On May 26, 2019, Tzu Chi USA’s New York Chapter was invited to participate in the Passport to Taiwan event at Union Square. At the event, Tzu Chi volunteers showcased the manufacturing process of eco-friendly fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles by DA.AI technology Co., Ltd. Tzu Chi volunteers’ introduction of eco-friendly products helped raise awareness for a different means of environmental protection among the audiences.
The annual Passport to Taiwan event is co-sponsored by the New York City Council, the New York State Legislature and CultureAid NYC. Beginning in 2002, it quickly became a major event for Taiwanese Americans.
One-Stop Environmental Protection
The theme of Tzu Chi New York’s booth was that of environmental protection, which stood out among the various food stands and commercial booths.
It was a hot day at Union Square, surpassing 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but volunteers were motivated! By 9:30 AM, they’d set up their booth, which included a machine to showcase the eco-friendly manufacturing process, as well as different products to display the quality of the fabric.
One of our Tzu Chi volunteers, Tim Lee, was especially drawn to introducing the environmental manufacturing process. With the help of other volunteers, he rehearsed his presentation and gathered valuable advice from his fellows. After four hours into the event, Tzu Chi’s booth had already sold $1,017 worth of eco-friendly products.
You see this water bottle? Human beings dispose of 1 million water bottles just like this one every minute, which is a terrible waste. But we have a solution!
