Utilizing Environmental Education to Create Environmental Niches Heping Industrial Port of TCC Wins the National Environmental Education Award in the Corporate Category

On June 26th, the 9th National Environmental Education Award, regarded as the highest honor in Taiwan's environmental education sector, held its award ceremony. TCC's Hoping Port Company, participating for the first time, won the only special prize in the private enterprise category. The Minister of Environmental Protection, Peng Chi-ming, personally presented the award to Chairman Edward Huang of Hoping Port Company.

The judges commended Hoping Port Company for its 20-year dedication to environmental protection, which has yielded significant natural benefits. During the port construction, to mitigate wave impacts, stone blocks from excavation sites were used to build protective slopes, enclosed corridors for transportation were implemented, and shore power systems were installed to reduce air pollution. Additionally, the company actively promoted coral restoration within the port area. Heping Port is recognized as an eco-port by the EU Maritime Organization and is the first port in Taiwan to obtain certification as an environmental education facility. Through regular ecological tours and environmental education courses, the port advocates for marine conservation and uses environmental education to solve problems and create environmental niches . Some judges noted that the industrial eco-port at Hoping could be considered one of the world's rare successful cases   of harmony between industry and nature.

Despite the significant damage incurred during the April 3rd   Hualien earthquake, requiring a large labor force, extensive reconstruction funding, and a lengthy recovery period, Hoping EcoPort remains committed to its environmental education and restoration budget.

Located in Heping Village at the northernmost tip of Hualien, Hoping Industrial EcoPort was established to serve the Heping Industrial Zone. Construction began in 1997, and the port started operations in 2003. For over 20 years, Hoping EcoPort has prioritized environmental sustainability, fostering a vibrant marine ecosystem in just two decades. In 2021, the port launched the "Bio Cube Coral Creation Project," using TCC's low-carbon cement to create eco-blocks submerged in the sea as artificial reefs. Coral fragments dislodged by typhoons or waves from the outer port seawall were transplanted onto these artificial reefs alongside initiating fish and shellfish ecological surveys. By February 2024, 1,001 corals had been restored, boasting a survival rate of 89%. Though coral occupies only 0.2% of the ocean's area, one-quarter of marine species rely on it. Coral restoration serves as the foundation for developing a healthy ecosystem.

TCC Chairman Nelson Chang   has actively promoted the idea that industries should strengthen communication with society and integrate harmoniously with local communities. In 2020, TCC opened parts of its Hualien Heping Cement Plant to the public, transforming it into the TCC DAKA Eco-Open Factory. Similarly, Heping Port initiated regular public tours through the DAKA Port and Plant Circular Economy Tours.

During an on-site review by the Ministry of Environmental Protection's judging panel, they noted that Hoping EcoPort collaborates with various organizations and entities. A strong and interconnected relationship exists among the three main units within the port. Judges highlighted the innovative nature of the TCC DAKA park, which emphasizes circular economy principles, allowing the industrial port to coexist with the environment. In 2022, Heping Port took a further step by obtaining an environmental education facility certification. It has designed three environmental education courses: "Large Ships Entering the Port," "Harbor Residents," and "Port Defenders." These courses promote environmental education through extracurricular activities, participation in science popularization events, climate change, disaster prevention and mitigation, and nature conservation. Between 2022 and 2023, nearly two thousand individuals participated in Heping Port's environmental education courses.

Additionally, Hoping EcoPort has established an internal environmental education system, extending these programs to employees and contractors to instill environmental conservation into the company's DNA. Hoping EcoPort collaborates and exchanges knowledge with numerous industry, government, and academic institutions, including the Hualien County Environmental Protection Bureau, the Taiwan Marine Environment Protection Association, Taipei University of Marine Technology, National Taiwan Ocean University, National Dong Hwa University, and Yi Yuan Industrial Co., Ltd. Hoping EcoPort believes that "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." Since obtaining certification as an environmental education facility, Hoping EcoPort has actively shared its experiences with other partners, hoping that more environmental education facilities will be established and make Taiwan's environmental education landscape more diverse.

Click to Watch the Video: Building a Home for Coral: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq_AZArAUQI