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Case Study – Vitalink

Vitalink Technology

Empowering Industrial Transformation through Sustainability

Highlights at a Glance

5MW rooftop solar generating 6M+ kWh clean power annually

5,000+ tons CO₂ avoided each year

100% ESG training coverage across all employees

50+% of workforce female, with increasing representation in leadership

Ranked top 6% globally in 2023 S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment

5MW rooftop solar generating 6M+ kWh clean power annually

5,000+ tons CO₂ avoided each year

100% ESG training coverage across all employees

50+% of workforce female, with increasing representation in leadership

Ranked top 6% globally in 2023 S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment

Stage 1: Hands-on Incubation and DNA Formation

Vitalink was founded and nurtured by CN Innovations with a bold vision

to transform metal surface processing through environmentally friendly PVD technology.

From determining its technological direction to pioneering early applications,

CN Innovations shaped Vitalink’s identity as a sustainability-oriented innovator.

In 1991, CN Innovations founded Vitalink with a clear vision to revolutionize the metal surface processing industry by introducing environmentally friendly PVD technology. In its earliest days, the Group imported second-hand PVD machines from the US and set up the first site in Fanling, Hong Kong, to experiment with and refine this new approach. Vitalink pioneered PVD technology as a low-energy, pollution-free alternative to chemical plating, eliminating wastewater and hazardous by-products. This innovation created a paradigm shift in China’s watch industry and highlighted how manufacturing could be both high-precision and environmentally responsible. Since then, Vitalink has applied this technology to the consumer electronics industry, becoming a PRC National Manufacturing Champion in PVD for mobile devices.

Since 2005, Vitalink has become a leader in precision glass manufacturing, leading the industry in terms of automation, yield, and therefore minimizing carbon footprint through proprietary process and equipment development. It will continue the quest for sustainable development by constant R&D on low-carbon manufacturing processes such as 3D glass forming and bonding and laser cutting.

Stage 2: Shareholder Endorsement and ESG Governance

As a major shareholder,

CN Innovations endorsed and enabled Vitalink’s adoption of comprehensive ESG governance, embedding sustainability

into corporate decision-making and ensuring long-term continuity.

As global clients began to raise ESG expectations for their supply chains, Vitalink evolved from its roots in green manufacturing technologies to adopting comprehensive ESG management encompassing all areas of operations.

Action 1: Strengthen Governance Framework

Vitalink established a dedicated ESG Committee under its Board of Directors, led by the Strategic Committee, and created a cross-functional ESG taskforce covering operations, energy, procurement, HR, and compliance. One of the committee’s first priorities was to anchor the company’s climate ambition by endorsing science-based targets: a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2031, and net-zero across the value chain by 2050. This top-down structure enabled ESG targets to be embedded into daily operations, reinforced by quarterly reviews and annual assessments that translated strategy into concrete actions and iterative improvements.

Action 2: Green Transformation of Operation

Vitalink made a strategic shift in its energy sources by carrying out a series of transitions to renewable energy. By installing on-site solar PV systems, it now generates over 6 million kWh of clean electricity annually, avoiding more than 5,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. It also diversified its energy mix through green power trading and Green Energy Certificates, securing more than 50,000 MWh of certified renewable electricity in 2023. To build on this progress, Vitalink has set long-term commitments to steadily increase the share of renewables in its overall consumption, embedding clean energy adoption across the group’s operations.

In parallel, Vitalink enhanced its energy efficiency. It deployed a digital energy management platform integrated with MES systems across major factories, enabling real-time monitoring and dynamic optimization of energy use. It also pursued process innovations including replacing high-temperature cleaning with ambient-temperature alternatives, optimizing furnace and coating equipment temperature curves, and upgrading compressed air and HVAC systems. These initiatives were standardized and rolled out across its facilities in Shenzhen, Korea, and Vietnam, creating a replicable model for sustainable manufacturing.

Achievement and Recognition

With CN Innovations's constant support,

Vitalink’s ESG transformation delivered measurable outcomes recognized by customers and capital markets.

Key Outcomes

- Established sustainable supply chain with ESG-related clauses incorporated in 100% contracts with upstream partners.

- Launched an “ESG Academy” to provide structured training for employees at all levels and achieved 100% training coverage in 2023, averaging more than 20 hours per employee.

- Promoted diversity and inclusion with nearly half of the workforce being female and women holding a steadily increasing share of management roles

Key Awards

In 2023, Vitalink ranked in the top 6% globally in S&P’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). Its international leadership in ESG performance widely recognized through a series of prestigious awards, including