Chugai Pharma Taiwan (CPT) has once again achieved a landmark milestone in sustainability, earning recognition at one of Asia’s most prestigious sustainability honors — the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA). This year’s awards ceremony was held on June 26, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, where CPT claimed two prestigious honors — the Green Leadership Award and the Health Promotion Award. The double win marks CPT’s fifth consecutive year of recognition at AREA and its first-ever win in the Health Promotion category, underscoring the company’s outstanding achievements in both environmental sustainability and health promotion.
FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATION, CONTINUING TO SHINE ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
The AREA ceremony is organized by the Enterprise Asia, a non-governmental organization. This year’s competition attracted over 340 entries from across Asia, with 115 projects receiving awards — representing an acceptance rate of roughly 34% — making the competition exceptionally fierce. CPT’s ability to stand on this international sustainability stage for five consecutive years is a powerful testament to its long-term commitment across all three ESG pillars — Environmental (E), Social (S), and Governance (G) — earning high recognition not only across Asia but on the global stage.
Of particular note is this year’s first-ever Health Promotion Award, which reflects CPT’s broader and deeper interpretation of “health” — extending beyond protecting patients’ well-being to encompass the sustainable health of the land and ecosystem. This represents a pharmaceutical company’s all-encompassing dedication to the guardianship of life.
ANNUAL HIGHLIGHT: ADOPTING LOW-CARBON RICE CULTIVATION, PROTECTING HEALTH FROM THE SOURCE
This year, CPT took an innovative step forward in its sustainability journey. In February 2026, President of CPT, Mr. Yuji Habara led the team to Zhiben, Taitung, where it partnered with P.K. EverCovenant Biotech to hold the “Low-Carbon Rice Adoption Ceremony”, officially launching its core annual sustainability initiative.
At the heart of this collaboration is the proprietary technology introduced by P.K. EverCovenant Biotech — the Low-Carbon Farming Method (System of Probiotic and Rice Intensification) — which has breathed new life into farmland that had lain fallow for decades. This innovative agricultural approach delivers multiple breakthrough benefits:
● Exceptional Carbon Reduction: By leveraging probiotic farming techniques to enhance plant immunity, the method reduces carbon emissions by 62% compared to conventional farming practices.
● Energy and Water Efficiency: Through unique patented irrigation technology, irrigation water usage is reduced by 30%, while simultaneously boosting probiotic proliferation.
● Zero Chemical Contamination: The entire process is free of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and herbicides. Probiotic microorganisms are used to activate the soil microbiome, preserving the purity of the land.
● Ecological Harmony: Biodiversity in the farmland has been significantly restored, with the return of species including the Peacock Pansy butterfly, the Ring-necked Pheasant (endemic subspecies), and the Grey Heron.
At the ceremony, CPT’s leadership team personally planted rice seedlings and shared: “What we are adopting is not merely a rice paddy — it is a tangible investment in a low-carbon future. By supporting innovative and sustainable farming technologies, we hope to contribute to Taiwan’s low-carbon agriculture, starting from the very source of what we put on our tables.”
EXTENDING THE PHARMACEUTICAL MISSION: PROTECTING PATIENTS AND THE LAND
A key reason this initiative earned international recognition through the Health Promotion Award lies in the profound health-centered values embedded in the program. The “ShenMei Rice” developed by P.K. EverCovenant Biotech is a low-protein rice specially formulated for patients with kidney disease. Its protein content is 38.7% lower than that of regular white rice, effectively reducing the burden on the kidneys. This allows patients with kidney disease to enjoy delicious rice and maintain adequate caloric intake while adhering to strict protein restrictions — significantly improving their quality of life.
This innovative connection exemplifies CPT’s interpretation of “health” — spanning from pharmaceutical development to dietary origins, and from patient care to land ecology. By applying the expertise of a pharmaceutical company to pioneer new pathways for health promotion, this initiative stood out among hundreds of competing entries to claim the Health Promotion Award for the very first time.
ADVANCING TOP I 2030: DEEPENING THE ESG SUSTAINABILITY BLUEPRINT
CPT noted that the Low-Carbon Rice Adoption Program represents not only an active commitment to local agriculture and green industries, but also a concrete action in fulfilling the Chugai Group’s TOP I 2030 environmental sustainability goals. The initiative simultaneously creates more diverse employment opportunities for local farmers, realizing a triple-win outcome for the environment, society, and the economy.
Five consecutive years of AREA recognition stand as the finest testament to CPT’s enduring commitment to ESG principles. Looking ahead, CPT will continue to uphold its core commitment to “improving patients’ quality of life and helping them lead brighter lives” — by delivering innovative medicines, addressing unmet medical needs, and deepening its ESG strategy to generate greater positive impact for society and the environment, advancing toward a more sustainable future.
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