To accelerate the establishment of a green, low-carbon, and sustainable container supply chain system and further enhance the global competitiveness and industrial chain stability of China's container industry, this Work Plan has been developed based on the national "Dual Carbon" development goals and the green and low-carbon development requirements of relevant international organizations, in conjunction with extensive research conducted on container manufacturers, major upstream suppliers, and leading enterprises in China's "Dual Carbon" initiatives.

I. Foundation

First, container manufacturers have begun conducting carbon footprint accounting for their main products, reducing emissions through lower energy consumption and clean energy substitution. The container industry's voluntary green actions have commenced, with manufacturers conducting Product Carbon Footprint (CFP) accounting and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) to understand total carbon emissions and emission sources of their main products. CIMC Container has completed carbon footprint accounting for 12 mainstream products, including all standard dry cargo containers, reefer containers, and standard special containers. Shanghai CIMC Reefer Containers has published EPDs for products such as 20-foot dry cargo containers and 40-foot reefer containers. However, from an industry-wide perspective, product carbon footprint and EPD work has only been conducted on representative batches, without covering all major container manufacturers, and has not been carried out continuously. CIMC Container, Shanghai CIMC Reefer Containers, Xinhuachang, and other major container manufacturers have improved energy efficiency through technical upgrades of equipment such as air compressors, welding machines, and motors. CIMC Container and Shanghai CIMC Reefer Containers have deployed rooftop photovoltaic power generation projects to promote clean energy substitution. Some factories have been certified as national or provincial-level green factories.

Second, the upstream steel industry started green and low-carbon development relatively early, establishing a solid foundation for container product carbon footprint accounting and raw material decarbonization. Steel is the primary source of carbon emissions for containers, and the steel industry is a key sector for energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. Driven by relevant national departments such as the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and industry organizations including the China Iron and Steel Association, green and low-carbon development in the steel industry started early and has a strong foundation. The main weathering steel products used in containers have completed carbon footprint accounting. The steel industry has established an industry-wide EPD platform to publish Environmental Product Declarations for related products. Rizhao Steel, as a major supplier of weathering steel for containers, produces green steel through innovative ESP (Endless Strip Production) short-process green and low-carbon integrated technology.

Third, the downstream shipping industry is accelerating decarbonization, with evident demand for green containers. In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the "2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships" (referred to as the "2023 Strategy"), which sets a clear target of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by around 2050. This represents stricter targets compared to the "Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (2018)," which required a 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050. Maersk has set a net-zero emission target for 2040, and other major international liner companies have established net-zero emission targets for 2050. The shipping industry's emission reduction commitments directly raise the green requirements for containers in the international container market. Some shipping companies have already begun requiring carbon footprint data for container products.

Fourth, the container industry's successful implementation of the "Water-based Paint Initiative" has established a strong organizational foundation for industry green actions. In 2016, the Association organized the industry-wide "Water-based Paint Initiative," which effectively reduced VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions by over 85% across the container industry. This became a model of industry self-regulation. The "Water-based Paint Initiative" explored a new path for the container industry to jointly tackle industry challenges, significantly enhanced industry enterprises' trust in the Association, accumulated successful experience for industry green and low-carbon development, and established an excellent organizational foundation.

II. Existing Issues

(I) The Container Industry Lacks Clear Green and Low-Carbon Development Goals

First, the industry's green and low-carbon development goals and roadmap are unclear. The industry has developed an overall understanding of container carbon emissions through carbon footprint accounting, but lacks awareness of carbon reduction technologies, reduction effects, and reduction cost-effectiveness. This makes it difficult to scientifically formulate phased targets for the container industry's green and low-carbon development. Enterprises cannot set their own green and low-carbon development goals based on industry development targets. From the perspective of downstream shipping demand, given that the shipping industry has set net-zero emission targets, container carbon emissions and reduction expectations are also difficult to determine. The container industry needs to independently formulate emission reduction plans and timetables to take the initiative in industry green and low-carbon development.

