In the production workshop of TOCHAIN in Chuzhou, Anhui (official name: Anhui Tuqiang Stationery Co., Ltd.), machines roar as TPR materials are precisely injection-molded into uniformly sized erasers. From here, they embark on long sea journeys, eventually appearing on store shelves across Europe, the United States, India, and other regions.
This extensive global network has been built piece by piece by Founder and Chairman Zhao Qiang since the company's establishment in 1996—one eraser at a time. Under his leadership, TOCHAIN has operated steadily for 30 years and earned the title of “China’s Eraser King.” Even during the pandemic, the company continued to expand both domestically and internationally.
Amid the global shift toward low-carbon development, this seasoned industry “veteran” sharply adjusted course, steering TOCHAIN toward a green transformation. During an interview at the company’s headquarters, Zhao Qiang shared with Carbon Newture the “challenges” and “opportunities” he sees in the new green era.
The “Challenge”: New barriers to going global under green trade rules
TOCHAIN specializes in manufacturing erasers, glue sticks, pencils, sharpeners, and other stationery items. It is also one of the earliest domestic manufacturers to develop and produce internationally compliant, environmentally friendly erasers.
TOCHAIN Headquarters
After three decades of development, TOCHAIN has become a leader in the eraser segment and secured its position in the global stationery market.
“We have built an international market network and maintained long-term cooperation with renowned brands such as Walmart, Disney, Maped in France, and Helix in the UK,” Zhao said. “TOCHAIN-made erasers are sold in more than 80% of countries worldwide.”
However, “business is like a battlefield,” and the company’s global expansion now faces new challenges. Market competition is intensifying, and green regulations—such as the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)—are creating fresh trade barriers for exporters.
“Opportunities always accompany difficulties, and difficulties often bring hope,” Zhao remarked calmly and confidently. He realized that the moment for strategic green transformation had arrived.
The “opportunity”: From internal green capabilities to a "low-carbon ID Card"
Turning a large, established manufacturing company toward sustainability is no overnight task. Zhao knew that to turn “barriers” into “opportunities,” TOCHAIN first needed to strengthen its internal foundation.
“In line with the global sustainability trend, we have embedded green and low-carbon principles into every aspect of our operations.”
Rooftop solar panels at TOCHAIN’s Chuzhou headquarters
At TOCHAIN’s main site in Chuzhou, signs of “green upgrading” are everywhere:
Drone views reveal a sea of photovoltaic panels on the rooftops, shimmering blue under the sun.
A distributed energy-storage project operates quietly in one corner of the campus.
Various green technologies and energy-saving equipment, introduced through sustained investment, run efficiently on the front line of production.
On the assembly lines, an advanced MES system integrates real-time production data, making the entire process transparent and traceable.
With these initiatives, TOCHAIN has achieved automated, intelligent, transparent, and low-carbon production—enhancing management efficiency while increasing the use of recycled materials, reusable raw materials, and solid-waste recycling.
This year, TOCHAIN was awarded the Chuzhou Green Factory Certificate, underscoring its leadership in sustainability and low-carbon manufacturing.
Next question: how to demonstrate these green achievements to global clients? TOCHAIN chose to let data speak.
Among more than 2,500 product varieties, the company selected its core TPR-material eraser as a breakthrough point—introducing recycled materials at the design stage to reduce carbon emissions at the source.
Building on this, TOCHAIN partnered with Carbon Newture to conduct a carbon footprint assessment of the TPR eraser and obtained a certified carbon footprint statement from TÜV SÜD.
“This essentially gives the product a ‘Low-Carbon ID Card’, serving as a solid shield that helps us enter global markets and overcome green trade barriers”, Zhao explained.
To ensure transparency, TOCHAIN also uploaded the eraser’s carbon footprint information to the China Carbon Disclosure Platform for Light Industrial Products and Arts-Crafts. Through this digital platform, carbon data becomes visible, traceable, and verifiable—allowing customers and consumers to check it anytime.
Exploring New Territory: Using Carbon to Draw a New B2C Blueprint
After completing carbon footprint certification for its TPR eraser, Zhao began expanding TOCHAIN’s business strategy. No longer satisfied with being a behind-the-scenes B2B “invisible champion,” he is now actively building the company’s direct-to-consumer presence.
This summer, TOCHAIN launched livestream sales on Douyin and achieved promising results. “Low-carbon” will become a key differentiator in its future consumer outreach.
According to Deloitte, about two-thirds of Gen Z (64%) and millennials (63%) are willing to pay for environmentally sustainable products or services¹. In China’s stationery market, the primary C-end “decision-makers”—parents—are predominantly millennials (born between 1983 and 1994).
Zhao sees clearly that carbon footprint certification is not only a “passport” for global supply chains but also a “new language” for consumer communication:
“We will continue certifying more products and develop truly carbon-neutral product lines.”
From B2B “green breakthrough” to B2C “brand awareness,” TOCHAIN is using carbon as its new creative tool to draw its second growth curve.
“TOCHAIN will continue building green factories, focusing on low-carbon design, producing low-carbon products, enhancing internal carbon management, and advancing the company’s low-carbon transition,” Zhao said.
TOCHAIN’s TPR-material eraser showcased at the 2025 Shanghai International Carbon Neutrality Expo
When asked about his vision for the future, Zhao gave a firm promise: “We will lead the transformation of the stationery industry through green intelligent manufacturing, build Chinese brands with superior quality, and open a new low-carbon era for the global stationery sector!”
TOCHAIN’s green transformation provides a clear blueprint for Chinese manufacturers seeking to expand globally. In the face of global sustainability trends and increasingly stringent green trade barriers, proactive low-carbon transformation—and turning “challenges” into “opportunities”—has become essential for maintaining competitiveness.
References
[1] Deloitte Global 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey
[2] Company information and data provided by TOCHAIN and Carbon Newture
