China announces new measures on the phased nurturing and management of green factories
On January 30, 2024, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued new measures on the phased nurturing and management of green factories, which came into effect immediately. These measures set out criteria and steps to nurture green factories.
A green factory refers to a company serving as a base for green manufacturing that has achieved intensive land use, raw material neutralization, clean production, waste recycling and low-carbon energy.
The national-level “Green Factory” certification, administered by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), is a “nationwide initiative aimed at enhancing China’s green manufacturing system, comprehensively implementing green manufacturing, and contributing to the industrial sector’s pursuit of carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.”
In 2016 the MIIT issued the Notice on the Construction of Green Manufacturing System, listing green factories, products, parks and supply chains as its main contents. The aim was “to build a green manufacturing system based on an open and transparent third-party evaluation mechanism and a standard system”. Accompanying the notice was the Green Factory Evaluation Requirements, which elaborate on the green factory evaluation indicator framework, evaluation basis and method.
On 8 November, 2023 the MIIT released the latest Green Manufacturing List, with a total of 1,491 green factories and 205 green supply chain management enterprises named, covering various fields such as electricity, chemicals, food and home appliances. This shows once again that national authorities attach great importance to the capability of enterprises in green and sustainable development.
The MIIT-led Green Factory evaluation is open to manufacturing factories who have registered within China and engaged in actual production processes such as processing, manufacturing, and assembly. Overseas companies with investments in production within China are encouraged to actively apply for participation in the green factory evaluation.
Sources:
- EnvilianceASIA, March 26, 2024. https://enviliance.com/regions/east-asia/cn/report_11715
- China Business Law Journal, January 9, 2024. https://law.asia/esg-standards-green-factory
- Xinhua, January 19, 2023. ‘China’s Green Development in the New Era – White Paper’ http://english.scio.gov.cn/whitepapers/2023-01/19/content_85067818.htm