Second, the industry's green and low-carbon development lacks a roadmap and timeline. Industries such as steel, cement, and aluminum smelting have released overall goals and roadmaps for industry green and low-carbon development, clearly defining phased goals for industry green and low-carbon development and the key focus areas for each phase. The container industry lacks a clear specific roadmap, with unclear key tasks for each phase, leading to dispersed green and low-carbon development efforts across the industry, difficulties in efficient resource allocation, and a lack of roadmap and timeline. This makes it difficult to effectively monitor and measure the pace of green transformation, affecting the industry's overall progress and participation in sustainable development.

(II) The Container Industry Lacks Specific Green and Low-Carbon Standard Systems

First, the industry lacks carbon footprint verification and other green and low-carbon standards. Carbon footprint accounting in the container sector mainly relies on general standards such as "ISO 14067:2018 Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products — Requirements and guidelines for quantification," "Greenhouse Gas Product Carbon Footprint — Quantification Requirements and Guidelines" (GB/T 24067), and "PAS 2050:2008 Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services." However, these general standards only specify carbon footprint accounting boundaries, data collection, and data quality principles without addressing the specific requirements of individual industries. This results in different verification bodies having potential differences in calculation methods, data collection, and accounting boundaries during container carbon footprint verification processes, making product carbon footprint results potentially non-comparable.

Second, the industry has not yet established a green product evaluation system and unified industry carbon labels. The container industry's green assessments are primarily conducted through green factory certification (ISO 14001), environmental management system certification (ISO 14001), energy management system certification (ISO 50001), and other organizational evaluation and system assessment methods, which mainly focus on container product carbon emission accounting, carbon footprint verification, green container certification, and carbon emission management. The industry lacks a unified and scientific evaluation standard, making it difficult to accurately define product carbon emission levels. The industry has not yet formed a unified carbon label, and purchasers cannot accurately identify low-carbon products. The industry urgently needs third-party endorsement for low-carbon products.

Third, a dedicated emission factor database for the container sector has not been established. Due to the lack of a carbon emission factor database for the container sector, container product carbon footprint accounting mainly relies on average factors obtained from publicly available external carbon factor databases. Only a few factors have been obtained from suppliers who have conducted carbon footprint accounting. Carbon factors come from multiple inconsistent sources, and factor databases have data lag issues, making it difficult to reflect the actual emissions of container products. This results in low reliability of container product carbon footprint verification results.

(III) The Container Industry Lacks Clear Green and Low-Carbon Technology Pathways

First, the industry's green and low-carbon development technology pathway is unclear. Container industry green decarbonization practices mainly focus on the enterprise level, concentrating on adopting decarbonization measures at specific "points." From a full industry chain perspective, there is a lack of systematic overall planning and layout, without comprehensive assessment of the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of various carbon reduction technologies. The industry has not yet formed a clear and efficient pathway to effectively reduce carbon emissions across the entire industry chain.

Second, upstream suppliers lack effective guidance for green and low-carbon development. Container upstream supporting components, steel bars, adhesive strips, flooring, coatings, labels, and other enterprises have relatively lagging green and low-carbon development. Industry leading enterprises have just begun product carbon footprint accounting, and decarbonization measures are lagging behind. Corner fitting enterprises in particular have high energy consumption. High emissions from upstream suppliers will be transmitted to container manufacturers, hindering container green decarbonization progress. Upstream suppliers have received green and low-carbon development pressure from container manufacturers, but constrained by small enterprise scale, weak green technology capabilities, market competition, and other factors, they have not yet formed effective response measures.

III. Work Objectives

Guided by industry green and low-carbon development planning, establish the container industry green and low-carbon development "Three Lists" and "Five Standard Systems" ("1+3+5"), forming the container industry's own low-carbon approach and foundation to further improve the quality of container industry development and maintain the industry's sustainable competitiveness in the global market.

