Alibaba, China’s e-commerce giant and owner of shopping platform Taobao, announced the launch of “Carbon88” on August 8. “Carbon88” a carbon ledger platform, which compiles users carbon-reducing activity on food delivery app Eleme, parcel tracking platform Cainiao, online thrift shop Xianyu, shopping platform Tmall and others.

"Carbon88”, which brings together many businesses under Alibaba, is an important practice of Alibaba to "help reduce 1.5 billion tons of carbon in 15 years" by means of product design, according to Yang Lingye, General Manager of ESG and Dual Carbon Business Department of Alibaba Group.

Household consumptions account for 52% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in China, according to a finding published in Advances in Climate Change Research, which is an academic journal sponsored by the China National Climate Center. Carbon 88 aims to encourage users to reduce such activities by graphically displaying their carbon footprints and reduction results.

In addition, cash rewards are also available to better incentivize users. For example, users can redeem cash bonuses by donating carbon points on their Carbon 88 account. Carbon points can be redeemed for discounts on low-carbon products provided by selected merchants, or for exclusive services in Eleme, Xianyu, Tmall and Cainiao. The Carbon 88 program has also created an “honor system”, which allows users to collect carbon points to unlock digital medals.

Alibaba has also announced a Carbon Reduction Week campaign, which collaborates with Guangzhou Carbon Emission Trading Center and Beijing Green Exchange. The campaign runs from August 8 to August 18, and residents of Guangdong, Beijing and Zhejiang can participate by entering Carbon 88 insider Taobao and try to get the highest ranks.