ZTE Releases 2025 Sustainability Report, Drives Sustainable Development Through AI
Shenzhen, China - ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of information and communications technology solutions, has released its 2025 Sustainability Report highlighting recent achievements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects. ZTE has voluntarily published this report to the public for 18 consecutive years.
In the report, Executive Director and CEO Xu Ziyang stated, ‘Through our ’Connectivity + Computing’ strategy, we remain committed to driving high-quality and sustainable economic development through technology. Together with our partners, we aim to build a smarter, more efficient, eco-friendly, and inclusive future.’
In 2025, ZTE strategically increased R&D investment to RMB 22.76 billion, approximately 17% of total revenue, bolstering AI capabilities. By year-end, the company had filed around 95,000 global patent applications, with over 50,000 granted. In the chip sector, ZTE held 5,900 applications and 3,700 granted patents, while AI-related patents numbered nearly 5,500, with almost half approved.
Leading Science-Based Emissions Reduction through ‘Digital Green Path’
ZTE integrated climate action into its corporate strategy via the ‘Digital Green Path’ initiative, covering environmentally friendly operations, green supply chain, green digital infrastructure, and technology-powered industry empowerment. Through energy efficiency measures and AI-driven dynamic scaling, ZTE surpassed its first-phase net-zero target, cutting operational carbon emissions by 46% compared to 2021. Scope 3 emissions intensity decreased by 8.55% in product usage and maintenance, while absolute emissions across the terminal lifecycle fell by 3.05% year-on-year. This performance earned ZTE a place in the CDP Climate A list for three consecutive years.
Driving Technology for Social Good, Building an Inclusive and Fair Society
ZTE continues to expand equal access to communication and digital opportunities worldwide, viewing human resources as its most valuable asset. In 2025, it maintained 100% employee training coverage and regularly implemented the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), retaining ISO 45001 certification for all domestic and 30-country operations. Over 20,000 employee volunteers ran more than 600 community programmes globally, benefiting over one million people and reinforcing ZTE’s commitment to an inclusive society.
Strengthening Governance and Business Resilience
ZTE refined its three-tier sustainability governance system for strategy, decision-making, and execution, maintaining ISO 22301:2019 certification for business continuity across five manufacturing bases and research centres. Data compliance was prioritised, with the release of the latest Privacy Protection White Paper and EU ePrivacyseal Global certification for five key products, strengthening global data protection standards.
ZTE’s ESG efforts received international recognition, including a ‘Low ESG Risk’ rating from Sustainalytics for the fourth consecutive year, inclusion in the Fortune China ESG Impact 2025 list for four years, the ATD Excellence in Practice Award for the sixth time, and a spot in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook (China Edition) 2025.
Looking ahead, ZTE will leverage innovation and technology commercialisation to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, accelerating a more efficient, eco-friendly, intelligent, and inclusive future.