— One Unified Mainline. To achieve green and low-carbon container products, coordinate green and low-carbon development with industry stability, industry trends, and national policy requirements, forming the "Green and Low-Carbon Development Vision and Roadmap for China's Container Industry." As the unified guideline for China's container industry green and low-carbon development, clarify green and low-carbon work timelines, roadmaps, and technical solutions for each action area, and solidly advance task implementation.

— Form Three Lists. Referencing the "Guidelines for Building Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Standard Systems" (standard framework), form the Container Industry Green and Low-Carbon Development Standard List, identifying decarbonization technologies from source control, production process control, end-of-pipe treatment, and collaborative carbon reduction perspectives. Form the Container Industry Decarbonization Technology List, sorting out container enterprise green energy utilization, green production technology, product quality, environmental impact, and carbon emission management basic capabilities. Form the Container Industry Enterprise Green and Low-Carbon Development Capability List.

— Establish Five Standard Systems. Strengthen overall planning and top-level design of container industry standardization work, vigorously build standard systems adapted to container industry development. Focus on five key areas: Basic General, Accounting and Verification, Technology and Equipment, Monitoring, and Management and Evaluation, to establish the container industry green and low-carbon standard system, providing technical foundation support for the container industry to conduct carbon footprint verification and low-carbon evaluation. Follow the principle of piloting group standards first, then gradually converting to industry standards or national standards, to enhance standard influence and execution.

— Association-led, Collaborative Advancement. Establish a multi-stakeholder industry green and low-carbon development promotion mechanism led by the Association, with industry enterprise collaboration and participation from third-party institutions, to jointly advance industry green and low-carbon actions. Establish a Green Work Leadership Group coordinated by the Association, with the Production Sub-committee, Safety and Environmental Protection Committee, and Container Chassis Healthy Development Committee as the main participants. Convene Green Work Committee meetings to define work requirements. Strengthen multi-party coordination and collaboration to form synergy and ensure effective implementation.

— Planning First, Key Breakthroughs. Assign Hongjing Think Tank under the Association as the lead organization for planning, organize joint funding from relevant industry enterprises, and jointly appoint professional technical personnel to collaboratively develop the "Green and Low-Carbon Development Vision and Roadmap for China's Container Industry."

— Dynamic Assessment, Phased Advancement. Establish a dynamic assessment mechanism for industry green and low-carbon development. Based on overall industry development requirements, technological progress, and phased work progress, scientifically optimize policy measures, and timely adjust, improve, and refine relevant goals, technical pathways, and specific tasks to ensure that green and low-carbon development goals and green decarbonization technologies are scientifically viable.

V. Key Tasks

(I) Conduct Top-level Design and Specialized Training to Make Container Industry Decarbonization Goals "Visible and Clear"

First, conduct top-level design for industry green and low-carbon development. Based on China's "Dual Carbon" goals, upstream steel industry low-carbon development targets, downstream shipping sector net-zero targets, and other green and low-carbon development requirements for the container industry, combined with the industry's green and low-carbon development foundation and green technology development level, define container industry green and low-carbon development goals. Rationally plan industry green and low-carbon development phases, set key decarbonization indicators for different phases, and define key work tasks for each phase to provide goal guidance for industry enterprises' green and low-carbon development.

Second, conduct specialized training and experience exchange on container industry green topics. Addressing the relatively weak low-carbon efforts among upstream suppliers in the container industry and insufficient awareness among enterprise personnel, conduct specialized training on industry green and low-carbon development. Strengthen exchange and cooperation with steel, power, and other industries on green and low-carbon aspects. Through exhibitions, forums, and talent exchange activities, build a platform for green container industry cooperation and exchange.

