Leading Chinese solar manufacturing giants including JA Solar, JinkoSolar, LONGi, Tongwei and GCL Group are part of a 24-member group that have launched the Global Solar Sustainable Alliance (GSSA) at the UN Global Compact (UNGC) event in Indonesia.
The initiative aims to promote sustainability and Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) across the solar value chain globally by adopting sustainability principles and strategies, and taking action.
Some of the suggested actions to be adopted by the alliance members include implementing clean production, promoting a circular economy, achieving net-zero emissions at the earliest, creating gender-responsive, healthy workplaces, implementing human rights due diligence in supply chains, improving value chain transparency, traceability, protecting the rights of minority shareholders, among others.
The above mentioned are among the 9 actionable pathways for the alliance under the following 3 pillars of:
Just Transition: Safeguarding the green ecosystems and environment
People-Centric Development: Building an Equitable Society for Common Good, and
Governance Enhancement: Driving Inclusive growth.
In a statement announcing the launch of this initiative, JA Solar explained, “As the backbone of renewable energy, the global solar sector provides consumers, industries, and society with affordable and reliable clean energy.” It added, “On the other hand, after decades of growth, the social and environmental footprints of the solar industry, particularly the associated risks across its supply chain—have increasingly emerged. These challenges pose significant obstacles to unleashing the industry's full potential and achieving its own sustainable development.”
Other participating companies include Lihao Clean Energy, Asia Silicon, Flat Glass, Xinyi Glass, Kibing Group, Triumph Group, Yonz Technology, Xinbo, Hangzhou First, SVECK, Huitian New Material, Gucheng Xinfa New Material, Fusion New Material, DKEM, Drinda, AIKO, Central New Energy Holding Group, Yingfa, Sunrev.
The co-signatories to the alliance have committed to develop a concrete action roadmap with stakeholder engagement to ensure effective implementation of the initiative. The alliance is open to more solar companies and supply chain partners.
