Yang Ming Employees Around the Globe Join Forces for International Coastal Cleanup Day

Yang Ming Employees Around the Globe Join Forces for International Coastal Cleanup Day

In response to International Coastal Cleanup Day, Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) mobilized employees from its global offices to participate in beach and river cleanup activities. These efforts brought together 260 volunteers from South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, India, the Netherlands, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Together, these dedicated employees removed a total of 1,056 kilograms of marine litter, making a substantial contribution to environmental conservation.  
 
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), over 80% marine pollution originates on land. Among them, an estimated 20 million metric tons of plastic waste enter aquatic ecosystems each year. This not only poses a severe threat to marine life but also affects human health through the food chain. To raise awareness, Yang Ming partnered with Azure Alliance to establish a demonstration harbor at Bitou Fishing Harbor. Last year, 21 beach cleanups and 66 harbor cleanups were organized, resulting in the removal of 6,052 kilograms of marine litter. This year, Yang Ming expanded its cleanup initiatives to overseas locations, hoping to harness more collective energy to make a significant positive impact. Participating offices include Busan, Dubai, Antwerp, Mumbai, Nhava Sheva, Rotterdam, Jakarta, and Yang Ming's headquarters in Taiwan. Beach and river cleanups primarily took place in the cities where Yang Ming offices are located, demonstrating its commitment to local communities and fostering mutual prosperity. These cleanup activities also strengthened employee' awareness of plastic reduction and waste reduction, and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 14 - Life Below Water and SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities. 
 
To raise the awareness of marine conservation, Yang Ming has implemented various policies including retiring older ships, building new eco-friendly ships, adoption of clean energy solutions, and improving fleet efficiency management. In 2022, the carbon intensity of Yang Ming's fleet had already reduced significantly by 59.54% compared to 2008. Through the participation of vessel speed reduction program and coral restoration plan, Yang Ming continues to mitigate its impact on marine ecosystems while actively working towards environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility.