Far Eastern Department Stores, Asia Cement Corporation, FE SOGO Department Stores, Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls win 9 Asia Corporate Social Responsibility Awards from ASIA

        The Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards (ASIA) will hold its 2024 annual awards ceremony on June 28th, featuring affiliated enterprises under Far Eastern Group Far Eastern Department Stores 、 Asia Cement Corporation 、 FE SOGO Department stores 、Big City Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls Received a total of 9 awards. Among them, Far Eastern Department Stores won the dual awards of "Social Welfare Development Award" and "Corporate Sustainability Report Award", Asia Cement Corporation won the "Health and Hygiene Promotion Award", FE SOGO Department Stores won the "Human Investment Award", "Green Leadership Award" and "Social Welfare Development Award", while Big City Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls not only won the "Social Welfare Development Award" and "Green Leadership Award", but also received the highest personal recognition of "Responsible Enterprise Leader Award", becoming the first leader award winner in Taiwan's department store retail industry.

        Far Eastern Department Stores has won a total of 10 ASIA awards for five consecutive years

                Far Eastern Department Stores has won the Area award for five consecutive years and once again won the "Social Welfare Development Award" and "Corporate Sustainability Report Award" this year. In addition, they won the "Top 10 Most Sustainable Department Stores in the World" and "Top 3 Most Innovative Department Stores in the World" awards from the International Department Store Federation (IGDS) in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Their active implementation of sustainability has been highly recognized internationally, and their contribution to enhancing the visibility of Taiwan's department store industry is indispensable.

        Far Eastern Department Stores has entered its 57th year this year. Since its establishment, it has continuously kept pace with the times, created a new business model for department stores, and created a novel shopping mall appearance that has left a deep impression on the public. Nancy Hsu President stated that innovation and transformation are the foundation of Far Eastern Department Stores' operations. The company should not only create good profit performance for shareholders, but also spare no effort in practicing sustainable ESG and leaving a trustworthy brand impression in the minds of consumers.

        To promote corporate sustainability development, Far Eastern Department Stores has launched its second five-year ESG plan, focusing on "100% energy conservation, carbon reduction, green energy, waste reduction, and green procurement" in the area of environmental sustainability; In terms of social welfare, the strategy of "each store becoming a local public welfare platform" will be implemented. In 2023, 805 public welfare activities will be held in all stores across Taiwan, and employees will be encouraged to participate in daily work; In terms of corporate governance, we actively create paperless offices, have completed the establishment and upgrade of digital management systems, and implemented multiple action projects, promoting a 14% increase in employee productivity. In March 2024, the first stop plan of the "Tree Planting Year" was launched, planting 40 Taiwan endemic species of Xiaonan trees at Wensheng Elementary School in Banqiao District, New Taipei City, adjacent to the company headquarters, to deepen ESG's presence in the area. In addition to planting trees, Far Eastern Department Stores also promotes employee carbon reduction internally. It is the first department store in Taiwan to quantify the carbon reduction benefits of employees and systematically record their carbon reduction achievements. In the future, it will gradually expand to partners such as counter staff, and all employees will work together to reduce carbon emissions and move towards the 2050 net zero goal.

        On the other hand, Far Eastern Department Stores holds the "Love Sharing - Love Christmas Public Welfare Lighting" event every Christmas Eve at Far Eastern Department Stores in Tainan. For 15 consecutive years, it has integrated the public welfare resources of more than 20 groups such as counter manufacturers, community organizations, and local governments to raise love gifts for students. It has invited nearly 3500 rural area students to celebrate the festival, with Douglas Hsu and Nancy Hsu Presidents joining in and spreading love for rural areas.

        Asia Cement Corporation wins international award six times for occupational safety management certification

                The occupational safety and health management organization and system of Asia Cement Corporation are well-established, in line with the SDGs and United Nations Sustainability Development goals. With the project of "promoting workplace health and safety systems and implementing workplace well-being", it has won the "Health and Health Promotion Award" and is the sixth time it has been honored by the ARE. K. Y. Lee President stated that this award is a recognition of Asia Cement Corporation, which will continue to invest resources to improve its occupational safety management standards and promote health-related programs to ensure that every employee works in a safe and friendly environment.

        The specific measures taken by Asia Cement Corporation include linking the changes in compensation for senior executives with the improvement of occupational safety and health performance, and implementing the ISO 45001 occupational safety and health management system in all its locations and subsidiaries in Taiwan, and completing third-party verification with a coverage rate of 100%. As the only cement company in Taiwan that has passed the performance review of the Ministry of Labor's occupational safety and health management system, Asia Cement Corporation has assisted its peers and downstream pre mixed factories in improving their occupational safety management efficiency through a safety partner program. Taking 2023 as an example, members participating in the program not only reduced the frequency of disability injuries by 75% and the severity of disability injuries by 98%, but also reduced the total injury index by 67%.

        In view of the advent of the AI intelligent era, Asia Cement Corporation has established a smart industrial safety platform many years ago, implementing technological disaster prevention and real-time management, including biometric identification of personnel entering and leaving, specific construction area control, and on-site inspection and positioning points, to enhance safety with new technology. At the same time, it has developed protective equipment such as cement rotary kiln protective covers and automatic reset barriers, which not only effectively reduce industrial safety risks, but also detect and handle potential hazards in real time.

        Asia Cement Corporation attaches great importance to employee health management, providing free health check ups that are superior to regulations, and regularly inviting professional medical specialists and nurses to provide on-site services, offering health consultations. In addition, it also organizes diverse employee health promotion activities. In the future, it will continue to innovate and create a more perfect working environment for employees, giving back to society through actions and promoting sustainability development.

