Recently, Hengyang Valin Steel Tube Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Henggang”), a subsidiary of Hunan Iron and Steel Group, was officially awarded the nation’s first “Certificate of Recognition for the Green Additional Label on the Carbon Footprint of Marine Seamless Steel Pipe Products” by the China Classification Society (CCS) and was rated at the highest level, GPC1. This marks not only a crucial step for Henggang in joining the ranks of international leaders in the management of carbon emissions across the full life cycle of marine steel pipes, but also sets a benchmark for green certification of marine materials in China’s steel industry.

This certification covers Henggang’s five main rolling production lines—89 mm, 180 mm, 219 mm, 340 mm, and 720 mm—as well as its two core categories of seamless steel pipes for marine applications. As the highest level of carbon footprint assessment for marine products, GPC1 requires companies to possess high-precision carbon data accounting capabilities and a carbon management system with end-to-end traceability. The certification process is rigorous, and its authority is widely recognized by the international shipping and shipbuilding industries.

In recent years, Hunan Iron and Steel Group has embedded the “Dual Carbon” goals at the core of its corporate strategy, driving coordinated efforts among its subsidiaries—Xianggang, Liangang, and Henggang—to continuously deepen initiatives in areas such as full-process ultra-low emission retrofits, the creation of green factories, and the pursuit of maximum energy efficiency. At the same time, the Group has accelerated its efforts in Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and carbon footprint certification. To date, it has completed more than 60 product carbon footprint reports and has been recognized as an “Enterprise with Outstanding Contributions to EPD Development” by the steel industry’s full-chain EPD platform.

Currently, Hunan Iron & Steel has achieved full coverage of green products across its major product lines, including high-end plate products, wire and bar products, and seamless steel pipes. The certification awarded to Hengyang Iron & Steel not only provides a powerful tool for the domestic marine steel pipe supply chain to address international carbon tariffs and enhance export competitiveness, but also further strengthens Hunan Iron & Steel Group’s foundational capabilities in building a “green steel ecosystem,” offering a replicable model for the industry’s low-carbon transition.