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Blue Map Database

What is the Blue Map Database？

The Blue Map Database is an environmental data disclosure platform developed by IPE, with both website and smartphone application versions. The database was built in 2006, and has continuously collected environmental data from government sources into one database to enable friendly access.

What types of data are included in the Blue Map Database?

The Blue Map Database includes various interactive maps presenting national air and water quality data, real-time air emissions, wastewater discharge, carbon emissions, ecological protection data and waste sorting data. The database also includes more than 2.7 million enterprise environmental violation records (listed under ‘Environmental Supervision Records’) issued by government departments at all levels, as well as enterprise online monitoring data (‘Automated Monitoring Data’), enterprise feedback and corrective action information (‘Enterprise Feedback’) and environmental and carbon data reported by enterprises (‘Emissions Data’).

Blue Map Industrial Facility Data (Feb. 2021)

What is an environmental violation record?

Environmental violation records (or environmenetal supervision records) refer to penalties issued by government environmental departments to factories that have violated environmental laws and regulations. A record includes the enterprise name, city and province, year of violation, type of violation, cause of violation, means of punishment, value of fines, and other relevant information.

What is enterprise automated monitoring data?

China began to require national Key Polluting Enterprises to publish their real-time monitoring data online in 2014. Although the list of Key Polluting Enterprises changes every year, in 2018 it included approximately 8,000 enterprises with potentially high environmental impacts, all of which are required to install equipment that tracks the concentration of pollutants in their air and water emissions and collects data every hour or two hours. The Blue Map Database collects and integrates data from the online monitoring reporting platforms for every province.

An enterprise’s automated air and water emissions online monitoring data includes the enterprise name, emissions outlet name, monitoring timestamp, pollutant concentration, concentration standard, whether the pollutant concentration exceeded the standard, by how many times pollutants exceeded the standard, and other relevant information.

What are the data sources of the Blue Map Database?

The Blue Map Database tracks more than 6,000 data sources everyday. Major sources include but are not limited to the bureaus in charge of ecology and environment, maritime safety, emergency management, water resources management, industrial development, meteorological, and forestry and grassland management.

Do I need to pay to use the database?

No, the Blue Map Database is a public database that does not require any payment to use.

Do I need to register to use the database?

IPE encourages users to register. Once registered, users can access more functions, such as enterpirse batch search function. Account registration does not require any fees.

Corporate User Registration Guide (Updated Dec 2023)

Does the Blue Map Database have both Chinese and English versions? Why are some contents only in Chinese?

Does the Blue Map Database includes all active companies in China? Why can't I find my enterprise in the database?

Supplier Screening

What is supplier screening?

Supplier screening refers to the process by which brands and companies use the Blue Map Database to check whether their suppliers in China have supervision records.

What is the recommended scope of a supplier screening?

The scope of a supplier screening ideally covers all affiliated companies up and down the production supply chain, including but not limited to production facilities, raw material providers, production-related service providers (such as centralized wastewater treatment facilities, solid waste treatment facilities or thermal power plants), and potential suppliers, as well as any subordinate factories and enterprises in which the brand has invested.

How often should a brand screen its suppliers?

The Blue Map Database is updated in real-time and will continuously collect enterprise violation records issued by official sources. Therefore, IPE recommends that brands screen their supplier lists on at least a quarterly basis, or to register a brand account to receive automatic updates regarding their suppliers using the Blue EcoChain tool.

How do I conduct supplier screening?

Single search: Register an account on the Blue Map Database for free, enter supplier names or keywords one at a time (suitable for companies with a small number of suppliers).

Batch search: Register an account for free; then upload a supplier list using the Excel template. The system will automatically find suppliers’ violation records, and promptly provide recent online monitoring information for suppliers that publish this data.

See this guide for detailed instructions:

Tracking facility environmental performance with the Blue Map Database (Updated November 2021)

What should I do after screening through my suppliers?

After identifying which suppliers have existing violation records, brands should inform these suppliers of their records, request that they take corrective action and at least issue a public explanation regarding the reasons of violations and corrective actions taken.

While communicating with suppliers, brands should inform suppliers of the record source and of any specific requirements they have for the supplier to address the violation record (e.g. providing enterprise feedback regarding the violation record and corrective actions, or removing its violation record from the IPE database via GCA audits, etc.).

