At the Osaka World Expo in Japan, the “China Enterprises’ Outstanding Global ESG Practices Exchange Conference” was successfully held at the China Pavilion. Co-hosted by the Legal Affairs Center of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade , China International Chamber of Commerce and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the conference aims to promote the strategic transformation of Chinese enterprises from Going Global to Jointly Building, align with international ESG standards, and showcase the ESG stories of Chinese enterprises to the world.Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group’s case titled “Green Empowerment, Circular Symbiosis - YRPG Forges a New Paradigm for Sustainable Development in the Pharmaceutical Industry” was successfully selected into the “Outstanding Global ESG Practice Cases of Chinese Enterprises”. This recognition comes from the group’s systematic layout and solid implementation results in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) fields.
Successfully Selected into “Outstanding Global ESG Practice Cases of Chinese Enterprises”
Guided by its mission of “Pursuing Excellence, Safeguarding All Lives”, YRPG has deeply integrated sustainable development into its strategic layout. This is not only an inevitable choice to respond to China’s dual carbon goals and green manufacturing strategy, but also a key measure to address tightening environmental regulations, upgraded international ESG standards, and trade barriers such as carbon tariffs, and further demonstrates the strategic foresight of this national pharmaceutical enterprise in participating in global competition. During the transformation process, the enterprise faces multiple environmental, economic and social challenges, including rising costs of process upgrading, stringent international access standards, and the balance between benefits and environmental protection.
To address these challenges, the Group has aligned with advanced international ESG standards and achieved green transformation through three core initiatives: pollutant control, carbon emission management, and the development of a “Zero-Waste Group”.In terms of pollutant control, it has established a full-cycle management model of “source prevention - process control - end-of-pipe treatment”. During the R&D phase, green production processes are adopted to avoid the use of toxic and hazardous substances. In the production process, closed equipment and pipelines are prioritized, and leak detection and repair technologies are applied to strictly control VOCs emissions from leakage. At the end-of-pipe stage, advanced treatment processes are introduced, and resource utilization measures such as reclaimed water reuse are promoted to enhance pollutant reduction and resource recycling.For carbon emission management, the Group has formulated an overall plan for its “dual carbon” work, developed a carbon peaking roadmap by 2030, and continuously tapped into energy conservation and emission reduction potential. In 2024, it completed 63 emission reduction projects, achieving a carbon reduction of 12,000 tons of CO₂.
In the development of a “Zero-Waste Group”, through source reduction, recycling and other methods, the Group achieved the reduction and resource utilization of 1,929 tons of solid waste in 2024, generating economic benefits of approximately 11.9 million yuan.
This honor is not only a high recognition of YRPG’ s dedication to the ESG field and its drive for sustainable development through green transformation, but also highlights the benchmark value of its “Green Empowerment, Circular Symbiosis” model in the pharmaceutical industry. It not only provides a reference path for Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises exploring international ESG practices, but also conveys to the world the firm determination of Chinese enterprises to participate in international competition with a responsible attitude and jointly build a sustainable future.
Outlook:
To date, 11 of the Group’s factories have been awarded the title of “Green Factory” at or above the provincial level, including 8 at the national level. The Group has also won numerous honors for green development and ESG, and successfully entered international markets such as Japan and Russia. Looking ahead, YRPG will continue to drive green development through innovation, deepen ESG practices, and inject impetus into the construction of Healthy China and the sustainable development of the global pharmaceutical industry.