January 16 — Due to its exceptional performance in the fields of smart manufacturing and sustainable development, CATL’s Yibin Base has been awarded the title of “Sustainability Lighthouse” by the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Lighthouse Network. This distinction makes it the first “Sustainability Lighthouse” in the global lithium battery industry and the sector’s only “Dual Lighthouse” to hold certifications for both production efficiency and sustainability.
The Global Lighthouse Network, a collaboration between the WEF and McKinsey & Company, selects facilities hailed as “the world’s most advanced factories.” These sites represent the highest standards in global manufacturing regarding digitalization and carbon neutrality, serving as industry benchmarks for Industry 4.0 and sustainable development. Previously, three CATL bases had already been recognized as “Productivity” Lighthouses. Following this latest “Sustainability” certification, CATL now holds the highest number of “Lighthouse Factories” in the global lithium battery industry.
According to the World Economic Forum, the Sustainability Lighthouse certification of the Yibin Base stems from its construction of a comprehensive, scalable “Zero-Carbon Smart Manufacturing” system. By deploying an AI-driven energy management system, establishing a photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage microgrid, and advancing production process innovations alongside low-carbon product design, the base has achieved a 56% reduction in its carbon footprint. Furthermore, it has successfully guided 13 core suppliers in obtaining carbon neutrality certifications.
Currently, CATL’s Yibin Base has garnered multiple authoritative recognitions, including status as a Zero-Carbon Factory, National Green Factory, and National Smart Manufacturing Demonstration Factory, as well as the Industry 4.0 Global Award. Moving forward, CATL remains committed to deepening the integrated innovation of smart manufacturing and sustainable development, aiming to empower the zero-carbon transition of the global industrial system and drive the intelligent and green transformation of manufacturing worldwide.
