River Waste Rapid Screening Survey Program
Fubon Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
Project Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
INTRODUCTION
Approximately 80% of Taiwan’s river waste flows into the sea, posing a threat to natural ecosystems and compromising the health of the Taiwanese people. To elevate the role of the insurance industry from risk transfer to actively safeguarding public health, Fubon Life has taken the lead among Taiwanese corporations in partnering with the Society of Wilderness on the “River Waste Rapid Screening Survey Program”. Beginning in 2021, the company has embarked on a continuous river conservation effort for a minimum of five years, aiming to make steady progress by caring for at least one river each year.By the end of 2022, Fubon Life completed surveys in the Taichung Wushi and Hsinchu Touqian rivers. Through the publication of research reports, it aims to drive the relevant authorities (such as the River Management Office of the Water Resources Agency and the Ministry of Economic Affairs) to enhance river governance strategies and collaborate across sectors to remove waste from hotspots.
Through public-private cooperation, Fubon Life seeks to trace waste to its source, starting with waste reduction to protect rivers and marine environments. Additionally, the company organizes forums, engages in educational outreach, and promotes awareness to encourage more people to care about the issue and take action in response.
FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGY
As part of its commitment to the core spirit of insurance risk prevention, Fubon Life focuses on three main strategies: Enhancing Waste Removal Efficiency, Strengthening Sustainability Awareness, and Nationwide Guardianship Action. The company aligns its efforts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and establishes a collaborative network involving government agencies, environmental organizations, universities, media outlets, and local communities.Starting with the establishment of citizen scientist survey methods and mobilizing employees and the public to participate as volunteer survey teams, Fubon Life employs green and low-carbon transportation methods such as bicycles or walking to conduct key data monitoring and surveys on river waste distribution, quantity, and types. Through data integration, analysis, and the publication of research reports, it aims to facilitate public-private cooperation in improving waste removal efficiency. Furthermore, the company strives to lead and continuously reinforce public awareness of sustainability, ultimately transforming public support into action, and protecting water resources in various locations.
ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPACT
Over the past two years, Fubon Life has mobilized 60 employees and citizens to participate in surveys of two rivers. The findings of these surveys have provided key insights, such as identifying that 80% of the garbage is concentrated in 10-20% of the river sections and that plastic products constitute 80% of the pollution. These crucial insights have been acknowledged and supported by the supervisory authorities and serve as a reference for future actions.Building on this progress, Fubon Life has facilitated inter-agency collaboration to allocate manpower and budget resources more efficiently, leading to the effective removal of waste from hotspots and enhanced regional management efforts. Additionally, it actively collaborates with industries, the government, and academia to promote river conservation and daily plastic reduction. The company has organized a series of seminars to foster dialogue between experts and students, distribute electronic river conservation whitepapers to over 140 universities and colleges, produce engaging environmental education videos that have attracted over 4 million viewers, and provide training to the company’s employees to become environmental ambassadors.
These initiatives aim to encourage greater public participation in river patrol teams and conservation actions such as river cleaning and beach cleaning, thereby promoting a collective effort to protect Taiwan’s rivers.
FUTURE DIRECTION
Fubon Life continues to advance its efforts in different counties and cities across northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan. By incorporating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for investigations, the company aims to enhance the coverage of its surveys. Its goal is to focus on approximately 20 key rivers nationwide and assist the River Management Offices of 10 different regions in optimizing the management of their respective river basins. It also facilitates inter-departmental cooperation to improve river waste removal efficiency, allowing limited resources to be efficiently maximized.Furthermore, Fubon Life will work on facilitating the development of relevant policies and regulations to strengthen resource recycling and waste reduction at the source. The company provides an open platform for public-private dialogue, connecting various sectors to promote progressive river conservation strategies. This approach encourages more companies, local businesses, and community members to participate and collectively monitor improvements in river waste and take action to care for local rivers.
Established in 1987, Fubon Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (Fubon Life) is a leading
brand in the life insurance industry in Taiwan. Guided by the brand spirit
of “Be Positive, Enrich Lives,” the company is committed to providing
high-quality insurance services, which have garnered support from over
5 million policyholders across Taiwan.
Fubon Life aims to continue deepening its commitment to ESG and work together with the public to create a sustainable and prosperous future, striving to become a leading financial institution in Asia.
Fubon Life aims to continue deepening its commitment to ESG and work together with the public to create a sustainable and prosperous future, striving to become a leading financial institution in Asia.
