Jinan Zhuocheng Bio-Tech Co., Ltd.

In early August, a new wave of green development was taking shape at the Hangzhou Bay Shangyu Economic and Technological Development Zone in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. Real-time carbon-emission data was displayed on digital monitoring platforms, while modern production facilities operated in an orderly manner. A refined carbon-footprint management system is helping traditional fine chemical industries reduce their carbon footprint, strengthen their green competitiveness and obtain a “green passport” for international markets.

As an export-oriented industrial zone with strong clusters in dyes, pharmaceuticals, new materials and other sectors, the Hangzhou Bay Shangyu Economic and Technological Development Zone has a well-established fine chemical industry, with annual exports exceeding RMB 7.2 billion. However, as international green trade barriers continue to tighten, inaccurate carbon-footprint accounting, complicated certification procedures and relatively high certification costs have become major challenges for companies seeking to expand overseas.

For years, many Chinese companies have relied on generic emission factors from international commercial databases to calculate carbon emissions. This approach can result in overestimated emissions, increasing accounting costs while also creating the risk of being classified as high-carbon suppliers during international supply-chain assessments.

Building a Localized Carbon-Footprint Database

To address these challenges, Shangyu District has worked with the School of Environment at Tsinghua University to develop a product carbon-footprint management system tailored to local industrial conditions.

The district has established a localized carbon-footprint factor database for the industrial park, covering core data for 22 major chemicals and four categories of supporting services. The database provides a reliable data foundation for companies to conduct more accurate carbon-footprint assessments and develop targeted emission-reduction strategies.

According to Tian Jinping, a researcher at the School of Environment at Tsinghua University, the Hangzhou Bay Shangyu Economic and Technological Development Zone has established a scientific methodology for calculating the carbon footprints of services and products provided by public infrastructure within the park. The resulting data can also be accessed and used fairly and conveniently by companies within the park and their upstream and downstream partners.

Precise Carbon Management Accelerates Green Transformation

Accurate carbon-footprint management is making the green transformation of industrial enterprises more measurable and actionable.

At Zhejiang Zili New Material Technology Co., Ltd., a full-life-cycle carbon-footprint management system tracks carbon emissions throughout the entire process, including raw-material procurement, manufacturing and logistics.

A company representative said that the company has adopted renewable electricity and low- and medium-temperature energy-saving technologies, reducing carbon emissions across the production process by nearly 20%. It subsequently obtained the first green product certification in China's refractory-materials sector.

For traditional chemical and manufacturing companies, carbon-footprint management is therefore becoming more than a tool for reducing emissions. It is increasingly becoming an important foundation for entering international markets and participating in global supply chains.

From “No Data Available” to “Data-Driven Management”

According to the Shangyu branch of the Shaoxing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, the district has issued a total of 48 carbon-footprint-related certification certificates to date.

The regional industrial sector has gradually shifted from having “no reliable data to reference” to “measurable and traceable data,” and from repeated certification processes toward “one-time certification and mutual recognition.”

As major international markets, including the European Union, continue to strengthen green trade requirements, carbon footprints, environmental product information and low-carbon certifications are becoming increasingly integrated into international trade rules.

For export-oriented companies, establishing a comprehensive carbon-data management system can help mitigate potential risks arising from green trade barriers while strengthening the international competitiveness of their products.

Green Competitiveness for Global Markets

Green development is becoming an increasingly important characteristic of advanced manufacturing and a new source of competitiveness for traditional industries entering international markets.

Going forward, Shangyu District plans to further improve its localized carbon-data system, optimize carbon-footprint certification services and strengthen low-carbon standards across key industries.

Through more refined and systematic carbon management, the region aims to accelerate the green transformation of its traditional chemical industries and help more local companies expand into global markets.

As green trade requirements continue to evolve, traditional chemical companies are increasingly moving beyond a sole focus on product cost and quality toward greater attention to carbon footprints, green certifications and full-life-cycle environmental performance. Building stronger green capabilities will become an increasingly important pathway for traditional industries seeking sustainable growth in global markets.