(II) Establish Standards and Accounting Monitoring Systems to Ensure Container Industry Carbon Emissions Are "Calculable and Accurate"

First, establish a container industry green and low-carbon development standard system. Adhering to the principle of combining systematic advancement with prioritizing urgent needs, and referencing standard frameworks such as the "Guidelines for Building Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Standard Systems" and "Guidelines for Building Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Standard Systems in the Industrial Sector," focus on basic general standards as well as carbon reduction, carbon removal, and carbon market development needs. Establish a container industry carbon peaking and carbon neutrality standard system framework to guide industry standard development within this framework and build a container industry green standard system. Rationally prioritize various standards, accelerate development of group standards, prioritize carbon footprint verification and carbon emission monitoring detailed standards, and advance standard system construction in phases and steps in an orderly manner to fully support industry carbon peaking and carbon neutrality efforts.

Second, establish a container industry carbon factor database. Analyze container industry-related carbon factors, assess the applicability of existing carbon factor databases, and for factors that exist but are not applicable or are missing, organize professional efforts to conduct accounting. Establish a unified container industry carbon factor database to improve the consistency and accuracy of container product carbon footprint accounting.

Third, establish a container industry carbon emission monitoring system. Emphasize "source treatment" and strengthen "traceability management." Focusing on the two major segments of container manufacturing and main raw material manufacturing for containers, establish a container industry carbon emission statistical accounting system. Research and establish industry carbon emission measurement, monitoring, and statistical mechanisms, develop carbon emission measurement plans, and build carbon emission measurement and monitoring systems for key segments in key industry enterprises. Achieve measurable and verifiable carbon emission data for key segments.

(III) Identify and Apply Green Decarbonization Technologies to Drive Container Industry Carbon Reduction "Reduction Achievable, Reduction Sustainable"

First, identify container industry green decarbonization technologies. Collect container industry green decarbonization technologies in areas such as energy utilization efficiency improvement, clean energy substitution, production process modification, production equipment upgrading, and comprehensive resource utilization. Fully leverage industry enterprise technical capabilities to jointly assess the feasibility, stability, and cost-effectiveness of relevant technologies, forming a container industry green technology list and green technology promotion directory. Comprehensively consider decarbonization effects, implementation difficulty, and other factors to determine key technology breakthrough directions. Aggregate industry strengths for technology breakthroughs, new product R&D, and new technology promotion.

Second, guide enterprises to apply advanced emission reduction technologies. Focusing on container manufacturing enterprises and their upstream suppliers, conduct technology breakthroughs in energy-saving modification technologies, green and low-carbon transformation technologies, greenhouse gas control technologies, advanced raw material manufacturing technologies, resource recycling equipment technologies, new energy and clean energy equipment, and green product R&D promotion technologies. Accelerate container industry green and low-carbon technology application. Strengthen coordinated control of pollutants and greenhouse gases. Enhance the industry's technical support capabilities in low-carbon energy supply, low-carbon raw material supply, low-carbon production manufacturing, and low-carbon transportation delivery.

(IV) Develop Green Container Evaluation and Platform Construction to Guide Container Industry Carbon Market to Be "Evaluable and Tradeable"

First, build a green and low-carbon container evaluation system. Following LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) methodology, comprehensively consider raw material use, energy utilization, production technology, product quality, environmental impact, and other factors to clarify the definition and connotation of green and low-carbon containers. Establish a green and low-carbon container evaluation indicator system. Combined with the current status of industry green and low-carbon development and future improvement potential, conduct systematic research on accounting boundaries, thresholds, evaluation methods, and processes for various indicators. Form a green and low-carbon container evaluation system that conforms to international standard specifications and China's container industry reality. Develop supporting standard-reaching work methods to conduct green and low-carbon container evaluation work in an orderly manner. Expand to enterprise, project, and product three-in-one carbon emission accounting and evaluation standard systems, providing systematic scientific basis for container enterprises to issue green brand certifications, green products, and for downstream users to conduct green procurement.

Second, research and establish a container industry green service platform. Research and build an industry green service public platform to enable registration, release, and verification functions for industry product carbon labels, carbon footprint certificates, EPD certificates, etc. Promote convenient exchange and verification of platform and upstream/downstream data, providing the industry with an open, convenient, and fair third-party service platform. Promote container carbon footprint calculation and certification applications in green credit scenarios.

