China ZCF guidance
Guiding Opinions on Zero-Carbon Factory Construction (MIIT et al., Gong Xin Bu Lian Jie [2026] No. 13)
Topic : Climate · Level : National
Today
Guidance Jan 2026. MIIT notice 13 Jul 2026 (No. 334) opened national ZCF applications (due 15 Aug); targets met by 2030.
Summary
In January 2026, MIIT and four agencies issued guidance on building 'zero-carbon factories'. It is voluntary: benchmark sites are named from 2026, first in auto, batteries, PV and electronics, then heavy industry by 2030. National standards are still in preparation.
Who is concerned
- Turnover
- non précisé
- Employees
- non précisé
- Listed company
- cotées et non cotées
- Sectors
- Auto, lithium battery, PV
- Electronics, machinery
- Computing infrastructure
- Heavy industry (2030)
- Triggering activities
- Voluntary application for zero-carbon factory
- Extraterritorial reach
- No
non précisé
- Examples
- Lithium battery plant exporting to EU
- PV module factory
- Auto parts supplier
What the law requires
- Set up carbon accounting and management system
- Shift to clean energy and raise energy efficiency
- Analyse product carbon footprints across supply chain
- Offset residual emissions and disclose information
Penalties
None: voluntary programme. Recognition and local incentives only.
What this changes for a supplier in China
Gives export factories a state-backed label for deep decarbonisation. Buyers will still check the underlying data, offsets and electricity claims.
Expected evidence
- Plant GHG inventory and footprint
- Green electricity certificates (GEC)
- Offset records
Tiers : Tier 1