Ningbo factory pursues green development

Truliva's Cixi factory, the first six-star zero carbon factory in the global water purification industry, is unveiled in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on March 22. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chinese water purification retailer Truliva launched the first six-star zero carbon factory in the global water purification industry in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on March 22 as part of the company's efforts to pursue a distinct sustainable development path.

Truliva, established in 1998 and acquired by Unilever in 2014, is China’s leading brand in water purification and drinking appliances.

"Truliva's receiving the first six-star zero carbon certification in the global water purification industry is a powerful testament to Unilever's realization of its 'dual carbon' goals, said Henk in't Hof, Global CEO of Unilever Water & Air Wellness, at the ceremony.

The six-star zero carbon certification, granted by the global testing and certification service provider Bureau Veritas, is the most prestigious of its kind featuring intelligent production, digitalization and the use of renewable energy.

Utilizing photovoltaic systems, intelligent manufacturing and digitalization, the factory in Cixi, a county-level city in Ningbo, has figured out a way to save energy, reduce costs and increase efficiency.

According to Du Mingyong, a worker at the factory, renewable energy makes up 100 percent of the factory's energy consumption. The solar panels installed at the factory cover an area of 70,000 square meters and generate 5 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, helping reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4,000 metric tons per year.

To reduce paper use, laser engraving technology is also used to replace the paper labels on filters.

Equipped with 12 fully-automated production lines, the factory has seen its production efficiency rise by about 40 percent, and it is able to conduct stringent quality testing for all products. 

Truliva is also calling for efforts to promote green development with partners up and down its supply chain, such as by recycling packaging boxes.

"Truliva has been pursuing sustainable development in terms of green supply chains, innovative technologies and social responsibilities," said Pan Shiyang, China General Manager of Unilever Water & Air Wellness.

To bring healthy drinking water to more households and safeguard drinking water at its source, the company launched a project entitled "Sanjiangyuan – Truliva Action" in 2021, together with the China Environmental Protection Foundation and the Sanjiangyuan Ecological Protection Foundation.

Over the past two years, 24 water stations have been built in the highland area and more than 2,500 herdsmen in the area have received help protecting water sources as part of the project.