Centred on the group standard "Evaluation Specification for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) of Manufacturing Enterprises" led by the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (the first group standard in China focusing on ESG assessment of manufacturing enterprises), the platform delivers an end-to-end digital ESG management solution tailored specifically for manufacturing industries. It is designed to address key industry pain points, including complex standards, high implementation costs, unclear improvement pathways, and pronounced capacity gaps among small and medium-sized enterprises. In doing so, it bridges the ‘last mile’ between ESG principles and on-the-ground practice.

Core Platform Insight: From an ESG rating tool to a full-cycle management system, redefining best practice for ESG in the manufacturing sector.

Lead Institution: RCE Ningbo, accredited by the United Nations University

The Platform Official Website: www.doesg.com (Free access available)

*Addressing "Mismatch Issues": Local Standards, Targeting Key Pain Points

Built on China’s first group standard for ESG evaluation of manufacturing enterprises (led by the Centre for Responsible Business and Innovation, University of Nottingham Ningbo China), the platform establishes a comprehensive indicator system covering Environment (E), Social (S), and Governance (G). Aligning with mainstream international frameworks while being fully adapted to the actual conditions and policy environment of China’s manufacturing industry, it fundamentally resolves the industry-wide challenge of international standards being "unusable and difficult to implement".

*Core Logic: From "Passive Disclosure" to "Proactive Management"

Moving beyond traditional rating tools, the platform focuses on the real operational needs of manufacturing enterprises and their supply chains, creating a full-process digital closed loop of "Evaluation — Diagnosis — Improvement — Certification". By integrating ESG into daily decision-making, it drives enterprises to shift from coping with disclosure requirements to proactive management, enabling the continuous improvement of ESG capabilities.

*Four Core Functions – One-Stop Solution for All ESG Scenarios

1. Self-assessment & Intelligent Diagnosis: It automatically identifies risks and weaknesses, and delivers structured analysis and improvement recommendations.

2. End-to-End Management: It delivers customised improvement plans and supports dynamic monitoring and continuous optimisation.

3. One-Click Certification Report Generation: It produces standardised reports with multi-dimensional scoring and overall ratings, officially endorsed by RCE Ningbo, significantly lowering the barrier to compliance and disclosure.

4. Industry Benchmarking & Capacity Building: It connects to benchmark cases and databases, links government-industry-university-research resources, and provides services including ESG training, green finance matching, and supply chain collaboration.

*Multiple Values: Empowering Enterprises and Driving the Whole Industrial Chain

1. Manufacturing Enterprises: Implement ESG in a lightweight, low-cost manner, enhancing access to international supply chains and capacity for green financing.

2. Core Supply Chain Enterprises: Identify ESG risks among upstream and downstream partners, strengthening supply chain resilience.

3. Financial Institutions and Government Authorities: Obtain standardised data support to facilitate green credit provision, industrial policy formulation and regulatory implementation.

The platform will continue to iterate and deepen multi‑stakeholder collaboration, establishing a replicable and scalable digital ESG practice model for the manufacturing sector, and building a collaborative ESG ecosystem across the Yangtze River Delta and nationwide.

Grand Launch Event: Government, Industry, Academia and Research Gather to Advance High-Quality ESG Development

This major platform launch was held at the ESG Forum co-hosted by the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. The forum brought together over a hundred distinguished guests from government, industry and academia, who engaged in in-depth discussions on core topics including ESG governance, the application of digital technologies and the green transition of supply chains. This has laid a solid foundation of industry consensus and academic support for the launch of the platform.

Opening Address: Forging Global and Local Consensus for ESG Development

At the start of the forum, Professor Jon Garibaldi, Provost and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), delivered an address stating that in an era of rapid technological change, universities are serving as a vital bridge linking academia, industry and policy. UNNC has consistently striven to translate global sustainable development concepts into local industrial practices through research innovation, talent development and multi‑stakeholder collaboration.

Mr Shahafeez Shaharis, Consul General of Malaysia in Shanghai, shared Malaysia’s experience in integrating ESG principles into its national development strategy. He noted that well‑designed policies, robust governance frameworks and innovative sustainable finance can effectively foster the development of a green economic model and deliver long‑term sustainable growth, offering an international perspective for the advancement of ESG within China’s manufacturing sector.

