On this Earth Day 2024, let’s embark on a captivating journey through Alibaba’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship across China. As the tech giant strides towards its ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, we explore the inspiring initiatives that are paving the way for a greener tomorrow. 🌳
🏆 Crowning China’s Largest Platinum LEED Office Campus
In a remarkable feat, Alibaba’s Xixi Park campus has become the first place in Hangzhou and the largest office community in China to achieve the prestigious LEED International Platinum certification. 🏢 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized third-party certification system that evaluates the sustainability of building design and construction, and has been implemented in 185 countries and regions worldwide.
“I am very happy that the LEED standard can be used as part of Alibaba’s carbon neutral roadmap to participate in China’s leading technology Internet companies in the green cause,” said Wang Jing, Vice President of LEED North Asia.
During the fiscal year 2022, the Xixi campus saved a remarkable 2,866 tons of carbon dioxide by deploying innovative energy-saving measures. 💡 Employees can self-adjust their workstations’ lighting brightness, air-conditioning temperature, and even turn office equipment on and off with a single click, fostering a culture of eco-consciousness.
At the nearby Alibaba Cloud campus, similar sustainability efforts are underway. Approximately 70% of the water used for irrigation across the campus is recycled rainwater, and many rooftops are adorned with solar panels, contributing to the 40% of all electricity used on the cloud campus that comes from green energy sources. 🌱
🍽️ Building an Appetite for Recycling
In Zhejiang, a province south of Shanghai, Alibaba’s food delivery platform Ele.me is collaborating with 20 universities to tackle lunchbox plastic waste and streamline recycling processes. 📚
In November 2023, provincial authorities identified Ele.me as a potential partner for sustainability initiatives on school campuses. Since then, the platform has been diligently developing a recycling system to identify different materials used in takeaway lunchboxes.
More than 27,000 students participated in a trial earlier this year, saving roughly two tons worth of takeaway lunchboxes from the dump every day, with around 70% of the waste being recycled. 🌳
“In the future, we will cooperate with more ecological partners and institutions to continue green exploration under the dual carbon goals,” said Xiao Shuixian, Senior Vice President.
This initiative mirrors another successful project conducted by Ele.me last year, where the platform sent users an in-app suggestion to decline cutlery with their orders, resulting in a staggering 648% increase in the share of utensil-free food deliveries compared to a control group. 🍴
🌵 Nurturing a Desert Oasis
In the heart of China’s fourth-largest desert, Tengri Desert, located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Alibaba’s e-commerce marketplace Taobao is fueling one entrepreneur’s efforts to push back the sands and grow a forest. 🌴
Young businesswoman Tangtang reclaimed an abandoned post office near the desert in 2021 and gave it a virtual second life as a Taobao shop selling postcards to netizens. For every postcard sold, a tree is planted in the area, helping to combat desertification – a process by which fragile ecosystems in arid areas are ravaged by wind and drought.
More than 10,000 trees have been planted in the area since then, with some dedicated by users to deceased pets, commemorating important occasions, or gifting to friends. Their roots will help defend the land against the encroaching desert, which poses a threat of displacement to 135 million people around the world, according to the United Nations. 🌍
As we celebrate Earth Day 2024, Alibaba’s green initiatives across China serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding us that sustainability is not just a buzzword but a collective responsibility. From eco-friendly campuses to innovative recycling solutions and desert reclamation efforts, Alibaba is leading the charge towards a greener future, one step at a time. 🌱
Join us on this remarkable journey by exploring Alibaba’s sustainability efforts and Alibaba Cloud for Sustainability. Together, we can make a lasting impact and pave the way for a more sustainable world. 🌍