        FE SOGO Department Stores holds the highest award record in Taiwan's department store industry, winning 15 AREA awards over the years

                FE SOGO Department stores have been recognized by ASIA for six consecutive years and have won three major awards this year, including the "Human Investment Award" for five consecutive years, the "Green Leadership Award" for the fifth time, and the "Social Welfare Development Award" for the Small Farmers Exhibition. Since the first year of CSR in 2015, FE SOGO Department stores have received a total of 15 ARE awards, demonstrating the recognition of their long-term commitment to sustainability development.

        Sophia C.W. Huang Chairman stated that FE SOGO Department stores and above have standardized their self requirements, independently issued sustainability reports for 10 consecutive years, established the first "Sustainability Development Office" in the department store, conducted cross departmental communication through dedicated units, implemented sustainability strategies and projects, and hoped to become a green model for the retail service industry. In 2023, the company's revenue will be strong, making it the only department store with double-digit growth. At the same time, it will not forget to exert its influence, actively solve social and environmental problems, and set four records for Taiwan's department stores, including winning the National Enterprise Environmental Protection Award silver level or above five times, becoming a TCFD Supporter, reducing a large amount of paper used for consolidation and sales details and credit card signing, and using FSC forest certified paper materials for gift vouchers. It will continue to promote low-carbon operations, introduce AI technology to improve energy management systems, and promote digital and green dual axis transformation.

        To provide customers with a green consumption experience, FE SOGO Department stores has pioneered the sustainable selection of "SOGO Sustain. Good products are easy to choose", strictly selecting environmentally friendly products and achieving a net zero green lifestyle through consumption. In the same year, SOGOplus, the only comprehensive online shopping website in Taiwan with ESG as its brand spirit, was launched to support local quality products, encourage suppliers to ship in bulk, promote the OMO business model of "online purchase, offline pickup", and reduce logistics carbon emissions. In terms of human resources investment, FE SOGO Department stores has continuously increased salaries for three years to encourage colleagues, issued a sustainability declaration and human rights policy to promote DEI, strengthened maternal care measures, and aligned occupational safety and health management with international standards. It has won the HR Asia Best Employer Award, Women's Enthusiast Best DEI Enterprise Award, and other annual top ten awards and certifications.

        In addition to generating revenue, FE SOGO Department stores also shape a distinct sustainable style and become a local influence base. Since 2018, hundreds of small agricultural exhibitions have been held to create the "number one brand of department store small agricultural exhibitions". With a strict selection and guidance mechanism, we aim to cultivate social and entrepreneurial enterprises, build a bridge for small farmers to communicate with customers, and cultivate a growing customer base year by year.

        Big City Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls has won six consecutive wins and won the ASIA 3 award

                This year, Big City Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls has once again won the ASIA "Social Welfare Development Award" and "Green Leadership Award" for its two projects, "Big City, Big Stage - A Stage for Youth to Shine" and "Big City, Big Green - Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls' Sustainable Operation". Chair Li Jingfang has also been awarded the ASIA Asia "Responsible Corporate Leader Award". Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls has won 9 Asian Cups for six consecutive years. The special award presented at the conference shows Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls' record breaking performance and positive impact, which has been highly recognized.

        Chairman Li Jingfang stated that Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls integrates arts and cultural education into their corporate public welfare DNA, utilizing spatial advantages to construct diverse dream stages and build bridges connecting young artists from around the world. To date, they have held over 630 art education activities, injecting artistic nutrients into the city and cultivating talents. The Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls stage has also nurtured talented players from all walks of life, among whom contestant Sun Zhen will advance to the Olympic palace. In the Greater Hsinchu area, Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls is not just a shopping center, but also a fortress for dreamers to build their dreams.

        While connecting love and charity, Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls also actively introduces various energy-saving projects, leading the entire department store retail industry in Taiwan. Together with TPC, they launched a 100 day light off plan, independently imported greenhouse gases, conducted carbon footprint checks, and verified energy-saving effects through third-party verification, becoming the first shopping center in the industry in Taiwan to successfully apply for micro carbon credits.

        Chairman Li Jingfang utilized her unique business strategy and led the team from the preparation stage of the mall to analyze and grasp the consumption trends and demographic changes of Taozhumiao. She clearly positioned the entire customer group of households, solved the problems of product, mall flow and transportation, fully utilized space, connected life, fashion, food, and entertainment one-stop shopping, provided the best service, and created Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls, which became the preferred gathering place for Taozhumiao customers of all ages. It was well deserved to receive the "Responsible Enterprise Leader Award" from ASIA.

        In addition, Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls attracts over 15 million consumers every year to browse product discounts and event information in real-time when entering the venue through a fully functional app and strong social force. One click services can complete checkout within 3 seconds, automatically deliver electronic coupons, and manage multiple parking payments, effectively reducing paper usage in every operational process. In addition, we have guided nearly 50 food and beverage counters to obtain the "Environmental Friendly Restaurant" certification, and promoted environmental concepts through courses and activities, leading customers and supplier partners to implement sustainable operations together. The various actions of loving the earth have made Far Eastern Big City Shopping Malls stand out and become an Asian model for the ASIA 'Green Leadership Award'. In the future, we will continue to uphold the corporate beliefs of diversity, fairness, and inclusiveness, lead our team to improve ESG corporate sustainability development, practice corporate social responsibility, and work together with partners to maximize our influence.

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