Keynote Speeches: Multi‑dimensional Insights into Cutting‑edge Pathways for ESG and Supply Chain Transformation

During the forum, a number of leading industry experts and enterprise representatives delivered keynote addresses on cutting‑edge ESG topics, creating a strong alignment of ideas and practice with the newly launched digital platform:

• Professor Qinghua Zhu, Chair Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Faculties, drew on local Chinese practices to systematically analyse the development trends of supply chain ESG governance and corporate response strategies amid tightening global regulation, providing academic support for the platform’s supply chain collaborative management functions.

• Dr Jianzhong Lu, Deputy Director, Sustainability Committee of China Society of Management Science, focused on “AI‑enabled ESG value creation systems” and explored in depth the driving role of digital technologies in realising ESG value, affirming the platform’s core logic of using digitalisation to address challenges in ESG implementation.

• Mr Eugene Chua, Founder, Chairman & CEO of G-COVE Group, shared innovative ESG pathways centred on the circular economy based on frontline corporate practice, offering practical references for the continuous optimisation and industrial application of the platform.

Panel Discussion: Focusing on Dual Engines of Technology and Policy to Anchor Corporate ESG Development Direction

The forum featured two core panel discussions, centring respectively on digital technologies and policy trends, offering clear guidance for manufacturing enterprises in their ESG practices.

*Panel 1: The Role of Digital Technology in Building Sustainable Supply Chains

Dr Yuxiao Ye, Associate Professor in Business Administration at University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Mr Walter Lin, Managing Director Asia at Sedex, Mr Denis Liu, Associate Compliance Director（China）of Ross Merchandising (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd., and Mr Xin Jiang, Deputy Director of the Green-Intelligence Integration Working of the Group of Ningbo Intelligent Manufacturing Expert Committee, reached a consensus that digital technologies serve as a core tool for advancing supply chain transparency and sustainable management. This provided industry-wide endorsement for the digital positioning of the platform.

*Panel 2: Policy-driven ESG: Prospects and Challenges for Enterprises in the 15th Five-Year Plan Era

Professor Jie Yu, Associate Dean for Global Engagement and Partnerships at Nottingham University Business School China, Mr Wayne Chen, Partner of Llinks Law Offices, Ms Zhenzhen Yu, Partner of King & Wood, and Mr Mingyi Chen, Project Manager and the China Compliance Manager at ERM, discussed policy trends, compliance requirements and corporate response strategies. They emphasised that enterprises should proactively establish a systematic ESG capability framework, further highlighting the forward-looking value of the newly launched digital platform.

Deepening Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration: A Long-Term Strategy for Practical ESG Implementation

At the event, the UNNC and G-COVE Group signed a MoU agreement for an ESG cooperation project. Leveraging the university’s strengths in scientific research and talent development, together with the enterprise’s frontline practical experience, the two parties will jointly advance academic research, talent cultivation and industrial cooperation related to ESG. This will provide sustained industry-academia-research support for the newly launched digital platform and further enhance the ESG ecosystem.

Taking the Forum as a Starting Point to Advance Continuous ESG Implementation

In the closing address, Professor Jing Dai, Director of RCE Ningbo, stated that the forum was not only a platform for the exchange of industrial ideas but also a crucial starting point for the practical implementation of ESG. Moving forward, RCE Ningbo will continue to act as a pivotal hub, connecting global expertise with local practice. Using the newly launched manufacturing ESG digital platform as a key instrument, it will help enterprises achieve long-term value enhancement and sustainable development throughout their ESG transformation.

Looking ahead, with the deep integration of digital technologies and global sustainable development, ESG has become a core link connecting industrial upgrading and future competitiveness. The launch of this Digital Platform for ESG Evaluation System of Manufacturing Enterprises marks a key step for the UNNC in advancing ESG from conceptual advocacy to digital implementation. It also provides a new pathway for Chinese manufacturing enterprises to pursue high-quality and sustainable development.