LCA of an Ecolabeled Notebook - GreenDeltaTC

Social Life Cycle Inventory
large: The salary is above the minimum wage, the working time is around 180h per
month, and the enterprise pays several social benefits as insurance policies and pensions.
195 However, the age structure of AUO’s personnel 196 suggests the occurrence of
discrimination.
Regarding the stakeholder “local community” there are critical aspects with regard to
access to material as well as immaterial resources, safe and healthy living conditions,
and community engagement. The production of LCD panels entails the use of numerous
hazardous substances, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and halogenated
aromatic hydrocarbons, and the consumption of resources as for instance
water and energy. 197 Thus the production of LCD panels contributes considerably to the
environmental load. AUO shows comprehensive efforts to minimise their environmental
impacts reducing the use of harmful substances as for instance mercury, arsenic,
antimony, or dimethyl fumarate. Further, the company applies eco-design for
products and packaging. 198 Despite this commitment of AUO, it is assumed that the
company affects local living conditions negatively. The corporate community engagement
cannot compensate these impacts. The CSR activities are rather shallow. They are
mainly corporate giving activities in the areas education, art and culture, and charity. 199
In addition, AUO implemented a CSR policy which addresses several themes as lawcompliance,
freely chosen employment, non-discrimination, compensation and benefits,
and others, but this CSR policy is not explained. 200 So far, AUO has not promoted
the improvement of labour conditions in supplier companies, but audits are planned. 201
Moreover, AUO showed anti-competitive behaviour. Some companies, including AUO,
were charged for price fixing. 202
3.1.4.5.2 Assembly of the Display in China
AUO has relocated labour-intensive processes to China. There are three Chinese assembly
sites in Xiamen, Songjiang, and Suzhou. These sites have a labour force of approximately
21,000 people. 203
Working conditions in the Chinese sites are worse compared to those in Taiwan. Although
the payment in China is also above the legal minimum level, employees have to
work more and have only 1 day off per week. According to a report, AUO reduced overtime
in recent years implementing lean management. The company tries to abide by
195
AUO (2010) and interview with worker
196
ibidem
197
Williams (2003), pp. 57
198
AUO (2010)
199
AUO (2010), pp. 76 and http://auo.com/auoDEV/citizenship.php?sec=SocialCommitment&ls=
en
200
http://auo.com/auoDEV/citizenship.php?sec=socialresponsibility&ls=en
201
http://auo.com/auoDEV/citizenship.php?sec=stakeholder
202 Lemon (2010) and Kendall (2010)
203 AUO (2009), pp. 37
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