Recently, with the support of Carbon Newture, Ningbo Orient Cable Co., Ltd. (“Orient Cable”) completed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for its 160/275(300)kV 3×2500mm² aluminum conductor XLPE-insulated fiber-optic composite submarine cable and obtained an LCA certificate issued by SGS.
This assessment followed ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 standards, adopting a full “cradle-to-grave” approach. It covered key stages including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, distribution, usage, and end-of-life disposal. The certification marks an important milestone in Orient Cable’s sustainability journey and provides a replicable “Chinese solution” for the low-carbon transition of the cable, high-end equipment, and energy industries.
Orient Cable (stock code: 603606) is a core supplier of onshore and offshore cables in China, ranked among the Top 10 most competitive submarine cable companies globally and Top 10 cable enterprises in China. Its three major business segments include: power engineering & equipment cables (green transmission), submarine & high-voltage cables (renewable energy), and marine equipment & O&M (deep-sea technology).
01. LCA certification: a full “Environmental Check-up”
Submarine cables, known as the “lifeline” of offshore wind farms, are key energy transport conduits. With growing global attention to climate change, overseas markets such as Europe have increasingly stringent low-carbon requirements for cables. China’s 3060 carbon peaking and neutrality strategy is also reshaping the green development pattern of the energy and cable industries. As an essential component of energy transmission, the cable industry’s low-carbon transition is urgent.
In this context, Orient Cable embraced both challenges and opportunities, introducing a life cycle assessment (LCA) for its “160/275(300)kV 3×2500mm² aluminum-core XLPE insulated optical fiber composite submarine cable.” This product integrates power transmission and optical fiber communication, suitable for deep-sea and other complex marine environments, simplifying subsea communication and power system construction while improving overall efficiency and reliability.
Following ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 standards, and with the assistance of Carbon Newture, Orient Cable quantitatively analyzed key environmental indicators across the cable’s life cycle, including energy consumption, water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation. Regarding climate impact, raw material acquisition accounts for nearly 60% of the environmental impact, while indirect GHG emissions from electricity losses during the use stage contribute over 35%.
This LCA assessment serves as a comprehensive “environmental health check” for the product, creating multi-win value through internal optimization, upstream empowerment, and downstream collaboration:
Internal: Provides reliable data support for future product design, production processes, and recycling model optimization.
Upstream: Enables targeted carbon reduction requirements for suppliers, promoting coordinated emissions reduction across the supply chain.
Downstream: Downstream customers adopting this LCA-certified low-carbon cable can reduce their own supply chain emissions and gain an advantage in the global “green equipment race.”
02. Setting sail on a low-carbon journey
Facing the global wave of low-carbon development, Orient Cable has already set sail on its green transition journey.
In 2024, Orient Cable officially joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and made a clear decarbonization commitment: taking 2023 as the baseline year, the company pledged to achieve an absolute reduction of 95% in Scope 1 & 2 emissions and 55% in Scope 3 emissions by 2033, and to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the entire value chain by 2050.
To realize emission reduction targets aligned with the SBTi 1.5 °C pathway, Orient Cable has adopted a series of scientific, reasonable, and effective measures.
In terms of energy transition, Orient Cable built a virtual power plant fully powered by green electricity. In 2024, renewable energy accounted for more than 90% of the company’s total energy use, with renewable electricity reaching 100%. Through the deployment of distributed rooftop solar PV, annual procurement of green power, and green certificates, Orient Cable has achieved 100% renewable electricity for its operations, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
In terms of carbon reduction, Orient Cable systematically carried out corporate GHG emissions accounting and verification, as well as product carbon footprint assessments, actively fulfilling its reduction commitments. In 2024, the company reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 30,405 tons. Compared with the previous year, Scope 1 emissions decreased by 21% and Scope 2 emissions decreased by 91%, while a detailed accounting of Scope 3 emissions was also conducted. At the same time, Orient Cable disclosed its carbon emissions data, truly achieving green, open, transparent, and visible reporting.
Source: Orient Cable, 2024 Sustainability Report
From a single product LCA certification, to substantive decarbonization actions, and finally to the SBTi strategic targets covering the full value chain, Orient Cable has demonstrated a clear low-carbon transition pathway—moving from “point” to “surface,” driven by data and guided by ambitious goals.
03. Conclusion
As the “arteries” of energy systems, cables play a pivotal role in global decarbonization. Orient Cable’s LCA certification is more than a credential—it is a starting point for continuous transformation. From data-driven product evaluation to ambitious SBTi commitments, the company is charting a clear, actionable low-carbon pathway.
By embedding sustainability across its value chain, Orient Cable is not only driving its own green transition but also providing a tangible Chinese model for the global cable and energy industries to accelerate toward carbon neutrality.
