Trina Solar

No leading practices were found for this company.

No leading practices were found for this company.

No leading practices were found for this company.

No leading practices were found for this company.

Trina Solar aims to use 100% renewable energy in its global manufacturing and operations by 2030, and it has committed to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% in 2025 compared to 2020. It is also committed to reducing its energy consumption of solar PV products by 40% in 2025 compared to 2020. Although Trina Solar has joined the Science Based Targets Initiative (STBi), there is no evidence that its targets and emissions are in line with a 1.5°C scenario. Further, though Trina Solar has set a medium-term decarbonisation target, there is no evidence that it has any intermediate targets. The company also has no targets on absolute emissions reduction for its indirect emissions. Next to setting targets for its indirect emissions, the company should set regularly spaced intermediate targets to incentivise near-term actions on its longer-term goals.

There is no evidence that Trina Solar has a transition plan; it only states a commitment to using 100% renewable energy in its manufacturing by 2030, alongside its other commitments on scope 1 and 2 emissions and solar PV consumption listed above. Having a formal decarbonisation strategy coupled with intermediate targets will help the company take a more focused approach to transitioning to a low-carbon future.

Trina Solar has published a new paper on its low-carbon capital expenditure (CapEx), which states its commitment to accelerate the clean energy transition. However, the company does not report sufficient detail on interventions it has carried out in the last five years to reduce the life cycle of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

While Trina Solar reports evidence of some engagement with its suppliers and customers in its sustainability report, there is no evidence of the company having an engagement strategy which translates into concrete actions driving its suppliers and customers to decrease their GHG emissions. T he company has a commitment to support the SBTI, but it has made no progress on this as such. No evidence was found to show Trina Solar opposes climate-aligned policies.

Trina Solar aims to change its manufacturing to using 100% renewable energy by 2030; however, it is unclear how it will achieve this goal due to a lack of reporting by the company on the actions it is taking . Strengthening its targets and implementing a concrete action plan to reduce its GHG emissions will help the company better align with the Paris Agreement.

In 2022, Trina Solar’s PV module shipments reached a capacity of 43.1 gigawatts (GW) globally. While the company is a global leader in manufacturing solar PV and smart energy systems, it is encouraged to set out a clear decarbonisation plan.

There is evidence that Trina Solar has reduced some of its scope 1 and 2 emissions. However, due to a lack of reporting , it is unclear how the company will continue to drive reductions in its emissions.

While Trina Solar shows consistency in reporting , it has not set targets that are ambitious enough to achieve a low-carbon transition aligned with a 1.5°C scenario.

Although the company has committed to the STBi, there is no evidence that the targets it has set out are aligned with the Paris Agreement goals.

No evidence was found of the company’s commitment to social dialogue or of the categories of stakeholders the company engages with on a just transition. Furthermore, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s ongoing social dialogue and meaningful engagement with affected stakeholders. No evidence was found of the company undertaking low-carbon transition planning to mitigate the social impacts of the transition on workers, affected stakeholders and its business relationships. Additionally, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s engagement in social dialogue and with stakeholders in its just transition planning.

The company discloses the actions it takes to help the most vulnerable people find jobs and re-integrate into society. However, no public commitment by the company was found stating its intention to create and support access to green and decent jobs as part of the low-carbon transition. Moreover, no evidence was found of the company’s action to promote these jobs in a way that ensures gender balance and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Additionally, no relevant disclosure was found of the company’s assessment of employment dislocation risks. No public commitment by the company was found stating its intention to re-skill and up-skill workers displaced by the transition to a low-carbon economy. Additionally, no evidence was found that the company reskills and upskills workers in a way that ensures gender balance and inclusion of vulnerable groups.

The company contributes to the social protection of affected stakeholders by offering community contribution and philanthropic investment funds. However, no relevant disclosure was found to show if the company identifies impacts of the low-carbon transition on social protection for workers, nor how it contributes to social protection. Additionally, no evidence was found that the company expects its business relationships to contribute to the social protection of their workers and affected stakeholders. No relevant disclosure was found to show how the company identifies any misalignment of its lobbying activities with policies and regulations that support the just transition, nor of the measures it takes to address misalignment. Furthermore, no evidence was found that the company lobbies for policies and regulations for green and decent job creation; retention, education and reskilling; and social protection for workers.

While the company commits to respecting human rights and the ILO fundamental rights at work, no evidence that it expects its business relationships to respect the ILO fundamental rights at work. No evidence was found of the company’s process to identify, assess and mitigate salient human rights risks in its own operations and supply chain. No evidence was found of the company disclosing the stakeholders whose human rights have been affected by its activities. Moreover, no evidence was found that the company has a grievance mechanism available to workers and external stakeholders.

The company commits to respecting the health and safety of its workers and expects the same commitment of its business relationships. However, no evidence was found of a time-bound target for paying all workers a living wage. Moreover, no evidence was found that the company discloses the proportion of its direct workforce covered by collective bargaining agreements and the company’s required working hours. No relevant disclosure was found of indicators of workforce diversity. No evidence was found that the company commits to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

No policies or commitments of the company related to key ethical business topics – personal data protection, tax, bribery and corruption, and lobbying and political engagement – were found in the public domain. This includes ensuring ethical business conduct throughout its operations and in its relationships with business partners.