On September 12, Integral, Esquel Group’s Sustainable Development Garden in Guilin, was named a 2026 Environment-Friendly Case by 21st Century “Vibrant ESG” in recognition of its work in low-carbon park development, ecological restoration, and green innovation. The case was also featured in the 21st Century "Vitality·ESG" Practice Report.

Selected through an open call, the cases highlight companies that demonstrate clear goals, concrete action, and measurable progress in green and low-carbon development, while integrating environmental considerations into their business and operations. Integral’s approach spans ecological restoration, low-carbon park operations, and green innovation, reflecting its ongoing efforts to embed sustainability throughout the development and operation of the park.

From Ecological Restoration to a Sustainable Development

Ecological restoration has been central to Integral’s development. To address vegetation loss, soil erosion, and other environmental challenges, Integral worked with the site’s existing terrain and ecological conditions to gradually restore its soil, water systems, and vegetation, creating an environment where industry, nature, and people can coexist in harmony.

Today, Integral holds LEED® Operations and Maintenance (O+M) Gold Certification, as well as certification under the WGO Green Office Awards Labelling Scheme. It is also one of the first parks in the industry to be certified as a “Zero-Carbon Park” in China.

Integrating Sustainability into Daily Operations

At Integral, sustainability extends beyond the landscape and green buildings to production and daily operations.

Water management is one area of focus. Under its “Purify, Reduce, and Zero” approach, Integral works to improve wastewater treatment and reuse, reduce freshwater consumption in production, and develop and apply new water management technologies. Together, these efforts help reduce reliance on freshwater and minimize the environmental impact of its water use.

Integral’s Fragrant Hill Garden also brings together plant conservation, natural dye research, and industrial applications. By collecting, cultivating, and studying natural dye plants, Integral is exploring lower-impact ways to produce color while combining traditional botanical dyeing knowledge with modern textile technologies, offering practical insights for the industry’s green transition.

Exploring a More Balanced and Sustainable Future

From ecological restoration and low-carbon park operations to greater energy and water efficiency and green innovation, Integral continues to explore how industry, people, and nature can thrive together.

Looking ahead, Integral will continue to advance low-carbon operations and biodiversity management, promote the application of green technologies, and share its experience in low-carbon development and ecological management to support the industry’s sustainable transition.

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