Taiwan companies urged to go green amid pollution woes in China

Taipei, Oct. 19 (CNA) The Minister of Economic Affairs urged local manufacturers Wednesday to go green, days after a Taiwanese supplier to Apple Inc. was ordered by the Chinese authorities to partially suspend operations at one of its facilities in China for causing air pollution. "Manufacturers must have the concept of the 'green supply chain' so as to maintain their long-term partnerships with an outstanding multinational enterprise," said Shih Yen-shiang, when asked to comment on the pollution dispute. "I believe the company reported by the media is just an individual case, not a general case," he said at a local business conference. He was referring to the case of metal casing manufacturer Catcher Technology, which had to partially suspend operations at one of its factories in Suzhou, China, after it was found to be emitting unusual fumes. Confidence in Apple suppliers was dampened after a report by Chinese environmentalists described more than 20 companies in the Apple supply chain, including companies from Taiwan, South Korea and even China, as "poison apples" and accused them of being big polluters, dealers said that day. "It is predictable that countries around the world will raise their requirements for environmental protection during the process of development," Shih said. He added that a Taiwanese company in Vietnam was ordered to suspend its operations three years ago when it was caught illegally discharging waste water. That suspension, he said, represented stricter regulation of pollution control in emerging countries.