SHANGHAI – The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China’s Shanghai Chapter reinforced its call for strengthened sustainability collaboration between the EU and China during its 9th Annual Sustainable Business Awards ceremony held on December 11, 2025.
The event, which attracted record participation with 78 applications from 45 companies, highlighted environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles as essential long-term business strategies rather than mere compliance exercises. Chamber leadership emphasized the strategic alignment between European technological expertise and China’s ambitious carbon neutrality targets.
Carlo D’Andrea, European Chamber Vice-President and Shanghai Chapter Chair, articulated the mutual benefits of this partnership: ‘EU-China collaboration on sustainability creates genuine opportunities for both sides, with European companies’ decarbonization objectives aligning closely with China’s national ambitions.’
The awards program, inspired by both UN Sustainable Development Goals and China’s domestic policies on rural revitalization and environmental protection, has evolved significantly from its origins. Steven Basart, General Manager of the Shanghai Chapter, noted the program’s transformation ‘from a simple awards initiative into a comprehensive platform for dialogue, learning, and collaboration.’
This year’s recognition spanned 11 categories including biodiversity conservation, circular innovation, climate action, decarbonization efforts, and Sino-European sustainability collaboration. The rigorous evaluation process, praised by judges including Stina Hinderson of the Swedish Embassy’s CSR Center in Beijing, revealed innovative solutions across companies of all sizes.
Hinderson observed: ‘Across these areas, we have witnessed numerous impressive solutions from both multinational enterprises and small and medium enterprises, demonstrating that all companies have a role to play in the sustainability transition.’
The ceremony underscored the growing business commitment to environmental stewardship while facilitating crucial dialogue between European and Chinese stakeholders on shared ecological challenges.