LONGi signs Vision Initiative on Sustainable Brands at UNCTAD forum in Geneva advancing global sustainability goals

The meetings, jointly organized by UNCTAD, the UN Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS), the China Association for Standardization (CAS), and its Sustainable Business and Brand Committee (SBBC), brought together government representatives, international organizations, and multinational enterprises to strengthen global alignment on sustainability standards.

LONGi was invited as the only corporate representative from China’s new energy sector, underscoring the company’s role as both a technology leader and an advocate for responsible global business practices.

Solar as the backbone of the energy transition

Jia Chao, President of LONGi’s Europe Business Center, underlined that solar energy is central to the global energy transition due to its universal availability, especially in energy-scarce regions and developing countries.

“Technological innovation remains the core engine of enterprise growth, while sustainability must be integrated into corporate strategy, supply chains, and daily operations,” Jia said. “Clean energy represented by solar has become the backbone of the energy transition, enabling energy equity and sustainable development worldwide.”

Governance and trust define the future of supply chains

Jia Chao emphasized that resilience would have become the defining element of competitiveness in the solar industry. He outlined how LONGi builds supply chains on collaboration and strict governance, requiring every partner to comply with a supplier code of conduct, ESG risk screening, and ongoing audits. With ISO-certified procurement and TÜV Rheinland AA-rated traceability, LONGi would ensure transparency and accountability across its value chain. Jia also stressed that voluntary sustainability standards and environmental product declarations are now critical for global market access, but ultimately, corporate sustainability must go beyond compliance to create lasting value for people, communities, and the planet.

Circularity is built into innovation from the start

Chao underlined that for LONGi, durability would be the strongest form of circularity, achieved through continual efficiency gains and reliable back contact technology. He pointed to the company’s EcoLife Series modules, which carry 30-year performance warranties, as well as eco-design measures such as reduced aluminum and foil use, recycled glass content, fluorine-free backsheets, and recyclable module architectures. By integrating these principles from the design stage, LONGi demonstrates how circular economy practices can be embedded into mainstream solar manufacturing and scaled globally.

R&D as the bridge between profitability and sustainability

LONGi additionally claimed that research and development would be the bridge between profitability and sustainability in solar manufacturing. Jia Chao noted that higher-performing modules would reduce material use, labor costs, and levelized cost of electricity, while shifting the industry away from destructive price competition. LONGi’s back contact roadmap, delivering around eight percent higher efficiency than mainstream products, and its TaiRay wafer technology, which lowers production energy intensity, would show how innovation can simultaneously improve project economics and reduce environmental impact.

In Europe, the company has adapted designs to market realities, from lightweight commercial modules that cut installation costs to its EcoLife brand for homeowners offering safety, ESG credentials, and long-term warranties. Together, these innovations would show how sustainability and innovation can generate both stronger returns and measurable environmental benefits.

Signing the Vision Initiative on Building Sustainable Brands

During the forum, LONGi formally signed the Vision Initiative on Building Sustainable Brands, joining more than 20 leading Chinese enterprises, including Anta Sports and CATL. The initiative, presented to Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD, commits companies to embed sustainability in brand development, transparent supply chains, and low-carbon business models.

A new role for Chinese clean energy companies

LONGi’s participation in Geneva highlights the transformation of Chinese renewable energy enterprises from technology providers into active contributors to global sustainability governance. By linking brand value with environmental and social responsibility, LONGi demonstrates that building a global brand today requires a firm commitment to sustainable development.

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