(V) Promote Industry International Exchange and Cooperation to Enhance Container Industry Carbon Work "Recognition and Voice"

First, promote upgrading of industry green and low-carbon related standards. Leverage the roles of the Association and industry leading enterprises to accelerate the initiation, development, and upgrading of Product Category Rules (PCR), carbon emission verification, product carbon footprint, green product certification, Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), and other standards. Actively participate in the development and revision of international standards related to container green and low-carbon, enhancing China's participation and voice in green container industry standard specifications.

Second, conduct international promotion and cooperation on industry green work. Utilize international platforms such as Intermodal Asia to strengthen exchanges with the International Maritime Organization, Container Lessors Association, and major international shipping companies. Promote international community acceptance and recognition of the container industry's green and low-carbon "China Solution," and advance green container internationalization. Support and assist leading container industry enterprises in entering the global carbon market.

Container Industry Green and Low-Carbon Development Phase I Work Plan

(I) Timeline

Phase I work will be primarily conducted in 2025.

(II) Work Objectives

Focusing on container manufacturing enterprises and upstream supporting enterprises for components, steel bars, adhesive strips, flooring, coatings, and labels (1+6), with the goal of achieving container product greening, develop industry development vision and roadmap, initiate development of key industry standards and carbon factor database construction, and conduct green-related training. Achieve container "cradle-to-gate" low-carbon goals that are "visible," carbon emissions that are "accurately calculable," and carbon pathways that are "clearly articulated."

(III) Work Content

First, develop industry green and low-carbon development vision and roadmap. Initiate development of the "Green and Low-Carbon Development Vision and Roadmap for China's Container Industry," focusing on carbon reduction vision and phased goals, green standard system construction, green container scope definition and evaluation standards, green decarbonization technology pathway identification, green industry chain construction, green and low-carbon development cooperation, and integration into carbon trading markets. Conduct cross-industry thematic research and discussion to clarify the container industry green and low-carbon development technical roadmap and work roadmap. Rationally plan industry green and low-carbon development phases, clarify phased development goals and key work, and form industry green and low-carbon development technology lists, standard lists, and capability lists to provide goal guidance for industry green and low-carbon development.

Second, develop key container industry green and low-carbon standards. Establish relevant standard specifications for container product carbon footprint accounting and carbon labeling. One is to develop container product carbon footprint accounting rules standards, clarifying product carbon footprint accounting boundaries, accounting methods, data quality requirements, and traceability requirements, to unify product carbon footprint accounting rule standard development requirements. Two is to develop container enterprise carbon emission accounting standards and related technical specifications, developing technical specifications for greenhouse gas verification, low-carbon evaluation, and other related supporting requirements to support enterprise carbon emission accounting work and effectively serve the national carbon emission trading market construction. Three is to establish container product carbon labeling system standards, such as labeling standards related to greenhouse gas emissions or emission reductions, product carbon labels, and labeling related to low-carbon evaluation.

Third, research and initiate container industry carbon factor database construction. Based on the "Green and Low-Carbon Development Vision and Roadmap for China's Container Industry," analyze container industry key sector related carbon factors, match existing carbon factor database applicability, and for carbon factors missing from the industry, organize professional efforts to conduct accounting. Focusing on key sectors such as container raw materials, production, and delivery to publish product carbon footprint factors, research and initiate establishment of an industry product carbon factor database. Form enterprise data submission and compliance-based data collection and organization data resource mechanisms as needed.

Fourth, conduct container industry green and low-carbon development study and training. Targeting industry enterprises, conduct green and low-carbon development training around the national "1+N" Dual Carbon policies, relevant standards, product carbon footprint, carbon market development, and carbon asset management. Improve industry practitioners' awareness level and practical capabilities for green and low-carbon development. Lay the foundation for subsequent key product carbon footprint accounting and carbon labeling certification, build and improve enterprise carbon management systems, and jointly promote industry green transformation and upgrading.