Traceability

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DA.AI Technology also built a complete production traceability management system, starting from the Tzu Chi recycling stations, through recycling plants, chemical fiber plants, to garment supply chain factories. Information such time, source, number of PET bottles and other information are registered to fully implement quality management, and to ensure the recycling status and results. Transparent information is available to the public to show our integrity, and the approach is also for the promotion of the production of recycled products.

About DA.AI

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DA.AI was founded in December 2008.  It is Taiwan’s first non-profit company dedicated to producing eco-friendly products and one of the world’s first non-profit companies which donates 100% of its net proceeds to charity.

DA.AI adheres to Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s concept of “Coexist with the Earth” by using recycled PET bottles as raw material to manufacture recycled eco-products, activating a new life cycle for the PET bottles and reducing the consumption of natural resources. 100% of DA.AI’s net proceeds from the sale of eco-friendly products and its investments are donated to the Tzu Chi Foundation to help the underprivileged.

DA.AI has developed recycled textile raw materials, such as recycled poly chips, recycled polyester fibers and recycled fabrics. These recycled raw materials are then used to produce eco-products such as clothing, beddings, and other everyday textile products. DA.AI’s production process has received a “Global Recycling Standard” (“GRS”) certification from the Netherland’s Peterson Control Union. In order to gain GRS process certification, all stages of production, from obtaining raw materials to manufacturing and trading of the products have to be in compliance with the GRS standard. The eco-friendly fleece blanket made with 100% recycled polyester has also received the Carbon Footprint Certifications from both Germany’s TÜV Rheinland and the EPA.

DA.AI works with over  8,626 Tzu Chi recycling stations in Taiwan. Each year, nearly 2,000 tons of post-consumer PET bottles are collected and recycled by over 200,000 recycling promoters, whom we regard as Bodhisattvas. The Recycling Bodhisattvas carefully sort and clean PET bottles, remove caps and bottle rings, helping to ensure the quality of raw materials. As of today, over 536,263,228 PET bottles have been recycled and regenerated.

A circle of love is formed as DA.AI uses PET bottles collected and sorted by recycling volunteers to generate eco-friendly products to be sold to the consumers, with 100% of its net proceeds donated to the Tzu Chi Foundation to help the people in need. With this unique socially responsible business model in mind, DA.AI hopes to encourage and inspire more businesses and organizations to join its efforts in protecting our Mother Earth and to give back to society. 

Our History

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In 1990, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, the founder of Tzu Chi Foundation, urged all Tzu Chi volunteers to engage in environmental protection work with their hands used for applauding.

Ever since then, many Tzu Chi volunteers have joined in the environment protection movement. Besides actively promoting and engaging in recycling and sorting recyclables, the volunteers also apply the concept of environmental protection in their daily lives. 

In 2003, Master Cheng Yen encouraged a group of volunteers to research and develop food, clothing, housing, transportation, information and communication products which can be used in international relief missions. Thus, in November 2003, Tzu Chi International Humanitarian Aid Association (TIHAA) was formed.

TIHAA was worried about the impact of non-biodegradable plastic bottles on the ecology of the Earth. Therefore, in 2006, TIHAA started to gather vendors to set up assembly lines, using the recycled plastic bottles that Tzu Chi volunteers collected to produce eco-friendly textile products such as blankets. As of today, these blankets have been distributed to people in need during winter distributions and disaster relief missions around the world, benefitting more than 600,000 people.

In 2008, with selfless kindness in their heart and the concept of “Coexist with the Earth” in their mind, five TIHAA volunteer entrepreneurs set up a company named DA.AI Technology Co. Ltd. (“DA.AI”) to develop technology used to produce all kinds of clothes, blankets and daily-use textile from the recycled plastic bottles collected by Tzu Chi volunteers.

In 2010, five entrepreneurs donated 100% of DA.AI's stock ownership to Tzu Chi Foundation, making DA.AI a unique, socially responsible business. The new business was awarded Taiwan Corporate Integrity Album by MOEA the following year.

In 2011, after receiving the "Green Classics Services Award" and "Green Classics Product Award" from the first Taiwan Green Classics Award in 2011. DA.AI again received the highest honor from the Green Classics Award in 2012.

In 2012, DA.AI obtained a Cradle to Cradle® Silver Certification. DA.AI is committed to establishing a sustainable full recycling system, and gradually moving from "less" waste to "zero" waste within the life cycle of the products and services.

In 2013, DA.AI Technology was honored again with the “Taiwan Excellence Award “ and has become an exemplary “boutique enterprise” thanks to its multi-dimensional identities of ECO brand in Taiwan.

In 2014, being the three consecutive award winner, DA.AI not only received five more awards this year, but also was invited to participate in the EPIF 2014 International Green Classic Award Forum, showing the highest honor and recognition from the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs.

DA.AI was established due to the inspiration and encouragement from Dharma Master Cheng Yen. Dharma Master Cheng Yen encouraged these entrepreneurs to gather more people to apply their professional expertise in researching and developing technology used for producing eco-products, thereby benefiting living beings in the world. Thus, with their professional expertise and selfless loving heart, these entrepreneurs joined hands in applying the concepts of environmental protection and charity in the development and production of eco-products.

Core Values

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DA.AI adheres to its core values of “3C” - Culture of Environmental Protection, Circle of Love, and Contribution to Society.

Brand Story

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The name of DA.AI Technology was first used on December 10, 2008. Although clean and short, it carries a big meaning. “DA.AI,” Chinese for “Great Love,” reminds us to “love all creatures and show appreciation to the Earth.” DA.AI, home to key recycling technology, is also a selfless social welfare platform.

