shops, and ice cream shops. Source: Environmental Information Center

PwC released the "2021 Global Consumer Insights Pulse Survey" on March 31, 2021. The survey found that the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened consumers' awareness of sustainability, and consumers will focus more on products that meet ESG values ​​when making purchasing choices. In addition, even though the pandemic has stimulated the development of online shopping, for consumers who make regular purchases on a daily or weekly basis, physical store consumption is still the first choice. Key findings - Compared with consumers who work in the office, consumers who work from home most of the time generally prefer a more digital and environmentally friendly lifestyle. - Compared with older consumers, younger consumer groups are more likely to shop online. - Consumers with a higher awareness of health and safety shop less frequently in physical stores because they are afraid of contracting diseases. - Consumers in the Asia-Pacific region have a more sustainable mindset, but their awareness of health and safety when shopping in physical stores is weaker. Liu Jingqing, chairman of Zicheng Innovation Consulting, said that the retail industry, like other industries, must also focus on meeting consumer needs. According to this survey, the COVID-19 epidemic is creating a new consumer group; the emergence of this new group may have a long-term impact on consumer attitudes and behaviors, and therefore, it is particularly important to meet consumer needs. The epidemic has given rise to four emerging consumer behaviors. The COVID-19 epidemic has led to the implementation of lockdowns in various countries, which has brought about significant changes in consumer behavior and even spawned new consumer trends.

The Guardian reported that a study published in Environmental Research Letters found that massive human greenhouse gas emissions are thinning Earth's stratosphere. Since the 1980s, the atmosphere has already lost 400 meters of thickness, and if carbon emissions are not significantly reduced, it could shrink by about a kilometer by 2080. This thinning could affect the operation of satellites, GPS navigation systems, and radio communications. A study published in April of this year suggested that the human-caused climate crisis has shifted the orientation of Earth's axis, with the massive melting of glaciers altering the distribution of Earth's weight. The stratosphere lies between 20 and 60 kilometers above the Earth's surface, beneath which lies the troposphere. Humans live in the troposphere, where carbon dioxide warms and expands the air, pushing up the lower boundary of the stratosphere. However, when carbon dioxide enters the stratosphere, it actually cools the air, causing it to contract. Juan Añel, a researcher at the University of Vigo in Spain and one of the authors of the study, said that the shrinking of the stratosphere shows that the severity of the human-induced climate crisis has reached a planetary scale. "This proves that we are disturbing the atmosphere up to 60 kilometers thick." Scientists have known that the height of the troposphere will increase with the increase of carbon emissions, and have inferred that the stratosphere will become thinner as a result. This new study is the first to prove this inference. The study shows that the global stratosphere has been thinning since at least the 1980s when satellite data was first collected. The ozone layer, which absorbs ultraviolet rays from the sun, is located in the

Dahu Township in Miaoli County is Taiwan's largest strawberry-producing area. However, after the strawberry season, the nearly 250 metric tons of discarded agricultural film produced annually are difficult to recycle. The strawberry plastic sheets are piled up in landfills and are unused, causing significant headaches for the local government. The Department of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are working to address this issue by encouraging farmers to clean and organize the plastic sheets before recycling them, increasing their willingness to be recycled by downstream manufacturers. Using "agricultural film recycling machines" can achieve greater efficiency, and a demonstration was held in the township on the 31st. After the strawberry season, farmers begin removing used agricultural film, but it's often clogged with dirt, plant stumps, and other foreign matter. Factories, concerned about the cost of cleaning and organizing, are reluctant to recycle them. Consequently, the strawberry plastic sheets have nowhere to go and are piled up in landfills or on the roadside, becoming an unsightly sight and an environmental burden. The Department of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Protection Agency are collaborating to promote "agricultural film recycling machines," hoping that farmers' proactive pre-processing of the plastic sheets will increase manufacturers' willingness to recycle them. The Crop Environment Division of the Agricultural Materials Division of the Department of Agriculture and Food stated that the demonstration is being held to help farmers complete the initial cleaning and folding of agricultural film while recycling it. Individual farmers applying for a machine will receive a one-third subsidy for each unit. Groups applying, such as cooperatives, farmers' associations, and production and marketing teams, will receive half the cost. Applications for the subsidy must be submitted to the farmers' association and then to the branch office for approval by the Department of Agriculture and Food. Source: Environmental Information Center

