ChinaBond Pricing Center’s (CBPC) innovative ESG evaluation system covers more than 8,000 Chinese onshore public credit bond issuers and A-share listed companies.

Launched in 2020, the CBPC’s ESG system products and solutions include ESG evaluation, ESG database, ESG index, ESG report, and ESG consulting services.

This integrates mainstream international methods such as ISO standards and GRI standards with the unique characteristics of China’s market, according to the company. It said this is “further accelerating the development of responsible investment in China”.

Its ESG database now offers over 400 different data points, sourced from 15 types of public announcements and 10 types of public notices with annual number of announcement processing exceeding 20,000.

In 2016 it launched the first domestic green bond index, since growing its offering to include various ESG-themed bond indices. This includes what it said was the first domestic insurance asset management ESG bond index and the first domestic ESG Chinese-offshore US dollar bond index.

CBPC is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Central Depository & Clearing Co., a benchmark pricing platform and domestic financial information service provider. This year it also launched its sustainable finance department to develop its green finance products and services for both domestic and foreign market participants.

Yu Lifan, senior director, said: “While there has been an exponential growth in ESG investing in China, challenges still remain.” He added that the CBPC’s product is making “it easier to incorporate ESG factors into the research and decision-making process and facilitates tying aspirations to actions for sustainable investment”.

On receiving the award, Yu said: “We are honoured to receive such recognition for promoting the concept of responsible investment by professional institutions. In the future, we have our sights set on expanding and enhancing our ESG products and services offering”.