CCTV News (Focus Interview) : Promoting green and low-carbon economic and social development is an important symbol of the new concepts and practices of the Party's governance in the new era, and it is also a key link to achieve high-quality development. The "Decision" of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee points out that we will improve the mechanism for green and low-carbon development and actively yet prudently promote carbon peak carbon neutrality. And specifically listed, the construction of carbon emissions statistical accounting system, product carbon identification certification system, product carbon footprint management system. What is the carbon identification certification system? What is a carbon footprint management system? At present, some localities and key industries have carried out pilot work. Today let's go to Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, to see the exploration of the textile industry there.

 

In the production workshop and warehouse of Shaoxing Ellis Dyeing and Finishing Co., LTD., Shaoxing Market Supervision and Administration staff are conducting a detailed investigation of the carbon emissions generated by the main products of this company in various production links, and also obtained the carbon emissions related data of upstream and downstream enterprises, such as various major raw material suppliers and transportation and sales enterprises. If these data are in line with the standard after synthesis, the market supervision Administration will issue a "carbon label" certification for this product of Ailis dyeing and finishing.

 

Carbon identification certification is an important system in constructing the product carbon footprint management system in our country. The so-called carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases directly or indirectly emitted by human beings in production and life. The product carbon footprint management system calculates the carbon emissions generated by a product in the whole life cycle of raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, sales, use, waste and recycling, including not only the product itself, but also the carbon emissions of its industrial chain, supply chain and other related areas.

 

Xing Baiying, deputy director of the Comprehensive Division of the Climate Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment: "The Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued a joint 15 departments in June this year, the implementation plan on the establishment of carbon footprint management system, which is actually the product carbon footprint management of our country, equivalent to a top-level design. Carbon identification certification system, mainly means that after the carbon footprint information data of enterprise products is calculated, it needs to be certified by a third party certification body, which may also be displayed to consumers on the packaging of products in the form of labels or logos. It is also mentioned in the implementation document, encouraging local governments and enterprises to explore the system based on their own realities."

 

Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, is an important textile production and trade center in the world, with nearly 8,000 large textile enterprises, printing and dyeing capacity accounting for one-third of the national market share, nearly a quarter of the world's textile products are traded in Shaoxing, and the annual export scale of Shaoxing textile has exceeded 100 billion yuan. With such a scale and volume, Shaoxing textile industry as a pilot carbon footprint management system is of great reference value. In July 2024, the "Zhejiang Carbon Peak Carbon neutral Certification National Comprehensive Pilot Implementation Plan" was released, and the Shaoxing textile industry carbon footprint identification and certification pilot was included in the comprehensive pilot key tasks.

 

Li Dong, director of the Conformity Assessment Supervision and Management Office of Zhejiang Provincial Market Supervision Bureau: "Textile industry is one of the leading industries in Zhejiang Province, accounting for a very large share of global exports. The whole life process of textile industry, the whole industrial chain is the most complete, the data is the most complete, the application scenario is also the most complete, so we chose textile industry as the traditional industry upgrade, this industry is very typical."

 

To establish a carbon footprint management system, one of the most important tasks is to formulate standards. At the national level, relevant guidance programs have been introduced. Zhejiang has set up a technical alliance for textile industry "carbon footprint marking" certification, and introduced domestic and international certification bodies to jointly develop accounting methods and standards.

 

Jiang Jingyi, technical expert of Zhejiang Green Certification Alliance: "When formulating the existing standards, we will also refer to the international standards that have been introduced or promulgated now, to ensure that these standards formulated now can be more in line with, or in line with international standards, and obtain international recognition."

 

After many efforts, Shaoxing has released the local standards of carbon footprint technical specifications of chemical fiber fabrics, cotton fabrics and silk fabrics, filling the gaps in the industry. Also based on the relevant international and domestic standards and certification system requirements, the carbon footprint management platform of textile products has been created, which can realize the carbon footprint accounting of the whole process, the whole cycle and the full coverage of the product.

 

With such a clear carbon footprint data of the whole process of the product, the chain owner can clearly understand in which link their products can further save energy and reduce carbon, forcing the enterprise itself and the upstream and downstream supply chain enterprises to make corresponding changes.

 

Not long ago, Shaoxing City market Supervision Administration issued the first carbon label certification for 15 textile enterprises in Shaoxing City, many of which have made corresponding measures to save energy and reduce carbon. Zhejiang Buchuang Textile Group Co., Ltd. installed solar photovoltaics on the roof of its factory, which can cover 50 percent of its electricity needs.

