ECOVE Pioneers a Green Future with Onsite Environmental Education

─ Jun-Wei Chang, General Manager at Planning Department, ECOVE Environment Services Corporation, Group Resource Cycling Business 

─ Min-Hui Chiu, Engineer at Planning Department, ECOVE Environment Services Corporation, Group Resource Cycling Business

How can we contribute to the sustainability of the global environment through environmental education? In this article, we will share the various efforts of ECOVE , which belongs to the Group Resource Cycling Business (GRCB) of CTCI, and is the largest environmental resource management service company in Taiwan. Striving for circular economy with the three main business areas of "EfW and mechatronics maintenance,” “recycling & reuse,” and “renewable energy," we at ECOVE uphold four major principles: "Advancing Resource Cycling Efficiency," "Intelligent, Data-driven operational systems," "Active Participation in Environmental Policies and Agenda", and "Community Collaboration and Contribution" to make business operations more sustainable. Meanwhile, we provide the most reliable resource cycling services to our clients and actively integrating our core business to fulfill corporate social responsibilities.

Promoting Environmental Education to Pass on a Sustainable Lifestyle

Incineration plants used to be classified as NIMBY (not in my back yard) facilities. In order to break the stereotype against incineration plants and fulfill corporate social responsibilities, ECOVE has  arranged for guided visiting tours for community residents to increase community engagement, made carbon reduction data public on our webpage, and hold summer camps. In 2011, in response to the government's policy of promoting environmental education, we planned a new facility visit campaign. At the same time, we have applied for certification of environmental education facilities for each incineration plant according to their characteristics, cultural, and geographical features, giving them additional function of environmental education and promotion apart from their essential objective of waste treatment. By doing so, the incineration plant has been transformed from NIMBY facility to a YIMBY (yes, in my back yard) one.

In 2017, ECOVE engaged in further promotion of environmental education by organizing a series of activities with CTCI Education Foundation and the Global Views Monthly, including "Environmental Education, Care Unlimited" and "One Factory, One Footprint" events. We called for volunteers who are passionate about education to take the initiative to provide environmental education to the elementary schools around each plant and gradually expand the promotional scope, so that the concept of environmental protection can be consciously and systematically introduced to all the primary school students in Taiwan.

Combining Business and Vocation to Build up a Five-star Environmental Education Facility

ECOVE’s main business is resource cycling, based on which, we are actively transforming difficult environmental issues into experiential learning courses. Based on the characteristics of each incineration plant, their humanities and geographical features, we design diversified environmental education courses for each age group with regional advantages of each plant to promote environmental knowledge and green energy technologies. In addition to the improvement of facilities, we even encourages our staff to obtain instructor certification for environmental education facilities, turning professional working knowledge into entertaining teaching and great experiences for local residents and children. Since the Tainan plant became the first certified environmental education site among the six, municipalities, Keelung, Miaoli, Houli, and Nanke plants have been certified as environmental education sites as well; the five plants have attracted 552 environmental education visits to the plants between 2018 and 2021, with over 20,000 participants.

Through diligent efforts in environmental education, the Nanke and Miaoli plants were awarded five-star recognition for environmental education facility. With Nanke Plant, it  aims to convey the concept of sustainable production. Depending on the characteristics of the plant, three types of environmental education courses have been developed, which are water resources, waste treatment, and nature conservation. At the courses, we included the concept of recycling and reuse, for example, a fluidized incinerator model is made with equally scaled-down waste corrugated carton packaging materials. The simulation models are used as teaching aids to allow students to understand the incineration process through practical operation.
 
As for the Miaoli plant, we integrate its surrounding natural resources to develop diversified courses on ecological maintenance, including that for the mangrove forest of Zhonggang Creek, purple crow butterflies, and habitats of migratory birds. With the unique thematic exhibition space, interactive games and the multimedia functionality, we created an interesting space for environmental education by connecting knowledge of incineration plant operation with environmental protection. 

For its excellent education strength, the Miaoli plant has been continuously selected by CTCI Education Foundation (CTCI EF) as the venue for the "Taiwan in my eyes 120h" event for four consecutive years. An international event jointly organized by CTCI EF and the Center for Corporate Sustainability, "Taiwan in my eyes 120h" invites participants from all over the world to explore Taiwan's environmental achievements and new technologies in resource recycling and waste disposal under the direction of ECOVE’s volunteers, and make their voices heard internationally through social networking website such as Facebook, allowing the world to see Taiwan’s deep passion for sustainable development. 

One Factory, One Footprint— Sustainable Environmental Education

Since 2018, ECOVE has partnered with CTCI EF to launch a three-year environmental education project called "One Factory, One Footprint." Instead of passively receiving interviews, we take the initiative to promote environmental education in primary schools throughout Taiwan. It is our sincere hope to nurture the next generation and allow them to understand the bond between humans and the environment, further deepening their beliefs of being a friend to the environment, endorsing sustainable values and lifestyle.

Up until now, the "One Factory, One Footprint " project has been held in totally 86 sessions, reaching 10,875 students across Taiwan. These include students from Zhongxiao Elementary School of Keelung in the north, Kunding Primary School in Pingtung in the south, the offshore islands like Magong Elementary School in Penghu, Changle Primary School in the remote area of Keelung, Anhe Primary School in Chayi, to Jinhu Primary School in Tainan. We hope to continue promoting environmental education in students’ minds and to influence their families, so that the ideas of sustainable utilization of resources and environmental protection can be enrooted in the local neighborhoods.

Putting all this into practice, our colleagues continue to devote their enthusiasm to environmental education through age-specific curriculum design and environment DIY projects, such as handmade recycled paper fans, seeds reuse handicrafts, as well as the integration of various environmental issues at the moment, so that children could learn the principle of incineration, environmental labelling and waste classification through fun and engaging learning. We also make good use of the media to stress the importance of waste classification and  guide  children to form good living habits. Overall, our course aims to considerably raise the awareness for climate change, by recognizing the dilemma of limited environmental resources, and sowing the seeds of a common effort to mitigate global warming in the long term.

In the post-course feedback survey, the satisfaction rate exceeded 90%, which shows that the efforts of ECOVE's staff in course design are widely recognized by both students and teachers. In 2021, we launched a 5-year version for the "One Factory, One Footprint" project, focusing on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and uses teaching materials that are close to real life. After the first year of the project, nearly 48% of the sessions were invited again by the schools, demonstrating the good reputation of ECOVE's environmental education over the years.

Taking Deeper Roots & Passing on Sustainability

Environmental protection issues call for immediate public attention through education campaigns, so as to put them into practice in everyone’s daily life. We at ECOVE will uphold the brand spirit of "Every Resource Counts" and continue deepening and promoting environmental education. Through  cooperating with communities, schools, and various organizations, we have initiated diverse environmental education programs, including: incineration for power generation (Energy-from-Waste), sustainable living, and  recycling handicraft courses to promote the practice of green actions in daily life. We hope to deliver the notion of land-friendliness and sustainable for co-prosperity, and more positive momentum of environmental awareness into various social activities.

To apply and experience our environmental education courses, please feel free to contact our environmental education specialist by e-mail: ecovecsr@ecove.com.