Integral Recognized in UNGC’s Release of 20 Cases of Sustainable Development in China for 20 Years Report
On November 29, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) released the “20 Cases of Private Sector’s Sustainable Development in China for 20 Years” report and hosted the UNGC China Office’s first Global Sustainability Actions Roadshow at the UN headquarters in Beijing. Integral, Esquel’s sustainable development garden, was recognized as one of the 20 best practices in the report, which showcases leading Chinese companies that have successfully integrated sustainability into their business strategies. Ms. Helen Chen, General Manager of Esquel China, participated in the conference and highlighted Integral’s innovative contributions to sustainable transformation.
“Sustainability is not an option but a necessity for corporate development,” she emphasized. “Integral’s recognition as one of the 20 cases underscores Esquel’s long-standing commitment to sustainability. Looking ahead, we aim to continue serving as a role model, collaborating with other businesses to achieve shared sustainability goals.”
The UNGC is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative with over 24,000 corporate participants and other stakeholders across nearly 170 countries. Its participants commit to its Ten Principles and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Esquel, a UNGC participant since 2000, aligns its efforts with all 17 SDGs through Integral, leveraging its vertically integrated supply chain and decades of experience to develop forward-looking sustainable solutions.
Integral has pioneered zero wastewater discharge and significantly decreased its carbon footprint through the adoption of clean energy sources like solar power, actively promoting climate action (SDG 13). Meanwhile, it has established China's first specialized botanical garden for natural dye plants. This integration of traditional dyeing techniques with modern technology opens up a new path for sustainable industry development (SDG 9).
Esquel excels not only in environmental initiatives but also in workplace equality (SDG 5), achieving 43% female representation in senior management and setting benchmarks in equal pay and non-discrimination through the UNGC’s Target Gender Equality Programme. In March, Esquel was featured as one of eight remarkable case studies in the UNGC’s “Women at Work: Chinese Companies Taking Action on Gender Equality” report.
Committed to the Group’s “people-centric” approach, Integral has initiated “Work 2.0” and the Mangineer Program, fostering employee development and supporting decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). It has also partnered with the UNGC for the 2023 Year-end Ceremony of the SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals.
Integral's commitment to sustainable development continues to drive broader influence. In October 2023, Esquel’s Chairman Marjorie Yang attended the UNGC's High-Level Steering Committee meeting in Beijing for the Action Platform on Sustainable Infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The event launched the Practical Guide on Applying the UNGC Ten Principles in the BRI Infrastructure Sector, underscoring Esquel's leadership in global sustainability dialogues and showcasing the vital role of Chinese enterprises in advancing sustainable development under the BRI framework.
Looking ahead, Integral remains committed to driving industry transformation and high-quality growth, mobilizing more enterprises toward achieving the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with innovative solutions and actionable partnerships.