China Releases Guidelines for Green Design of Industrial Products

On April 17, five national authorities, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly issued the Guidelines for Green Design of Industrial Products (2026 Edition), which takes immediate effect to drive nationwide low-carbon and eco-friendly transformation across industrial sectors.

Focusing on the full life cycle of products, the new guidelines shift environmental management from terminal treatment to source control. Over 80% of product-related resource consumption and pollution are determined at the design stage, making green design a core measure for energy conservation, emission reduction and sustainable development.

The document defines eleven key green design principles, covering harmless material application, lightweight structure, recyclable design and carbon footprint management. As one of the key regulated industries, the packaging and printing sector faces clear upgrading requirements.

By the end of 2026, water-based inks must be fully adopted for food, pharmaceutical and children’s packaging. Starting from 2027, mandatory standards will be implemented for recycled material ratios and full carbon footprint disclosure. Mono-material packaging design is strongly promoted to improve recycling efficiency.

The guidelines will accelerate industrial upgrading, standardize production processes, and help domestic enterprises meet international environmental rules. It will further boost the high-quality, low-carbon and sustainable development of the global packaging and printing industry.