China–Sweden Sustainable Development and Industrial Cooperation Conference Highlights Product Environmental Information Disclosure and Digital Tool Applications
The China–Sweden Sustainable Development and Industrial Cooperation Conference brought together more than 100 representatives to advance collaboration on industrial decarbonisation, sustainable value chains, life cycle management, and green innovation. The event also highlighted the role of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and digital tools in strengthening product environmental data management and supporting the international green transition.
On June 16, 2026, the China–Sweden Conference on Sustainable Development and Industrial Cooperation and the Transition to Net-Zero Emissions in Industry was successfully held in Nanjing. Jointly hosted by the Embassy of Sweden in China, the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL), and the Qinhuai District People’s Government of Nanjing, and co-organised by the International EPD System and the International Action on Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) Initiative, the conference brought together more than 100 representatives from government, industry, business, and research institutions in China and Sweden. Participants exchanged views on industrial net-zero emissions, sustainable value chains, life cycle management, and China–Sweden cooperation on green and low-carbon development.
As a leading global programme operator for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), the International EPD System co-organised the conference to promote the application of life cycle assessment (LCA)-based product environmental information disclosure across industrial green transformation, supply chain management, green procurement, international market communication, and compliance with evolving international green regulations.
During the conference, Mrs. Annika Hahn-Englund, Consul General of Sweden in Shanghai; Axel Brangenfeldt, Manager of the Shanghai Office of Business Sweden; and Stina Hinderson, Head of the Corporate Social Responsibility Centre at the Embassy of Sweden in China, among other speakers, shared insights into China–Sweden green cooperation, Swedish sustainable industry practices, and the “China–Sweden Carbon Neutrality Matchmaking Platform.” Participants highlighted the strong complementarity between China and Sweden in areas including green technologies, industrial emissions reduction, sustainable supply chains, and environmental data governance, and recognised the significant potential for future cooperation.
The conference also featured a presentation of the interim results of the LCT Rail Transportation Working Group. The LCT Initiative provides a platform for advancing life cycle thinking across industries and fostering industrial collaboration, while the International EPD System provides a credible, transparent, and internationally applicable framework for product environmental information disclosure.
CRRC Qingdao Sifang Rolling Stock Co., Ltd., the lead organisation of the LCT Rail Transportation Working Group, has long been committed to advancing the green and low-carbon development of rail transit equipment. During the event, Li Li, Chief Reviewing Designer at CRRC Sifang, presented the working group’s achievements, outlining the application of life cycle thinking to the full life cycle management of rail transit equipment and highlighting recent progress in environmental data management, green design, and low-carbon manufacturing.
The digital tool showcased at the conference was developed to support environmental performance management and EPD preparation for rail transit equipment. Developed within the framework of the International EPD System, the tool provides a pre-verified approach to EPD preparation. It can generate complete EPD content, including LCA results and all mandatory EPD information, and can help streamline the verification process for individual EPDs. This can improve the efficiency of product environmental data management, EPD generation, and third-party verification. The tool demonstrates how the International EPD System framework can be integrated with industry-specific digital solutions and provides a practical foundation for scaling up standardised and internationally aligned product environmental information disclosure in the rail transportation sector.
The conference also featured a China–Sweden Carbon Neutrality Cooperation Opportunities Matchmaking roadshow. Representatives from Chinese and Swedish companies, including SKF, Envac, BE Group, Mölnlycke Health Care, Epiroc, Huace Design, and BYD, exchanged views on green supply chains, low-carbon transportation, industrial emissions reduction, and sustainable operations. They shared practical experiences in advancing carbon neutrality and developing partnerships in green technologies.
Looking ahead, the International EPD System will continue to work with the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL), the International Action on Life Cycle Thinking Initiative, and partners across China and Sweden to expand the application of life cycle assessment-based Environmental Product Declarations and product environmental data disclosure across a wider range of industries. These efforts will support companies in enhancing environmental transparency, strengthening low-carbon supply chain management, and building international competitiveness in the transition to a greener economy.
