Media Spotlight: Cangzhou Daily | Carbon Footprint Certification Opens the “Green Passport” to International Markets
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TIME:2026-01-28

Against the backdrop of global climate change and the low-carbon transition, “carbon” has emerged as a critical factor influencing corporate competitiveness. Recently, Hebei Province witnessed the successful trading of its first forestry carbon credit, with a transaction value of RMB 6,420, thereby converting ecological value into tangible economic benefits and highlighting the market opportunities embedded in the “dual carbon” goals.
In Cangzhou, numerous enterprises are actively expanding into emerging areas such as carbon management and carbon finance, accelerating the development of a green industrial chain and transforming the pressures of low-carbon transformation into new drivers for high-quality development.
Recently, a reporter visited Hebei Guangxiang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., located in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Cangzhou Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park. Inside the production workshops, state-of-the-art automated equipment is operating at full capacity, creating a bustling scene. The company is racing against time to achieve a strong start to the year, laying a solid foundation for high-quality development in the new year.
“We were the first to obtain carbon-footprint certification for products such as caffeine, giving us a significant competitive edge in expanding into the European and American markets. At present, the company is operating at full capacity to ramp up production and fully meet the growing market demand,” said Zhang Zanyuan, the company’s general manager.
Guangxiang Pharmaceutical is a subsidiary of Shijiazhuang Sihua Pharmaceutical Group and boasts 31 active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) products, with over 90% of its caffeine output exported overseas. Since the second half of 2023, European and American buyers have increasingly raised decarbonization requirements during negotiations, a trend that sends clear policy guidance and market demand signals to the company.
In October 2023, the world’s first “carbon tariff”—the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism—entered its trial phase, covering multiple sectors including steel, aluminum, and fertilizers. Starting in 2026, exports to the EU will be required to calculate and declare carbon-emission data; companies that fail to meet the standards will face tariff penalties. “Global caffeine production capacity is highly concentrated, with only three enterprises operating at a scale of 10,000 tonnes or more. To maintain a leading edge in this fiercely competitive market, we must take the lead in advancing a low-carbon transformation,” said Zhang Zanyuan. “A product’s carbon footprint encompasses all lifecycle emissions—from raw materials and manufacturing to transportation and end-of-life disposal. Obtaining carbon-footprint certification not only helps companies navigate international trade barriers but also serves as a crucial step in enhancing the green value-added of products and building a strong brand image.”
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From product carbon-footprint certification to carbon-asset trading, and from corporate energy-efficiency upgrades to zero-carbon development in industrial parks, Cangzhou is forging a coordinated low-carbon development pathway that spans the micro, meso, and macro levels. This transformation not only aligns closely with international green-trade regulations and market demands but also galvanizes enterprises to harness technological innovation and management optimization as intrinsic drivers of green growth.
Guided by the national “dual carbon” strategy, carbon management has moved beyond the conceptual stage and been integrated into specific production processes and business models, transforming carbon emissions from a cost item into an asset. This shift is driving the optimization of industrial and energy structures and represents a crucial pathway for regional economies to achieve high-quality development. Looking ahead, as the national carbon market expands its coverage and carbon-pricing mechanisms are progressively refined, the low-carbon transition will increasingly serve as a key driver of operational efficiency gains, industrial upgrading, and regional development.
(Source: Cangzhou Daily, January 28, 2026)
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