AI leads new sustainable business opportunities: The path of SMEs' ESG practice
At a forum titled "AI Leads New Sustainable Business Opportunities: The Path of SMEs' ESG Practice," representatives from I-Chen Food, the SME Credit Guarantee Fund, Guanglin Smart Technology, and Lin Yin Hsing International shared examples of how SMEs combine AI and ESG through AI-driven production management, ESG financing, and eco-friendly lighting to achieve sustainable practices.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 18:18
- 🔍 Collected: May 6, 2026 at 18:31 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 00:52 (6h 20m after Collected)
Brand Narrative
Liao Ming-chien, founder and general manager of I-Chen Food Co., Ltd., the first speaker, emphasized that even traditional industries like bakery must keep pace with the times and continue to transform, otherwise they will be eliminated in the waves of artificial intelligence (AI) and environmental protection.
Liao Ming-chien shared that in addition to pioneering a digital checkout system in its stores, I-Chen also relies on a "dual-track system" of AI and human collaboration to control production. First, AI automatically generates production schedules, which are then adjusted by store managers based on factors such as market characteristics and climate conditions, effectively reducing food waste. In addition, in response to livestock farming accounting for 14% of global carbon emissions, I-Chen has developed vegetarian baked products that are "egg-free, milk-free, and meat-free," achieving environmental carbon reduction while maintaining deliciousness.
He said that AI and ESG help to implement I-Chen's four major business philosophies: "health, sustainability, environmental protection, and civilization." As a food manufacturer, caring for customer health is a responsibility, and corporate profit is only a means, the true purpose is sustainability; enterprises must "be helpful to humanity and contribute to society."
"Banks are the golden mountains of enterprises, and credit guarantees are the backers of enterprises." Guo Yu-hsin, general manager of the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Guarantee Fund of Taiwan, clarified the role of the Credit Guarantee Fund in assisting enterprises in transformation by comparing the differences between banks and the Credit Guarantee Fund. He explained that the core value of the Credit Guarantee Fund lies in assisting SMEs in obtaining bank financing through a guarantee mechanism.
Guo Yu-hsin said that the Credit Guarantee Fund is a foundation affiliated with the Ministry of Economic Affairs. With government budgets, matching donations from cooperative banks, guarantee fees from enterprises, and investment income, approximately NT$10 billion in funds can be invested to support SMEs annually. In 2025, the Credit Guarantee Fund has guaranteed NT$1.8 trillion, with an average guarantee ratio of 84%.
He emphasized that the Credit Guarantee Fund cooperates with national policies, including AI and green financing ESG-related funding needs, which can receive additional quotas, serving as a backing for enterprises to develop AI and net-zero dual-axis transformation.
Jin Hai-tao, general manager of Guanglin Smart Technology Co., Ltd., the third speaker, stated that Guanglin Smart is the largest traffic equipment manufacturing and operation and maintenance provider in Taiwan and North America. Its business scope includes infrastructure such as road lighting, traffic signals, and electric vehicle charging stations and energy storage stations, and it has won multiple international awards.
He shared that Guanglin Smart uses AI in both hardware operation and maintenance and asset management, and considers how to reduce carbon emissions during hardware manufacturing and application. It also completed a carbon footprint inventory of all products in 2025. Taking road light maintenance as an example, the AI smart operation and maintenance system can instantly detect and diagnose the root cause of problems, reducing carbon emissions and time costs for maintenance dispatch.
Guanglin Smart also cooperates with industry, government, and academia to commit to ecological friendliness and road safety, including investing in ecological lighting for Taiwan's 12 conservation corridors starting in 2023, and improving real-time road condition detection and early warning through technologies such as AI smart intersection integration and digital twin systems, demonstrating the potential of AI and ESG to connect to a sustainable urban future.
Lin Yin Hsing, founder of Lin Yin Hsing International Co., Ltd., humbly referred to herself as just an "AI and ESG kindergarten student." Since her brand's main products are almond products, she particularly focuses on raw material quality and no artificial additives. In addition to complying with ESG principles, she also plans to introduce AI.
Starting from the pain points of brand development, she planned a path for AI transformation, including precise inventory preparation through demand forecasting, avoiding food and energy waste from the source, and improving the transparency of raw materials and processes to create a "responsible brand" in the minds of consumers. She also plans to continue investing profits in sustainable actions.
At the end of the discussion, Li Cong-zhen asked the four speakers how AI and ESG can solve industry pain points and enhance green competitiveness. Liao Ming-chien believes that for the bakery industry, using data to reduce food waste, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction are key. As for how all industries can benefit from AI, "the answers are all in the data."
Guo Yu-hsin shared that the Credit Guarantee Fund has greatly improved work efficiency internally through AI, which helps speed up case reviews. Coupled with the integration of databases, it helps to discover valuable data. Lin Yin Hsing stated that logistics and transportation and baking temperature control are key to maintaining product quality and flavor, and she hopes to rely on AI to ensure quality control and refine the grinding process in the future.
Jin Hai-tao suggested that enterprises can first establish standardized data lakes to collect scattered data, and then use AI, which will help focus on the pain points they want to solve. He also shared that ESG is generally considered a cost center, but in fact, creating profits through energy saving and enhancing customer trust will ultimately translate into actual orders.
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Liao Ming-chien, founder and general manager of I-Chen Food Co., Ltd., the first speaker, emphasized that even traditional industries like bakery must keep pace with the times and continue to transform, otherwise they will be eliminated in the waves of artificial intelligence (AI) and environmental protection.
