ABB’s factory in Beijing, China – one of the world’s largest cities, with more than 22 million residents – was among the first sites to achieve Mission to Zero status in 2021.
The 24,000m2 facility, which produces a range of low-voltage products, installed a 400kw rooftop solar generation system that has reduced annual emissions by an estimated 400 tons since 2021. The plant’s portfolio of holistic energy-efficiency solutions also includes electric vehicle chargers and sophisticated energy management software, which use building automation to manage power consumption while reducing energy costs and increasing efficiency.
We spoke with Jing Zhao, Health, Safety and Environment Manager, and Yang Zhang, Quality and Continuous Improvement Manager, to learn more about ABB Beijing’s Mission to Zero journey and how the team continues to implement sustainability and circularity throughout its entire value chain.
Which departments worked together to achieve Mission to Zero?
Every function has responsibility for sustainability: from facilities and infrastructure to R&D and production, to supply chain management. Everyone is engaged in our carbon reduction efforts and plays a critical, hands-on role in our overall sustainability journey.
Which ABB solutions were installed to monitor emissions and reduce consumption?
Our Energy Asset Management platform, powered by ABB Ability™, monitors and optimizes electricity and water consumption thanks to real time data collection and analysis. This system monitors performance at three levels – factory, workshop, and key energy-consuming machines – and shows all connected assets.
What energy-saving processes and materials were incorporated and how?
We have introduced a series of projects over time, starting with replacing more than 3,000 lights with LEDs in 2022 and installing eight EV chargers between 2021 and 2024. In recent years, we replaced the original compressed air pipelines in the production area, which had a leak, with a new one to reduce energy waste. We also implemented an automatic monitoring project for water and heat flow and installed a smart operational control system in our offices. The road to sustainability is ongoing.
How have you engaged employees on your site’s Mission to Zero journey?
It starts with leadership buy-in and support, which is the most important aspect. Managers have to encourage their employees to take action. Our idea collection box and brainstorming sessions source suggestions for reducing emissions, and we educate employees on energy-saving and waste-reduction initiatives through workshops and ongoing training. Friendly competitions during Sustainability Week and throughout the year enable employees to log low-carbon actions for the chance to win prizes. To encourage more sustainable commuter options, we offer space for employees to store their bikes and e-bikes, as well as subsidies to incentivize carpooling and taking public transit to work.
Can you describe how your recycling and waste recovery programs support a circular economy?
More than 80% of total waste produced in our Beijing site is metal based. We work with suppliers to recycle and divert 100% of this waste from landfills. Metal waste is sent to local steel factories to be used as raw material. We proudly achieved Zero Waste to Landfill certification in 2024 and successfully renewed our platinum-level status with UL solutions this year.
How are you socializing your Mission to Zero learnings to scale impact?
We share best practices and lessons with our peer ABB sites, as well as customers and suppliers who are interested in getting to net zero. We actively offer our support to help them reduce emissions and educate them on solutions.
What’s next?
Our journey didn’t end with achieving Mission to Zero. In fact, it was just the beginning. We have been continuously promoting carbon reduction across our entire value chain through technological improvements and culture initiatives, while also promoting the implementation of ABB’s circular economy model. We’ve reduced more than 1,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions since 2021. We’re also working towards achieving third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) across all product lines.
How would you describe this journey?
Like a fish swimming with the current – it’s a natural flow. In China, general policy encourages enterprises to save and use green energy as much as possible. ABB’s own mission encourages employees to act. This is our way of life. Our team is very proud to contribute to the company’s overall energy-saving efforts. We see it as our responsibility, because a net-zero future is good for society as a whole – not just China or ABB.
This is the fifth story in a series about progress made at our first Mission to Zero™ sites around the world. The first four stories focused on our sites in Porvoo, Finland, Ede, the Netherlands, Lüdenscheid, Germany, and Dalmine, Italy. Mission to Zero is our journey to reach net-zero emissions and more sustainable operations. Bringing together technologies using ABB digital solutions and renewable energy, we’re increasing efficiency and reducing emissions at our sites. To learn more, visit our webpage.
