Waste Management

HIWIN considers about circular uses and recycling from the very first steps of product design. Our goal is to achieve zero waste and continue to promote ISO 14001 environmental system management. HIWIN currently generates two types of waste: general waste and hazardous industrial waste. We have established waste management processes to control both types of waste.

Vendor Management

Waste treatment vendors are contracted on an annual basis and signed to dispose of different waste categories for HIWIN. We continue to develop new vendors and regularly convene review sessions to formulate waste reduction programs and track subsequent progress.

Waste Disposal Audits

In 2021, HIWIN contracted 20 eligible waste treatment vendors and documented 18 qualified vendor personnel that have received HIWIN's on-site contract worker training. In 2021, we uncovered a total of 5 violations and have aided the contract workers and vendors to make necessary changes.

2017-2021 Waste Treatment Vendor Management

Item \ Year	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Eligible Vendors(Companies)	11	15	15	13	20
Qualified Vendor Personnel(People)	14	11	26	51	18
Violations(Cases)	1	1	2	3	5

Waste Output

In 2021, total waste output at HIWIN was 11,102 metric tons, of which 9,701 metric tons or 87% was recycled. General waste is either recycled for reuse or disposed of (incineration and landfill).

Significant Impact from Waste Input, Activities, and Output

2017~2021 Total Outsourced Industrial Waste

2017~2021 Total Outsourced Hazardous Industrial Waste

Note: HIWIN does not import or export any hazardous waste.

2017~2021 Total Outsourced General Industrial Waste

2017~2021 Total Recycled Waste

2017~2021 Total Waste to Landfill / Incinerators

Source Reduction Measures

At HIWIN, waste management follows the principles of recycle and reuse. We conduct life cycle assessment for the stages of raw materials, products, shipping, packaging, etc. to prevent ineffective waste treatment due to environmental impacts. In 2019, we received feedback from clients about their concerns with foaming agents, specifically their significant environmental impact and lack of effective recycling means. In response, we have started to replace foaming agents with EPE foams. In 2019, we already reduced our use of foaming agents by 63.59 metric tons. Since then, we've continued to look for new ways, including using vacuum packaging machines, cardboard paper, and EPE foam together to strengthen cardboard boxes. We originally planned to complete the design in 2021, but there were parts of the design that required testing and changes. We are confidant that the new designs will be completed and fully applied in 2022 Q2. The entire manufacturing process from the project was designed in consideration of life cycle concepts. Every stage, from design to disposal, has been integrated with green designs, which can drastically reduce waste disposal costs for customers, creating a win-win situation.

In 2021, we were able to reduce waste sludge by 56 MT, and waste oil by 168 MT, saving around NT$1.21 million. In 2022, we will continue to apply sludge drying processes and waste oil reduction practices.

2021 Achievements in Waste Reduction

Circular Economy Promoting

HIWIN understands the importance of developing strategies to transition to a circular economy as a response to issues of resource rarity and waste treatment. As such, we've reviewed manufacturing processes and technologies in an attempt to reduce waste output. We've also set a goal to roll out ISO 14001 environmental management systems at 75% of HIWIN locations and to identify environmental considerations by 2023. In the future, we will also ask suppliers to set targets for waste reduction and recycling.

Scrapped grinding wheels from HIWIN were originally sent to landfills. In 2021, we collaborated with Leelink Resource Technology Co., Ltd. to assess the viability of recycling grinding wheels into brick or cement materials. Leelink was able to recycle 29 MT of grinding wheels from HIWIN. We also outsourced sludge mixture recycling. Of the 7,472.95 MT of sludge waste generated, we were able to recycle 1,991.54 MT of sludge waste into asphalt concrete mixtures or cement products. Non-hazardous furnace dust and waste oil mixtures were also outsourced for recycling into cement products and mixtures through a curing process. Waste oil mixtures were recycled into recycled oil and auxiliary fuel products. An additional 8,434 MT was also recycled and reused outside of HIWIN, pushing our waste oil mixture recycling rate to over 76%.

New Uses for HIWIN Waste

Production Resources Recycling

In 2021, HIWIN launched the Grinding Wheel 3R Project in which we continued to develop new suppliers and apply reduction, renewal, and recycling to increase the service life of grinding wheels by three times. Grinding wheels for larger machines can be reworked for smaller machines later on, reducing grinding wheel expenses by around NT$8.03 million a year.

Green Trade Fair Set-ups

Growing discussions about global warming, climate change, and other environmental issues have inspired global industries to face sustainability topics, energy conservation, and carbon reduction. As such, HIWIN will also be applying these concepts when participating in trade fairs by adopting energy-efficient, eco-friendly practices to reduce our environmental impact and negative impact.

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