Article Numbering Center of China Awarded UNESCAP Trade Facilitation Innovation Award 2026

      The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum 2026 and Paperless Trade Week were held from June 8 to 12 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. The “ESG Supply Chain Transparency” project of Article Numbering Center of China ( referred as “GS1 China”) won the Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Innovation Award 2026. As the professional body responsible for organizing, coordinating, and managing the national barcode system, article numbering, and automatic identification technologies in China, this award marks international recognition of China's innovative practices in trade digitization, paperless trade, and green supply chains.

       The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum is the highest-level official dialogue and cooperation platform for trade facilitation and digitization in the Asia-Pacific region. The award-winning project, led by the Article Numbering Center of China, is based on the GS1 global standards and incorporates the concept of the Digital Product Passport (DPP). Using two-dimensional barcodes as carriers, it aggregates ESG certification information and supply chain traceability data. Through GS1 Digital Link, the unique product identifier (barcode) on physical items is linked to ESG certification data, establishing a replicable and scalable ESG supply chain transparency solution and standardized process. This enhances the credibility, reliability, and transparency of trade data.

      As a GS1 Member Organization, the Article Numbering Center of China has long participated in the development of international standards and actively promotes the alignment and mutual recognition of Chinese standards with international standards. It strives to expand high-standard opening up, advance the building of a unified national market, and support green and digital transformation. Looking ahead, the Center is actively translating this achievement into action: as the secretariat of the National Working Group on Digital Product Passport Standardization (SAC/SWG41), the Center is leading the development of the national standard “General Requirements for Digital Product Passport (DPP)” and promoting research and pilot projects in key industries such as textiles and power batteries. These efforts will help Chinese enterprises better adapt to new international green trade regulations, enhance supply chain resilience and trade facilitation, and empower trusted and green trade for high-quality development.