BAS moves forward with human rights code of conduct for Taiwan industry
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https://www.bike-eu.com/49493/bas-moves-forward-with-human-rights-code-of-conduct-for-taiwan-industry
TAIPEI, Taiwan - For the second year in a row the Bicycling Alliance for Sustainability (BAS) held a forum during the Taipei Cycle show to update the industry on the progress of the initiatives of its members. This year a focal point was the introduction of human rights code of conduct signed by all 82 members of the BAS to protect workers rights within the bicycle industry in Taiwan. The occasion was somewhat marred later in the day when a protest contradicted the progress being made.
The negative state of play for migrant workers in Taiwan’s bicycle industry was recently highlighted in a Le Monde report, which was highlighted on Bike Europe. According to LeMonde, debt bondage, passport retention, abusive living conditions, withheld wages, threats and intimidation have been common practice. This led to rebuttals from the Taiwan Bicycle Association (TBA) and Giant Group, who stated the intent of signing a code of conduct to protect all workers in the country’s bicycle industry.
Following on from an inaugural BAS event last year at Taipei Cycle show, this year's forum focused on human rights and conduct codes. The forum invited Zhao Yongjie, an accountant from PwC, to share a report on the implementation of BAS's human rights conduct code and discuss plans for Phase 2 of its execution. Zhao Yongjie explained how pain points had been identified within the industry which would be used to develop own code of conduct based on UN conventions.
Carbon credits in the future
This forum not only marked an important milestone in BAS's promotion of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) but also set a crucial moment in establishing carbon credits for cycling. During the forum, Professor Sibilski, the initiator of World Bicycle Day, was specially invited to attend the forum and gave an introduction to the concept of cycling carbon credits. He quoted Arthur Rolle, the chair of the CDM Executive Board, who stated: "Bicycles are an excellent mode of transport, crucial in reducing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change." This highlights that cycling carbon credits will be a key focus in the future, and Sibilski expressed hopes that Taiwan would take the lead in initiating this important process.
Measurable progress in Taiwan
The forum also highlighted the overall sustainability achievements of BAS in 2024, including the fact that 87% of members have completed greenhouse gas inventories, 48% have calculated product carbon footprints, and some members have begun developing Product Category Rules (PCR) for bicycle products.
Local manufacturers, and members of the BAS, took the opportunity to highlight their individual progress in ESG. Glory Wheel Enterprise Co., Ltd. shared its efforts in recycling aluminium scrap, reducing carbon emissions by minimizing material usage. The processed aluminium scrap helps avoid heavy transportation, thus reducing carbon emissions and promoting a circular economy.
2.5 day weekends
Token Industry Co., Ltd. made a pioneering move in the bicycle industry by implementing a 2.5-day weekend, which stabilised the workforce and encouraged employees to propose innovative ideas, improving efficiency while reducing costs, ultimately making their pricing more competitive.
Kenda Industrial Co., Ltd. not only upgraded its equipment and made energy improvements but also used recycled environmental materials such as recycled rubber, carbon black, and soybean oil in its products. The company practices governance according to ISO 31000 for risk management and has established a sustainability committee to promote various sustainability projects.
Growing BAS membership in Taiwan
The BAS continues to promote sustainability with its members, with a focus on shared learnings. The initiative began with 58 members and has now grown to 82 since its introduction in 2022. All these companies are SME’s within the Taiwanese industry. Through this annual forum during the Taipei Cycle show, it has not only strengthened consensus among the domestic and international bicycle industry but also fostered opportunities for cross-border collaboration, aiming for a low-carbon, sustainable future.