

2024.07.02 Hyundai Motor Group
In June 1972, at the ‘United Nations Conference on the Human Environment’ held in Stockholm, Sweden, a commitment to collective efforts for preserving the global environment led to the designation of June 5th as ‘World Environment Day,’ making June recognized as the Month of the Environment. South Korea has also officially observed 'Environment Day' since 1996 to inspire collective interest and action toward environmental protection.
The global environment is the foundation of human life, and it is our duty to preserve it for future generations. Hyundai Motor Group acknowledges its corporate role and responsibility in protecting the environment and is actively participating in the global movement towards carbon neutrality. This policy aligns with the group's vision of 'Advancement for Humanity,' while each member of the group actively engages in environmental protection through various activities in their respective roles.
The eco-forest creation activities of Hyundai Engineering focus on addressing air quality issues caused by fine dust, while offering environmental volunteering activities that involve employees and their families together. Since 2017, they have been creating eco-forests named 'Hyundai Engineer林(rim)' at Sangam-dong Sky Park and Noeul Park in Seoul, planting a total of 2,363 trees including chestnut, hawthorn, and ginkgo trees over 8 years with 814 employees and their families. Four sessions of cultivation volunteer activities are scheduled for this year, including those conducted in May.
This location was originally called ‘Nanji Island,’ designated as Seoul's landfill in 1978, once a large garbage pile. In 2002, as part of Seoul's efforts to restore the damaged ecosystem and transform it into an eco-friendly space, Sky Park and Noeul Park were established. In furtherance of its commitment to ecosystem restoration, Hyundai Engineering established an eco-forest in this vicinity.
Activities with employees' families have continued despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than visiting the forest in person, they cultivated tree seeds in 'home seed kits' at home. These young trees were later transplanted to the tree nursery at Noeul Park. Moving forward, Hyundai Engineering will continue striving through eco-forest creation activities to cultivate an environment where future generations can directly experience the importance of nature conservation. We anticipate Hyundai Engineering's efforts toward sustainability will grow continuously, akin to the growth of trees.
Since March last year, the government has initiated education programs for elementary and middle school students aimed at enhancing their environmental awareness. Yet, the lack of appropriate spaces within schools for experiential education remains a challenge. To address these shortcomings and enhance the educational setting for children, Hyundai Glovis is creating eco-forests on vacant land within elementary schools.
This activity also plays a role in conserving biodiversity. Last year, Hyundai Glovis employees conducted volunteer activities to cultivate endangered plants native to the Korean Peninsula and donated mature specimens to elementary schools once they had grown. This initiative resulted in the installation of 'Forest Classrooms' at Choongam, Songjeong, Wolcheon, and Wonkwang Elementary Schools, which have been used for environmental education for over 2,650 children.
In June of this year, Hyundai Glovis established an eco-forest at Sangwon Elementary School in Seoul, based on designs from a student design competition. They planted 1,225 native Korean plants, including several rare species, together with the children in an area of 15 square meters. These activities can anticipate the propagation of endangered plants through ecosystem creation, leveraging nearby mountains around schools, in addition to providing environmental education for children. We hope that children participating in Hyundai Glovis' eco-forests will grow into stewards who cherish and protect nature.
On April 1, recognized as Endangered Species Day by the Ministry of Environment, Innocean and their new hires for this year created a wildlife sanctuary at Jungnangcheon in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. They planted saplings to create habitats for wildlife and provided rice seeds to feed migratory birds preparing for long journeys. These efforts are part of a long-term plan to not only preserve biodiversity but also protect endangered species.
Designated as Seoul's first migratory bird sanctuary, the Jungnangcheon area is frequently visited by species such as the mandarin duck, coot, and heron, all of which are considered natural monuments. It is also known to be home to several endangered species, including otters. Unfortunately, the confluence of Cheonggyecheon and Jungnangcheon lacks safe refuges for animals, resulting in wildlife frequently being swept away by rushing waters during emergencies such as floods.
Innocean aims to resolve this problem by developing a forest on a hill in Jungnangcheon, which will serve as a refuge and sanctuary for wildlife. They will also employ motion-sensing cameras to monitor the presence of resident animals and assess their impact on biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, Innocean will expand community engagement activities to ensure that otters, egrets, mandarin ducks, and other wildlife can coexist more safely with us.
From July to August last year, Hyundai Transys conducted a zero-waste campaign in collaboration with the non-profit organization BeautifulStore. This campaign involves selling donated items and using the proceeds to support marginalized communities in the local area, which also benefits environmental conservation. Donating goods helps extend the lifespan of existing products, leading to reduced production of new items and lower carbon emissions.
The enthusiastic support and participation of Hyundai Transys employees led to the collection of a total of 941 items for donation: 206 pieces of clothing, 498 miscellaneous items, 130 books and records, and 107 appliances. From a carbon reduction perspective, this is equivalent to planting 28 pine trees that are 30 years old. It truly represents a double benefit.
Hyundai Transys plans to expand its zero-waste campaign this year. Starting in July, the campaign, previously conducted exclusively at the Dongtan Seat R&D Center, will also be extended to include the Hwaseong Drivetrain R&D center.
When considering environmental conservation, large-scale corporate campaigns typically come to mind. However, because it is crucial for our future, everyone's participation is essential. Hyundai Transys plans to continue offering opportunities for employees to practice eco-conscious behaviors in their daily lives, representing small steps towards a sustainable future.
In May of this year, Hyundai Mobis conducted a biodiversity survey in the Miho River area of Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. This survey involved experts, residents, and over 100 Hyundai Mobis employees working together to identify all species in the area and establish a database. Hyundai Mobis will conduct this survey once again in the latter half of the year to underscore the importance of environmental preservation.
Hyundai Mobis is among the companies that promptly started environmental conservation and social contribution activities. Since 2012, they have been establishing the 'Mir Forest,' an ecological woodland near their Jincheon plant, and donated it to the county in 2022. Furthermore, ongoing environmental protection activities have been conducted along the Miho River, linked to the Mir Forest, aimed at conserving and restoring biodiversity. Efforts by Hyundai Mobis have significantly enhanced the ecosystem of the Miho River. Results from environmental assessments and ecosystem surveys conducted in 2013 and 2023 reveal the discovery of species such as legally protected red-crowned cranes, buzzards, mandarin ducks, pheasants, and otters, which were not initially observed during the early stages of Mir Forest creation.
Hyundai Mobis' ecological restoration project, focused on the Miho River and Mir Forest, is advancing according to a three-phase long-term operational plan. Last year, they commenced the restoration of the natural monument No. 454, the Miho spined loach, and this year, they initiated a three-year project to prepare the environment for various organisms to thrive through wetland construction and roadside tree planting. The goal is to strengthen the biodiversity framework through the analysis of operational achievements in ecological restoration activities, which includes monitoring population growth. Hyundai Mobis' initiatives deserve recognition for their targeted environmental conservation efforts in the local communities near their production hubs, resulting in tangible changes and achievements rather than fleeting volunteer activities.
Just as we require a clean Earth for our sustenance, so too do our children. Therefore, it is our responsibility to pass on nature to future generations with minimal harm and, if possible, in an improved condition. Hyundai Motor Group continues to ponder and strive for the sustainable future of this planet, while employees are also doing their best in their respective roles.
However, protecting Mother Earth requires efforts from more people. During the Month of Environment, it is an opportune time for more people to become aware of environmental pollution and contribute to nature conservation. Starting may feel daunting, but it is not. Simply conserving resources and mastering proper recycling practices are sufficient. There will definitely be a better tomorrow when we all come together.