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ZTE's 2024 Sustainability Report: Leading the Charge Toward a Sustainable Future

ZTE Corporation recently published its 2024 Sustainability Report, demonstrating the company's commitment to environmental sustainability and digital innovation. For the 17th consecutive year, ZTE has proactively shared its sustainability commitments and achievements, underlining its role as a major player in the global information and communication technology landscape.

The report emphasizes ZTE's robust strategies in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, highlighting how the company utilizes digital innovations to drive sustainable transformation globally. As digitalization accelerates worldwide, ZTE remains resolute in its mission to be a 'motor of the digital economy', advancing a proactive sustainability agenda centered on eco-friendly practices aligned with scientific carbon reduction targets.

Leadership’s Vision for Digital Transformation

Xu Ziyang, Executive Director and CEO of ZTE, underscored the profound impact of the AI-driven technology revolution, particularly with the rise of large models and generative AI. He noted that ZTE has adhered to its founding goals while responding to the contemporary call for enhanced digital intelligence. The report reveals that the company has continually strengthened its essential capacities through increased investments in research and development, which constituted 19.81% of its operating revenue. By the end of 2024, ZTE filed an impressive 93,000 patent applications and was granted over 48,000 patents, with around 5,500 of these applications related to chips and more than 5,000 in the AI domain, showcasing its robust technological capabilities.

Green Strategies Against Climate Change

ZTE is dedicated to driving green development through continuous technological innovation to tackle climate change challenges. The company gained official approval from the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its near-term goals and long-term net-zero strategies in 2024. This year also saw the release of ZTE's "Net-Zero Strategy White Paper" outlining its comprehensive green initiatives.

The company’s 'Green Digital Path' initiative operates across four dimensions: green operations, green supply chain, green digital infrastructure, and green empowerment. This vision has earned ZTE a place on CDP’s A-list for climate action for two consecutive years, reinforcing its global leadership in sustainability practices. Notably, ZTE enhanced its energy efficiency by 20% from 2021 to 2024 while reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 13.4% compared to the previous year.

Commitment to a Sustainable Supply Chain

ZTE integrated dual-carbon strategy requirements into its IT supplier management systems in 2024. This included signing agreements, conducting on-site audits, and performance evaluations. The company performed CSR audits on 261 suppliers—representing 86.9% of its top suppliers by procurement volume—achieving remarkable oversight and compliance.

With a strong portfolio of over 800 green innovation patents, ZTE evaluated the CO₂ footprint of 154 products across its categories in 2024. Its eco-friendly solutions enable global operators to save over 10 billion kWh annually, signifying a significant step towards reducing carbon impacts.

Empowering Green Industry Practices

ZTE actively merged advanced technologies including cloud computing, IoT, big data, and AI with traditional industries, achieving a collaborative win-win scenario in growth and emissions reduction. Partnerships with over 2,000 leading companies facilitated the introduction of innovative green practices across 18 sectors, including steel, metallurgy, and mining, resulting in the development of over 100 pioneering application scenarios.

Social Responsibility and Inclusivity

ZTE continues to seek sustainable development through technological leadership and corporate social responsibility. The company delivers tailored digital solutions that bridge digital divides and accelerate global digital transformation. Collaborations such as the "Enhance Rural Area" project with Orange aim to improve communication infrastructures in rural Liberia, benefiting over 580,000 individuals by providing digital access in remote regions.

To further its commitment to inclusivity, ZTE supported the establishment of a drone-based blood donation system in Anyang, China, enhancing urban medical logistics. Furthermore, during the Typhoon Yagi, ZTE ensured uninterrupted communications through satellite links in Hainan province.

Strengthening Governance and Operational Resilience

ZTE's emphasis on innovation-driven sustainable development integrates ESG principles across its operations. With a heightened focus on corporate governance, the establishment of the strategy and sustainability committee in 2024 assures a deeper integration of sustainable philosophy into business strategy.

As AI technology rapidly transforms industries and raises ethical concerns, ZTE proactively formed a Technology Ethics Committee to oversee AI-related R&D projects. This move highlights the company’s commitment to ensuring safe, reliable, and inclusive AI development.

Recognized on a global scale for exemplary sustainability practices, ZTE is a proud member of the UN Global Compact and has received the EcoVadis Gold Medal for outstanding sustainability efforts. The 2024 accolades include multiple recognitions for contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals and efforts for a greener and more resilient future.

In conclusion, ZTE is poised to continue championing sustainability initiatives and leveraging technological innovations for global collaboration towards a greener and more inclusive landscape.

For further details, the full 2024 ZTE Sustainability Report is available for download here. More insights into ZTE's sustainability commitments can be found on their Sustainability Website.