 

And Zhejiang Baofang Printing and Dyeing Co., Ltd. has installed carbon emission data collectors in each production link of the enterprise, so as to better observe the carbon emissions of each process, so as to optimize the process and better save energy and reduce emissions.

 

The management of product carbon footprint, on the one hand, puts forward carbon reduction requirements for enterprises, but at the same time, it is also helping enterprises to solve practical problems. For example, the current EU carbon tariff has covered electricity, cement, steel and other high energy consumption industries, is expected to be officially extended to textile and other industries in 2026. At that time, it will also have a certain impact on the domestic textile industry exports, and carbon reduction is actually a problem that enterprises have to face.

 

Therefore, whether it is the national level, or various pilot industries and regions, in the formulation of standards at the same time, always the international exchange and international integration of accounting rules as an important factor. Such a carbon footprint management system, on the one hand, is to guide enterprises and industries to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction, to obtain their own interests and social benefits, but also to help enterprises take the initiative to deal with international trade barriers, in the international trade to take the lead.

 

Xing Baiying: "From the government's point of view, it wants to create a policy orientation and policy environment conducive to reducing carbon footprint; For enterprises, we help enterprises, tell them what the carbon footprint is, find out the carbon footprint of local and enterprise key products, advantageous products, and then open the entire chain of product carbon footprint management, dredge the pain points and blocking points in the process of product carbon footprint management."

 

Dry Yong Textile is also one of the first enterprises in Shaoxing to obtain carbon label certification. What the enterprise did not think of was that it had just got the carbon label and tasted the sweetness.

 

Xiao Xingshui, general manager of Shaoxing Dry Yong Textile Co., LTD. : "When we provided the information, the customer saw our carbon footprint certification certificate, he was quite surprised. This carbon footprint certificate as a bonus reported to the head office, we finally become a uniform equipment fabric supplier has brought a great role and effect."

 

Tasted the sweetness of carbon identification certification, dry yong textile carefully studied the improvement proposals put forward by the certification body, and made full efforts in carbon emissions when building a new factory. From equipment to process, from hardware to software, dry Yong textile has invested 100 million yuan and independently developed new printing software and nano ink, which greatly improves the fineness of product printing, and reduces the amount of pollution to one-tenth of ordinary printing, and reduces water consumption by more than 90%.

 

In addition, the new factory has also placed the waste gas collection and reuse system, the production of exhaust gas recovery, recycling in the heating link, further reducing emissions.

 

After the completion of these facilities, dry Yong textile invited a third party certification body again, hoping to continue to reduce the carbon identification value of their products, and the accounting results also affirmed the efforts of the enterprise.

 

For these products and enterprises that take the lead in green transformation, the state also encourages local governments to provide some policy, financial and application scenario support. For example, green and low-carbon scores will be included in investment ratings, and green and low-carbon products will be prioritized in government procurement lists. At the same time, green transformation also needs market recognition and consumer support.

 

Under the concerted efforts of national and local governments, enterprises and industry associations, in addition to Shaoxing's textile industry, many places and industries across the country are also constantly exploring the establishment of carbon footprint management systems. And these practical experience through the summary and refining, will help our country to form a unified national standard.

 

In the Implementation Plan on Establishing a carbon footprint Management System, it is proposed that by 2027, about 100 carbon footprint accounting rules and standards for key products will be formulated and introduced, and a carbon footprint management system will be preliminarily established. By 2030, about 200 carbon footprint accounting rules and standards for key products will be formulated and introduced, and the carbon footprint management system will be more perfect.

 

Compared with the carbon identification and certification system for a certain product, the more long-term goal is to establish a carbon footprint information disclosure system for enterprises, that is, under the premise of ensuring data security and intellectual property rights, encourage enterprises to share environmental information, sustainable development information and other accounting results and reports to the society, and transform green and low-carbon into one of the core elements of enterprise development.

 

The gradual exploration and establishment of the carbon footprint management system will become a new way to promote the green transformation of the industry in China, and the green low-carbon transformation of the production end is a necessary condition for China to achieve the "double carbon" goal of carbon peak carbon neutrality. For industries and enterprises, consumers and markets are the ultimate driving force to support their development; For consumers, if they can incorporate green and low-carbon into our standards for measuring the cost performance of products, they will truly participate in the process of industrial green transformation. The exploration and efforts of green and low-carbon will eventually be presented in the blue sky and green trees around us and the fresh air we breathe.