Information Disclosure

What is information disclosure?

Information disclosure refers to the process by which enterprises may disclose information regarding the reasons for their violations and any corrective actions they have taken in response. Enterprises can also disclose information regarding how they continue to improve their performance as well as data regarding pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions.

Who provides public explanation?

Any enterprises may disclose environmental information via the Blue Map website.

Why should enterprises provide explanation?

The Blue Map Database aims to provide an environmental information disclosure platform for enterprises and facilities to help multistakeholders in gaining a timely and comprehensive understanding of their rectification measures for non-compliant issues and the current status of environmental compliance, to assist the government, brand companies, financial institutions, the general public and other interested parties in formulating policies, practicing green procurement, green investment and financing, carrying out public supervision, etc., and to guide and motivate enterprises to continuously improve their environmental performance and achieve green and low carbon transformation.

Laws and regulations in China also encourage environmental information disclosure, for more details see: Legal and Regulatory Requirements for Corporate Environmental Information Disclosure (Chinese)

For enterprises that have already submitted rectification statements and paid penalties to the issuing department, why is it still important to provide explanation/feedback on the Blue Map Database?

The Blue Map Database is an open data platform that helps environmental organizations, the general public, brand companies, industry associations, media, financial institutions, ESG investors, research institutions and other parties to better understand the reasons for companies' violations, corrective actions taken, and their current compliance status.

By providing explanation on this platform, enterprises signal to the parties listed above that they are aware of their violation records and have taken steps to respond and assume environmental responsibility and accountability.

On the other hand, if ecology and environmental departments already publicly disclosed follow-up information on relevant records via their own websites, the Blue Map Database will also update the information accordingly. If companies have already made disclosures on other platforms, they could provide relevant URL links directly to Blue Map Database for synchronisation.

How to submit enterprise feedback/explanation to the Blue Map Database?

Step 1. Register a corporate user account on the Blue Map website;

Step 2. Once logged in, go to "My Green Choice", click on "Information Disclosure" and submit explanations and upload supporting documents based on instructions on the webpage.

For details, please see this page: http://wwwen.ipe.org.cn/GreenSupplyChain/GCA_Audit.html.

Do enterprises need to pay for providing public explanation?

No payment is required for providing public explanations.

Where can I find the explanation provided on the IPE website? Who can see it?

Public explanation will be displayed under the “Enterprise Feedback” tab on the Records page, and everyone who visits the website can see it.

GCA Audit/ Record Removal

What is GCA Audit?

Green Choice Audit (GCA) referes to an open and transparent mechanism for companies to verify the effectiveness of corrective actions regarding previous violations and remove their records from the Blue Map Database. To ensure the credibility of the auditing process, enterprises who wish to remove their records need to publicly demonstrate that they have remediated the violations and commited to continuously tracking and improving their environmental performance. GCA audit is conducted in line with the basic requirements of corporate compliance with laws and regulations and in accordance with the Green Choice Audit criteria, with the audit report displayed on the Blue Map website (except for those parts that involve commercial secrets) for public supervision.

What is the difference between enterprise feedback and record removal?

“Record removal” refers to the process of removing violation records from the Blue Map Database, whereas “enterprise feedback” means enterprise publicly disclose information via the Blue Map Database and will not necessarily suffice to remove a record.

How do I remove a record? Do I need to pay to do so?

GCA audit comprises two forms: off-site document review (carried out by IPE staff) and on-site GCA audit (carried out by qualified third-party audit companies who may negotiate the fees with the enterprise). IPE does not charge fees in any of the auditing process.

For more details, please see this webpage: https://www.ipe.org.cn/GreenSupplyChain/GCA_Audit.html

My enterprise has several violation records on the Blue Map Database; can I remove them all at once?

Enterprises may remove one or more violation records at once through the processes described on this webpage: https://www.ipe.org.cn/GreenSupplyChain/GCA_Audit.html

My enterprise has removed violation records on the Blue Map Database. If new violation records occur, what should I do?

CITI (Corporate Information Transparency Index)

What is CITI evaluation?

The Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) is the world’s first quantitative assessment system based on brand’s environmental management of their supply chains in China, jointly developed by IPE and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in 2014. The index uses government supervision data, online monitoring data, third party environmental audits, and other public information to dynamically assess the environmental performance of brands’ supply chains. Focused strictly on supply chain impacts, where the heaviest environmental impacts and carbon hotspots lie, the CITI Evaluation makes an important complementary contribution to broader global sustainability initiatives and reporting indices developed for the private sector. It is also structured to provide a step-by-step roadmap for the private sector to improve their sourcing programs and incorporate environmental behavior and carbon footprints into the selection of manufacturers for their goods.

What is the scope of CITI evaluation?

CITI evaluation primarily focuses on consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. In 2022, the evaluation covered 742 brands across 22 industries. As corporate environmental information disclosure in China continues to improve, the CITI evaluation will continue to expand to more industries.

What are the major areas that CITI evaluates?

The evaluation examines the following five areas:

1. Management Mechanism: Guiding companies to pay attention to the impact of their supply chain production processes on the local environment, establish green supply chain management mechanisms, and respond to stakeholder concerns

2. Compliance & Corrective Action: Guiding companies to focus on supply chain environmental compliance to minimize the impact of product manufacturing on air, water, soil and ecosystems

3. Resource Use & Pollutant Release: Guiding companies to reduce the environmental impact of supply chain chemical use, wastewater discharge, waste disposal and other processes, and to improve resource efficiency

4. Energy Use & Climate Action: Guiding companies to improve the efficiency of energy resource use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions along the value chain

5. Stakeholder Green Choice: Guiding companies to promote the green transition of value chain partners and help stakeholders make green choices

For more details see:

Green Supply Chain CITI Factsheet (Updated Apr. 2024)

Green Supply Chain CITI Evaluation Guidelines 11.0 (Updated Apr. 2024)

What are CITI rankings?

IPE uses publicly available information to score each brand’s environmental management of their supply chains in China out of 100, according to the CITI evaluation criteria. Brands are then ranked according to their CITI scores.

How often are CITI rankings updated?

CITI rankings and scores are updated continuously throughout the year. IPE stays in regular communication with brands and adjusts CITI scores and rankings according to materials provided by brands (only publicly available information can influence CITI scores).

How often are CITI reports published?

Since 2014, the CITI evaluation report has been published once every year. Although scores are updated throughout the year, the report compares brand scores approximately a month before publication in the fall of each year.

Read the CITI reports from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

CATI (Climate Action Transparency Index)

What is CATI evaluation?

Newly developed in 2021 by IPE under the technical guidance of the Center for Carbon Neutrality of CRAES, the Corporate Climate Action Transparency Index (CATI) is a quantitative system for assessing companies' climate performance on such matters as governance, measurement & disclosure, targets & performance, and climate actions.

What is the scope of CATI evaluation?

From 2021, CATI Index evaluation covers Chinese listed companies from eight industries that are listed in China’s Emission Trading System including power generation, petrochemicals, chemicals, building materials, iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, paper and civil aviation, as well as domestic and international consumer-facing industries such as IT/ICT, textiles, automotive, real estate, e-commerce retail and food and beverage, etc.

What are the major areas that CATI evaluates?

- Policy & Governance: Commit to greenhouse gas emissions reductions and integrate climate change into business strategy and supplier management mechanism

- Measurement & Disclosure: Measure and disclose greenhouse gas emissions data (Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3) and product carbon footprint

- Target Setting: Set up and disclose emissions reduction targets for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

- Performance against Target: Disclose the progress against emissions reduction targets for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

- Climate Action: Implement initiatives to reduce emissions, and motivate suppliers to set up targets, implement initiatives to reduce emissions and disclose carbon data

For details, see the fact sheet and evaluation methodology below:

CATI Factsheet (Updated Apr. 2024)

Corporate Climate Action Transparency Index (CATI) Evaluation Guidelines 4.0 (Updated Apr. 2024)

What are CATI rankings?

CATI rankings and scores are updated continuously throughout the year. At the beginning of each year, IPE updates the CATI evaluation guideline. The evaluation is conducted on a DYNAMIC basis, with primary sources of information covering: a company’s official website, annual reports, CSR reports, ESG reports, publicly accessible response to CDP Climate Change Questionnaire and its self-disclosure on the Blue Map. IPE publishes annual CATI report towards the end of the year, illustrating the progress and gaps in company’s performance every year.