Apple announced today (15th) the launch of the Restore Fund, an industry-first carbon removal program that will directly invest in forestland projects to remove carbon from the atmosphere while generating financial returns for investors. Apple stated on its official website that this $200 million (approximately NT$5.67 billion) fund, jointly launched with Conservation International and Goldman Sachs, will strive to remove at least 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, equivalent to the amount of fuel consumed by more than 200,000 passenger cars. It also demonstrates a viable financial model to help expand investment in forest restoration. The Restore Fund is part of Apple's goal to achieve carbon neutrality in its value chain by 2030. Apple will directly eliminate 75% of carbon emissions from its supply chain and products by 2030, and this fund will remove carbon from the atmosphere to help address Apple's remaining 25% of carbon emissions. Source: Environmental Information Center

As major tech companies announce carbon reduction targets, streaming giant Netflix recently announced its goal to achieve net-zero emissions by the end of 2022. Netflix's internal report indicates that most of its carbon footprint last year came from film and television production and corporate operations. 50% of Netflix's carbon footprint comes from film and television production, and 40% comes from corporate operations. According to The Independent, Netflix published its "2020 Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Report" on the 30th of last month, outlining how it will "reduce, retain, and remove carbon" and invest in nature-related work. Its climate targets include direct emissions (Scope 1), indirect emissions (Scope 2), and other indirect emissions (Scope 3), which are generally sufficient to illustrate a company's impact on society. The report indicates that Netflix's carbon footprint in 2020 was 1.1 million tons, equivalent to a city with approximately 150,000 households, but lower than in 2019, primarily due to the postponement of filming plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Netflix said 50% of its carbon footprint comes from film and television production, 40% from business operations, and about 5% from streaming content through data centers. Netflix had revenue of $6.6 billion last quarter and has about 204 million users worldwide. Compared with other technology companies, Netflix has been slow to set net zero goals. Microsoft announced a year ago that it would achieve negative carbon emissions by 2030.

Denim brand LEVI’S launched the "Wellthread Ultimate Environmentally Friendly Series" this season, using 55% hemp fiber blending technology, claiming to be the most environmentally friendly series of clothing since the brand was founded a hundred years ago. In the spring and summer of 2021, LEVI’S "Wellthread Ultimate Environmentally Friendly Series" launched a variety of men's and women's trousers and denim jackets. Two of them, the "502™ Taper Tapered Narrow-Tube Denim Pants" and the "High Loose Ultimate High-Waisted Straight-Tube Denim Pants", are products that combine organic cotton and the innovative man-made fiber "Circulose". Because this series of products uses the "Circulose" material, LEVI’S regards it as a major milestone in its more than five years of investment in the field of environmental friendliness. "Circulose" is a natural fiber produced by "re:newcell", an innovative biomaterial company in Stockholm, Sweden. It is made of 100% recycled cotton textiles and does not need to be mixed with other fibers to make new clothing products. Source: Environmental Information Center

The natural ocean soundscape is crucial to the health of marine life, but a first-of-its-kind comprehensive literature review finds that human activities are creating increasingly loud and harmful noise in the ocean. Marine life communicates through sound, and noise pollution acts like an "acoustic fog" in the ocean. Scientists say noise is as harmful as overfishing, pollution, and the climate crisis, yet is often overlooked. The good news is that, compared to other issues, noise can be stopped immediately and has fewer lingering effects. Marine animals can hear at a much greater distance than their vision or smell, making sound integral to every aspect of their lives. From whales to shellfish, marine life relies on sound to catch prey, navigate, defend their territories, attract mates, return to breeding grounds, and warn of attacks. Noise pollution increases the risk of death and, in extreme cases, such as explosions, can cause death directly. Researchers say that carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion are making the oceans more acidic, which in turn causes sound to travel farther through the water, making the oceans noisier. However, when maritime traffic decreased significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marine mammals and sharks began to migrate to previously noisy areas, suggesting that marine life can quickly recover from noise pollution. "From plankton to sharks, all organisms can sense the sounds in their environment," said Professor Steve Simpson of the University of Exeter in England. Animals must communicate through sound, and noise pollution acts like an "acoustic fog" in the ocean.

CNN reports that Ingka Group, the largest shareholder of IKEA, the global furniture retailer, recently announced the purchase of approximately 4,451 hectares (approximately 6,233 football fields) of forest in Georgia. The land will be designated as permanent forest, protecting over 350 plant and animal species from forced displacement due to development. This will also allow the restoration of the "Wonder Tree" that once covered half of Georgia. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, before immigration, the longleaf pine, known as the "Wonder Tree," covered approximately 36.42 million hectares (approximately 51 million football fields) of land in North America. In Georgia, longleaf pine even covered half the state. Today, due to relentless logging, the longleaf pine population in the United States remains less than 4% of its peak, making it an endangered species. Conservation groups say that after the permanent forest is designated, they will continue to develop forest-based industries, hoping to restore Georgia's once lush green oasis. Source: Environmental Information Center