Xie Zhoupei, founder & CEO of Kongling Digital Consulting

As the world increasingly focuses on the green economy, efforts toward carbon neutrality have largely been dominated by multinational corporations, which can make the concept seem out of reach for small communities and businesses. However, Xie Zhoupei, a digital business consulting expert and the founder and CEO of Beijing Kongling Digital Consulting Services Co Ltd has integrated digital technology with sustainable development to launch a series of groundbreaking projects. These projects democratize carbon neutrality, making it accessible and beneficial to local communities, SMEs, and individual entrepreneurs. In 2023, Xie was honored as the "Innovative Influencer of the Year" by the ECI Awards.

Q: Ms Xie, I am delighted to discuss your work in advancing a green and equitable economy. What inspired you to democratize carbon neutrality?

A: Traditionally, the concept of carbon neutrality has been predominantly within the realm of large corporations, as seen with the "Apple 2030" initiative and Tesla's significant carbon credit trades. However, my vision is to democratize and universalize the benefits of the green economy, making them accessible at the grassroots level. This enables fishermen, local women, and SMEs to become integral parts of the system and benefit from it. My inspiration stems from my work with Alibaba, where we helped tens of millions of sellers to conduct business more easily, pioneered the "Double 11" shopping festival, and integrated e-commerce with sustainable development. I've witnessed the immense potential of digital technology in these areas, showcasing how it could also revolutionize environmental efforts.

Q: What impact have your initiatives had on the value chain?

A: Here's an example. Statistically, around 6.4 million tons of fishing gear are discarded into the oceans annually, posing significant threats to marine life and the environment. Thus, we developed pilot projects in fishing villages in Hainan, South China, establishing a complete industrial chain for recycling abandoned fishing nets into high-value regenerated products. We encourage fishermen to bring their discarded nets to designated recycling points in exchange for compensation. These nets are then sorted, processed, and transported to factories to become regenerated materials for luxury brands. This model is a win-win circular economy that not only cleans our oceans but also boosts income for fishermen and local women, increases sustainable development value for factories and brands, and better fulfills consumers' demands for genuinely eco-friendly products.

Q: Digital tech has been a crucial component of your strategy. How does it empower fairer resource distribution?

A: Digital technology is transformative, reshaping business infrastructure with mobile internet, big data, AI, and more. These technologies shift commercial paradigms to be more consumer-centered and inclusive. For instance, the e-commerce consumer rights protection index and green consumer studies I developed, based on big data, offer real-time insights into consumer behavior, aiding consumers and small businesses in better safeguarding their rights or seizing new market opportunities.

Q: How do you level the playing field for small players in the green economy?

A: For SMEs, the challenge often lies in the lack of resources and technology to implement sustainable practices. We bridge this gap for SMEs through consulting services and fostering partnerships capable of providing the necessary support. This ensures that the advantages of carbon neutrality are not centralized but widely shared. For example, applying digital technology to track recycled fishing nets opens up the value chain, allowing fishermen, local women, and small businesses to participate in the circular economy system, obtaining equal business opportunities alongside large corporations, and thus achieving a more equitable benefit distribution within the value chain.

Q: How do consumers impact the green economy?

A: Consumer behavior is crucial to the green economy. Our initiatives aim to provide more eco-friendly choices that are recyclable and low-carbon, enhance their accessibility and value, and encourage a growing number of consumers to adopt sustainable lifestyles.

Q: What new prospects do you see for your work?

A: The green revolution knows no borders and requires cross-national and cross-cultural cooperation. Looking forward, I see immense potential in promoting these concepts and practices worldwide, extending our model to other developing regions to help build their local economies and contribute to global sustainable development goals.