ESG Strategy and Structure
According to Peng, the core principles of ESG are deeply embedded in the company’s DNA, aligning with its 42-year-old corporate strategy, vision, purpose, and management philosophy. To support this, Tongwei Solar says it has established an ESG management system consisting of ESG professionals, the CEO, the director of its community, and technical experts from various functional departments and business units. This system ensures that all business lines are covered under the company’s ESG framework.
ESG Targets
Tongwei Solar’s 10 sustainable development commitments, published in 2023, address 5 key areas of its business: business ethics, environmental protection, human rights and labor, supply chain management, and conflict minerals. Based on these commitments, the company has set specific, measurable ESG targets, which translate into 13 sustainable development goals, according to Peng.
Under its environmental targets, the company aims to save up to 45,259,000 tons of water by 2024, reduce carbon intensity by 19.5% by 2025 compared to the 2020 baseline, and source 100% of its electricity from renewable energy (RE) sources by 2030. Additionally, the company has set a target to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2030.
For its social targets, Tongwei Solar aims for 100% supplier ESG risk identification and assessment, zero personnel injuries, no fire or explosion incidents each year, and more. In terms of governance, the company commits to conducting 100% internal audits on anti-corruption measures and staff audits. To align with its carbon neutrality goal, Tongwei says it has maintained a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory, verified by BSI, for 3 consecutive years, covering Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 carbon emissions, which account for more than 99% of its total GHG emissions.
Regarding the evolving trends in international standards for product carbon footprint certifications, the company’s products – silicon, cells, and modules – are certified under various regional and international standards, including Evaluation Carbone Simplifiée (ECS), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and ISO 14067 product carbon footprint certification. Beyond a low-carbon footprint and green supply chain, Tongwei ensures labor traceability throughout its supply chain, reinforcing its commitment to being a responsible PV company, explained Peng.
At the conference, the company also highlighted its vertically integrated supply chain, with a capacity of 450,000 tons of high-purity polysilicon annually, and solar cell and PV module production capacities of 20 GW and 75 GW, respectively.
