In the four years since its establishment, RLX Technology remains dedicated to fulfilling its social responsibility. Photo credit: RLX Technology
RLX Technology, known for its RELX-branded e-cigarette products, released its annual corporate social responsibility report Envisaging a Better Future recently, highlighting its efforts in market responsibility, r&d investment, environment protection, employees’ career, and corporate governance.
According to the report, RLX further enhanced on its investment in product quality and vaping science. Since its inception, RLX has invested RMB800 million (US$111.2 million) in r&d. RLX established its laboratory matrix which consists of eight labs for different purposes, and developed a "1+4" science research chain covering product quality, physiochemical research, toxicology research, long-term impact assessment, and clinical research.
In March 2021, RLX launched the first e-cigarette clinical research project in China. In February 2022, the company started the first clinical study on the safety of e-cigarettes in China. Both of the two projects were successfully registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Various researches led by RLX and renowned research institutions were published in prominent academic journals such as Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety and Chinese Journal of Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment.
By June 2022, RLX had applied for over 610 patents globally, covering vaping device design, e-liquid formulas, electric control, smart devices, and released content.
Environment protection is another highlight in RLX's CSR report. In September 2021, RLX started the Pods Reborn recycling program with China Siyuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation. By June 2022, the program had been carried out in 188 cities in China and over 16,000 stores were equipped with a used pods recycling bin.
As part of an endeavor by the Amur Tiger and Leopard Conservation Project RLX started with China Green Foundation in 2020, RLX planted a total of 20 hectares of eco-fields in Zhen'anling Village, Hunchun city, Jilin Province to ensure the amur tiger and leopard have sufficient food supply. RLX has also organized a patrol team to regularly remove animal clips and traps in the woods, while tracking data of the wild animals. By the end of 2021, the total patrol distance of the RLX Tech Patrol Team had reached 12,600 kilometers.
In April 2022, RLX launched its net-zero carbon emission plan Aim for Zero to achieve carbon neutrality in its direct operations by 2033 and along the value chain by 2050. According to the plan, RLX will take eight major initiatives including plastic reduction, waste reduction, promoting the Pods Reborn program, establishing a green supply chain partner mechanism, reducing product carbon footprint and introducing zero-carbon products, creating a zero-carbon plant and a green store, and reducing carbon footprint in offices and during business travel.
As for RLX's market responsibility, the report said that by the end of 2021, RLX had opened more than 24,000 stores in more than 300 cities, creating about 370,000 jobs across the industry chain.
"In more than four years of entrepreneurship, one of the things we are particularly proud of, and we have no regrets about, is our dedication to fulfilling our social responsibility. RLX Tech sees social responsibility as one of its core competitive advantages. It is also our duty as corporate citizens." said Kate Wang, founder and c.e.o. of RLX Tech.