Sinopec and BASF align on carbon footprint methods, promoting international standardization, transparency, and coordinated low-carbon industry transformation.
China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and BASF have officially announced their alignment on the core principles of product carbon footprint accounting methods, achieving a framework-based mutual recognition of their respective methodologies. The announcement was made during the 2025 China International Petroleum and Chemical Conference (CPCIC 2025), held from October 22 to 24 in Ningbo. This milestone represents a significant step toward international standardization and mutual recognition of product carbon footprints, providing a corporate-level example of China’s broader efforts to harmonize its low-carbon initiatives with global standards. Moreover, it underscores the growing collaboration between Chinese and German chemical enterprises in advancing low-carbon transformation while establishing mutual trust in carbon footprint data between domestic and international companies.
To ensure the credibility and consistency of their methodologies, Sinopec and BASF jointly commissioned TÜV Rheinland, a globally recognized third-party certification body, to perform a thorough evaluation. Following multiple rounds of assessment, TÜV Rheinland confirmed that both methodologies adhere to the requirements of the international standard ISO 14067:2018 and China’s national standard GB/T 24067–2024. The review verified that the core elements of both approaches remain consistent, culminating in the issuance of a formal consistency statement. This has laid the foundation for mutual recognition of product carbon footprint accounting methods between the two companies. Such recognition is expected to improve comparability and transparency of carbon footprint data across regions and supply chains, enhance data utilization efficiency, and support coordinated carbon reduction efforts throughout the industry. These developments are anticipated to contribute significantly to the green and high-quality growth of both enterprises and the broader chemical sector.
Sinopec has a long history of leadership in carbon footprint management. The company launched China’s first research initiative on product carbon footprint accounting in 2015, developing an initial methodological framework for petrochemical products. By 2023, it had achieved automated carbon footprint accounting for petroleum and chemical products—the first of its kind in China. Building on this foundation, in 2024, Sinopec joined forces with CNPC, CNOOC, PipeChina, and four other industry players to establish China’s first Carbon Footprint Alliance for the energy and chemical industry chain, focusing on collaborative emission reduction across the supply chain.
Since 2021, China has been steadily advancing its national carbon footprint management system and exploring standards for full life-cycle product carbon footprints. The aim is to preliminarily establish a comprehensive national system by 2027 and release standardized guidelines that align with international practices. The collaboration between Sinopec and BASF highlights the importance of international alignment and sets a precedent for transparency, consistency, and cooperative carbon reduction in the global chemical industry.