2012,Jan.,DA.AI Eco Polo Shirt Receives 2012 Taiwan Excellence Award

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Taiwan Excellence Awards, sponsored by the Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan and Taiwan External Trade Development Council were established to encourage Taiwan industries to upgrade and incorporate higher innovation value (innovalue) into their products.

The selection of Taiwan Excellence Awards is based on four different criteria: research & development, design, quality, and marketing. Each product must score equally well in each category in order to be selected. Each year, the judges select the products which are authorized to display the symbol of Taiwan Excellence along with the winning year. This year, out of the 1,145 products in the competition, DA.AI’s Eco Polo Shirt was one of the products that received the award due to its innovalue. 

Each DA.AI Eco Polo Shirt is made by 14 recycled PET bottles. Each shirt has a tag attached to it, detailing the amount of carbon footprint reduced by making the shirt. As compared to using virgin raw material to make a shirt, when making the DA.AI Eco Polo Shirt, the amount of CO2 emitted is 299g less, while oil consumption and water consumption is 6cc and 1,050cc, respectively, less than using virgin raw material. Through the display of these numbers, consumers can clearly see that they are playing a role in mitigating global warming. Each shirt represents a green seed. DA.AI wishes that each seed has the opportunity to flourish, and create an ongoing green wave.

2012,Jan.7,DA.AI Eco Concept Store in Taichung Tzu Chi General Hospital on January 7, 2012.

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DA.AI Technology will open another DA.AI Eco Concept Store in Taichung Tzu Chi General Hospital. DA.AI plans to create a tranquil and green space in the hospital by using recycled materials for the store’s carpet, lighting, and display shelves. Through the green and simple design, visitors will be reminded of the concepts of “extending an article’s life and creating blessings and wisdom” and “using the hands used for applauding to engage in environmental protection work.” Through visiting this store, DA.AI hopes to bring spiritual comfort to the visitors and encourage the visitors to do good deeds. 

【EVENT】：Grand Opening of DA.AI’sDA.AI Eco Concept Store in Taichung 
                     Tzu Chi General Hospital

【DATE & TIME】： JAN 7, 2012 at 4PM

【LOCATION】 : Taichung Tzu Chi General Hospital B1(B1, #66 and #68, Sec. 1,
                        Fongxing Rd., Tanzhi Township,Taichung County 427, Taiwan

2012,Jan.16-19,World Boutique, Hong Kong

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【EVENT】：2012  World Boutique, Hong Kong

【DATE & TIME】：JAN 16-19, 2012
                          ‧1/16         10:00AM~6:00PM
                          ‧1/17–18    09:30AM~6:00PM
                          ‧1/19         09:30AM~5:00PM

【LOCATION】:  Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
                         (1 Expo Drive, Wanchai, Hongkong, China)

【ABOUT THE  EVENT】: 
  As the first independent show in Asia dedicated to promoting brands in fashion,
  the World Boutique, Hong  Kong is organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development
  Council and features designers' collections  and brands  from around the world.
  It is held concurrently with the Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter,
  the world's  second largest and Asia's largest fashion event. The show attracts
  vendors from China and around  the world.  DA.AI will be present at the event
  to showcase its eco-products. 

2012,Jan.,DA.AI Technology Receives 2012 Taiwan Enterprise Innovation Award from the Global Views Monthly Magazine

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After going through two rounds of selection process, Global Views Monthly magazine and a panel of judges selected five companies to receive the 2012 Taiwan Enterprise Innovation Award. DA.AI Technology was awarded fourth place in the competition as one of the top five innovative enterprises in 2012.

The panel of judges commented on the reason why they selected DA.AI Technology as one of the top five: “DA.AI takes on the task of environmental protection as its own duty, and it is successful in utilizing technology to develop eco-products. It is a role model of socially responsible enterprises.” 

The other top five innovative enterprises include well known and resourceful companies such as LUXGEN Motor Co., Ltd., Wowprime, and President Chain Store Corporation. DA.AI Technology is the only non-profit company and the only one dedicated to producing eco-friendly products in the top five. In the future, DA.AI Technology will continue to adhere to its core values of “3C” - Culture of Environmental Protection, Cycle of Love, and Contribution to Society, and share its innovative eco-concepts with the world. 

DA.AI Eco Polo Shirt won the 2012 "Taiwan Excellence Award"

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Taiwan's first environmental social enterprise, DA.AI Technology, has been dedicating efforts in implementing environmental protection, and turning recycled bottles into green textile products since its establishment. The company was awarded with the “Green Model Product,” and the “Green Model Service” awards from the Green Trade Project Office in 2011. More exciting news was announced in the new beginning of 2012; DA.AI Eco Polo Shirt stood out from 1,145 products and was selected to receive the Taiwan Excellence Award. Selection criteria of the Taiwan Excellence Award include implementation of green technology in research and development, innovation in design to convey the values of Taiwan’s excellent products, and elevation of brand image in marketing; DA.AI Technology achieved all of them!

DA.AI Technology hopes to deliver its concept of environmental protection to the whole world with the honor from winning the award. A wakeup call to the people is printed on the tags of the DA.AI Eco Polo Shirt. Each shirt is made from 14 recycled PET bottles, which reduced 299g of carbon dioxide emissions, saved 6mL of crude oil, and 1,050mL of water if compared to a shirt that is made with virgin polyester. Through the consumption of green products, a contribution to mitigate global warming is made. Every encounter of a green product is an injection of green consciousness, and each shirt represents a green seed. DA.AI Technology wishes that each seed has the opportunity to flourish, and create and ongoing green wave.