Our Biodiversity Commitment

Biodiversity is a precious natural asset, and its protection is vital to ensure the long-term health of the global ecosystem and the survival of life on this planet. Acer’s global operations sites are mainly located in science and technology parks and general office buildings, which have a lower impact on biodiversity. Nonetheless, to understand the potential impact of our operations on biodiversity, we are committed to achieve no net deforestation, no net loss (NNL), and increase the net positive impact (NPI). We are committed to applying mitigation hierarchies, such as avoidance, minimization, restoration, offset, and additional conservation actions, and engaging with stakeholders to fulfill followings:

Our "Biodiversity Commitment" was made in 2022 and has been approved by the Corporate Sustainability Committee, chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, to initiate actions accordingly. The commitment was then further reviewed, approved, and supervised by Acer's Board of Directors in 2023. The actions starting from 2022 are described below.

In our own operation

In light of the publication of the TNFD LEAP methodology, we have reassessed our global operations using LEAP. Through the use of a geographic information system, we have overlaid the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and the National Land Ecological Green Network map data to determine if Acer’s global locations are situated in areas of high biodiversity importance. Additionally, we have utilized ENCORE to gain insights into industry dependencies and impacts, and employed the World Wildlife Fund for Nature’s Biodiversity Risk Filter to assess the risks associated with our primary ODMs.

We are continuing to include biodiversity as a sub-theme within the environmental theme in the global ‘ESG Project Awards’. This helps to raise awareness of biodiversity among Acer employees. In 2023, several operational sites worldwide will launch local initiatives, proposing a total of 9 projects related to biodiversity. These projects can be broadly categorized into terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems.

Terrestrial Ecosystem: Promoting Climate Adaptation and Ecological Conservation through Afforestation

Trees have the ability to absorb carbon dioxide, mitigate climate change, provide habitats and food for organisms, and help prevent soil erosion. Acer has partnered with professional tree planting organizations at its global operations sites, and by 2023, it will have planted over 80,000 trees in appropriate locations. Since 2020, it has already planted over 290,000 trees worldwide. This initiative not only contributes to global carbon reduction, ecological conservation, and biodiversity, but also supports the livelihoods of local farmers. It is including:

• In Europe, we have launched the ' Green Deals ' initiative in collaboration with One Tree Planted
• Acer UK has been partnering with Ecologi since 2021 to plant trees and contribute to projects focused on rainforest conservation
• Acer France collaborated with Ecotree to restore the fire-damaged Ruaudin forest
• Acer's office in Irvine, California, issued a call for volunteers to participate in the Sow & Grow volunteer event organized by the Newport Bay Conservancy at the Back Bay Science Center
• Acer Philippines has been making annual donations to the GreenEarth Heritage Foundation to support their environmental conservation efforts by planting thousands of trees
• Small-scale tree planting activities in protected area in the Czech Republic

Aquatic Ecosystem: Enhancing Biodiversity Conservation and Research with Technology

Technology products can contribute to ecological conservation and biodiversity research, including ecosystem monitoring, data analysis, and prediction. Therefore, Acer not only encourages employees to volunteer in activities such as tree planting and beach cleaning to enhance their conservation awareness, but also supports conservation organizations in ecological research through product design.

• Aspire Vero laptop series and Acer Vero Ocean Collection bag series utilize recycled plastic from ocean waste. These products have received the United Action for Ocean Protection Award from the Ocean Commission in 2023
• In 2022, Acer donated computer-related products to support Quiet Sound, a project that employs different technologies to locate the orcas and notify the crew of their presence. This allows ships to reduce speed or alter their course
• The Acer Foundation supported the Hualien Formosa Association in conducting the 'Visit the Pacific Sperm Whale π Project'. The foundation provided sponsorship for the necessary hardware and software to establish the Taiwan Eastern Pacific Kuroshio Current Zone. This zone aims to document the ecological records of Pacific sperm whales, as well as other cetaceans, through the collection of images, tracks, underwater recordings, and graphic and written works
• Acer Indonesia #SayangBumi (Love the Earth) beach cleaning and mangrove planting initiative

In terms of supplier management 

In order to enhance suppliers' and partners' understanding of the importance of biodiversity issues, Acer specifically invited the Corporate Sustainability Development Association to deliver a keynote speech on Biodiversity and Naturerelated Financial Disclosure (TNFD) at the 2023 Supplier ESG Communication Meeting. The speech aimed to share global biodiversity trends and highlight the significance of TNFD for businesses. It also provided an opportunity for suppliers to address any questions or concerns they may have. Additionally, Acer requested suppliers and partners to assess the biodiversity risks associated with their operational sites and encouraged them to establish forest conservation commitments. This requirement will be included in the evaluation of the 2024 Supplier Corporate Social Responsibility Scorecard. Furthermore, it was emphasized that necessary measures should be taken when operating in areas near key biodiversity sites, such as avoidance, reduction, mitigation, or offsetting, to minimize negative impacts and collectively reduce the supply chain's impact on biodiversity.

In terms of partnerships 

Acer participates in the Taiwan Nature Positive Initiative launched by the Business Council for Sustainable Development to gain a deeper understanding of international biodiversity trends and the expectations of stakeholders. In 2023, we participated in the "GRI 304: Biodiversity Revision Consultation Workshop" through this initiative to provide feedback from Acer's perspective in addition to getting an early grasp of the key points of the GRI revision.

Acer intends to publish its first TNFD-aligned disclosure report for its financial year 2025 outcomes in 2026. <

In April 2024, we: 

• Revised the Acer Biodiversity Policy, which was approved by the board in May

• Expanded the biodiversity risk assessment scope from Acer's own operations and suppliers (upstream activities) to its customers (downstream activities)

• Published the Acer Biodiversity Risk Assessment Report 2023

• In the "2024 Annual Key Risk Indicators (KRI) Review and Content Update" project in July of this year, biodiversity was included for the first time.