OREANDA-NEWS. December 22, 2011. China Airlines today announced it has been awarded the 2011 "Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Action Mark" Outstanding Achievement Award by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of the Executive Yuan, making it the first airline in Taiwan to receive this honor.

China Airlines participated in the "Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Action Mark" event for the first time this year. The three main assessment criteria were participation in the EPA's "Ecolife" network, energy conservation and carbon reduction self-management measures, and energy conservation and carbon reduction results. After a two-stage evaluation process consisting of document review and a panel presentation, China Airlines was selected among hundreds of companies in recognition of its achievements in reducing pollution and conserving resources.

As a member of the global community, China Airlines has devoted substantial efforts to environmental protection, carbon reduction, energy conservation, and greening in recent years. China Airlines is also the first airline in Taiwan to establish an environmental affairs working group and create an environmental policy. In 2007, China Airlines became the first Taiwanese airline to make "environmental protection" one of its operational focuses. In the same year, China Airlines designed its corporate headquarters at CAL Park according to green building guidelines of "greenery", "soil water content", "daily energy saving", and "water resource" In 2008, China Airlines began participating in the Pacific Greenhouse Gases Measurement Project. The following year, China Airlines completed inventory and verification of greenhouse gases following a system it developed with the EPA, and received a premier certificate. In 2010, China Airlines became the first airline in Taiwan to test a paperless system for air freight import declarations.

Within the company, China Airlines is promoting paperless meetings, environmental training, and comprehensive energy-saving practices. On its flights, China Airlines provides passengers with a suite of green services, including environmentally friendly napkins and reusable chopsticks and slippers, while also providing reusable cups to its cabin crew. In the next few years, China Airlines will roll out a new collection of biodegradable serving trays and cutlery.

In April, China Airlines formed the China Airlines Employee Volunteers Club, which has participated in the government's tree-planting activities and cleaned the shores of Zhuwei Fish Port of its own accord. Today's honor is yet another testament to the culture of sustainability taking root at China Airlines.