How often are CATI reports published?

Evaluation reports will be published annually. The 2021, 2022 and 2023 CATI evaluation reports are available here.

How is CATI connected with CITI?

CATI is dedicated to evaluate companies’ performance on climate action, whereas CITI evaluate the overall performance of companies’ supply chain management. A company’s CATI score accounts for 20% of its overall CITI score.

Carbon and PRTR

What is a PRTR system?

"A Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) is an environmental database or inventory of potentially hazardous substances and/or pollutants released to air, water and soil and transferred off-site for treatment or disposal." - UNECE

In August 2013, IPE established a voluntary disclosure platform for PRTR data in China, and encourages high environmental impact enterprises to disclose their emissions and transfer data, particularly data regarding hazardous chemicals.

For more information, please see the report: Establishing a PRTR Disclosure System in China

Why should enterprises publish PRTR data?

According to Article 4 of the Management Measures for the Legal Disclosure of Enterprise Environmental Information: Enterprises are responsible for the disclosure of environmental information in accordance with the law. Enterprises should establish and improve the environmental information disclosure management system in accordance with the law, standardize the work procedures and clarify the work responsibilities. Enterprises should establish an environmental information management ledger, preserve original records, and collect environmental statistics scientifically.

By publishing annual PRTR data, enterprises actively fulfill their primary responsibility to environmental protection. Furthermore, with greater information transparency, the government and environmental organizations can better understand bottlenecks in the system that impede environmental protection and put pressure on high impact areas; brands and investors can better understand environmental risks and status of enterprises; and suppliers themselves can measure and track year-on-year progress.

Where is public PRTR data displayed on the Blue Map Database? Do I need permission to access it?

Published PRTR data is displayed on the Enterprise Performance page under “Emissions Data”, and everyone who visits the website can access it.

Which enterprises should report PRTR data?

All enterprises can publish PRTR data on the Blue Map Database.

How to report it?

Please see: PRTR Online Reporting Guidance (Updated July 2023)

What kind of information do companies need to fill in?

Basic information about the company, water use and wastewater pollutants, air emission volume and pollutants, and hazardous waste transfer information etc.

How often do companies need to report PRTR data?

PRTR data is annual data; IPE recommends that companies submit annual PRTR data collected over the past year.

PRTR data reporting process

PRTR reporting training materials

PRTR Online Reporting Guidance (Updated July 2023)

Data Online Reporting FAQs (Updated July 2023)

Green Supply Chain Map

What is the Green Supply Chain Map?

Jointly launched by NRDC and IPE in 2018, the Green Supply Chain Map is the first interactive platform dedicated to showcasing leading brands’ commitment to supply chain transparency and environmental management. The map provides an important tool to supervise and promote supplier environmental compliance. It openly links brands’ disclosed supplier lists in China to publicly-available data concerning supplier environmental performance, including government real-time monitoring data for air emissions and wastewater discharge and self- disclosed annual emissions data for pollutants and greenhouse gases.

For more details, please see: The Green Supply Chain Map Fact Sheet (Updated February 2023)

What are the key benefits of joining the Green Supply Chain map?

The map enables companies and brands to exercise leadership with this game-changing transparency that bolsters industry, government, and public oversight. It also creates opportunities to accelerate supply chain environmental improvements by putting the onus on suppliers to actively maintain environmental management and transparency. It also facilitates transparency surrounding other supply chain environmental impacts, such as GHG emissions.

What kind of brands can join the Green Supply Chain Map?

All brands interested in improving supply chain environmental transparency can join the Green Supply Chain Map.

Do I need to pay to join the Green Supply Chain Map?

No, joining the Green Supply Chain Map is free for all brands.

How can leading brands be part of the map?

To be included on the map, brands must fill out a supplier list template with relevant information about their suppliers, including suppliers’ Chinese and English names and location information, and submit it to IPE.

How often will supplier information on the map be updated?

The supplier information on the map is dynamically updated by IPE. Brands may submit any changes and/or updates to their lists on a monthly or quarterly schedule.

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