Liao Ming-chien shared that in addition to pioneering a digital checkout system in its stores, I-Chen also relies on a "dual-track system" of AI and human collaboration to control production. First, AI automatically generates production schedules, which are then adjusted by store managers based on factors such as market characteristics and climate conditions, effectively reducing food waste. In addition, in response to livestock farming accounting for 14% of global carbon emissions, I-Chen has developed vegetarian baked products that are "egg-free, milk-free, and meat-free," achieving environmental carbon reduction while maintaining deliciousness.
He said that AI and ESG help to implement I-Chen's four major business philosophies: "health, sustainability, environmental protection, and civilization." As a food manufacturer, caring for customer health is a responsibility, and corporate profit is only a means, the true purpose is sustainability; enterprises must "be helpful to humanity and contribute to society."
"Banks are the golden mountains of enterprises, and credit guarantees are the backers of enterprises." Guo Yu-hsin, general manager of the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Guarantee Fund of Taiwan, clarified the role of the Credit Guarantee Fund in assisting enterprises in transformation by comparing the differences between banks and the Credit Guarantee Fund. He explained that the core value of the Credit Guarantee Fund lies in assisting SMEs in obtaining bank financing through a guarantee mechanism.
Guo Yu-hsin said that the Credit Guarantee Fund is a foundation affiliated with the Ministry of Economic Affairs. With government budgets, matching donations from cooperative banks, guarantee fees from enterprises, and investment income, approximately NT$10 billion in funds can be invested to support SMEs annually. In 2025, the Credit Guarantee Fund has guaranteed NT$1.8 trillion, with an average guarantee ratio of 84%.
He emphasized that the Credit Guarantee Fund cooperates with national policies, including AI and green financing ESG-related funding needs, which can receive additional quotas, serving as a backing for enterprises to develop AI and net-zero dual-axis transformation.
Jin Hai-tao, general manager of Guanglin Smart Technology Co., Ltd., the third speaker, stated that Guanglin Smart is the largest traffic equipment manufacturing and operation and maintenance provider in Taiwan and North America. Its business scope includes infrastructure such as road lighting, traffic signals, and electric vehicle charging stations and energy storage stations, and it has won multiple international awards.
He shared that Guanglin Smart uses AI in both hardware operation and maintenance and asset management, and considers how to reduce carbon emissions during hardware manufacturing and application. It also completed a carbon footprint inventory of all products in 2025. Taking road light maintenance as an example, the AI smart operation and maintenance system can instantly detect and diagnose the root cause of problems, reducing carbon emissions and time costs for maintenance dispatch.
Guanglin Smart also cooperates with industry, government, and academia to commit to ecological friendliness and road safety, including investing in ecological lighting for Taiwan's 12 conservation corridors starting in 2023, and improving real-time road condition detection and early warning through technologies such as AI smart intersection integration and digital twin systems, demonstrating the potential of AI and ESG to connect to a sustainable urban future.
Lin Yin Hsing, founder of Lin Yin Hsing International Co., Ltd., humbly referred to herself as just an "AI and ESG kindergarten student." Since her brand's main products are almond products, she particularly focuses on raw material quality and no artificial additives. In addition to complying with ESG principles, she also plans to introduce AI.
Starting from the pain points of brand development, she planned a path for AI transformation, including precise inventory preparation through demand forecasting, avoiding food and energy waste from the source, and improving the transparency of raw materials and processes to create a "responsible brand" in the minds of consumers. She also plans to continue investing profits in sustainable actions.
At the end of the discussion, Li Cong-zhen asked the four speakers how AI and ESG can solve industry pain points and enhance green competitiveness. Liao Ming-chien believes that for the bakery industry, using data to reduce food waste, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction are key. As for how all industries can benefit from AI, "the answers are all in the data."
Guo Yu-hsin shared that the Credit Guarantee Fund has greatly improved work efficiency internally through AI, which helps speed up case reviews. Coupled with the integration of databases, it helps to discover valuable data. Lin Yin Hsing stated that logistics and transportation and baking temperature control are key to maintaining product quality and flavor, and she hopes to rely on AI to ensure quality control and refine the grinding process in the future.
Jin Hai-tao suggested that enterprises can first establish standardized data lakes to collect scattered data, and then use AI, which will help focus on the pain points they want to solve. He also shared that ESG is generally considered a cost center, but in fact, creating profits through energy saving and enhancing customer trust will ultimately translate into actual orders.
*Not enough with a single article? "Global Central" paper magazine and e-magazine are on special offer. *Subscribe to the paper magazine "Global Central Subscription Order Form" *Physical magazine sales: Eslite Bookstore *E-magazine sales platforms: CNA E-bookstore, Amazon Kindle Store, Google Play Books, Hyweb E-book, Hua Yi E-book, Hami Bookstore, KOBO, Books.com.tw E-book, Readmoo E-book, Cite E-bookstore, BOOK☆WALKER, United Reading Club, Kono E-magazine, momo Shopping Network, etc.
CNA's in-depth international reporting brand, written by correspondents stationed in over 30 countries, allows Taiwanese readers to see the diverse faces of the world.
CNA's in-depth international reporting brand, written by correspondents stationed in over 30 countries, allows Taiwanese readers to see the diverse faces of the world.
This website uses related technologies to provide a better reading experience and respects user privacy. Click here to learn about CNA's privacy statement. By closing this window, you agree to the above guidelines.