As sustainability continues to gain momentum across global industries, China is following suit. In recent months, there has been a noticeable shift in how companies within the Pro AV sector are responding to the increasing demand for sustainable practices—driven not only by end users, but also by growing government influence.

1. Government Pressure Accelerates Change
Where sustainability initiatives were once primarily influenced by international clients with strong ESG frameworks, Chinese authorities are now playing a much more active role. Manufacturers are being encouraged—and in some cases, required—to adopt sustainable practices. This is particularly evident in public tenders, where sustainability criteria are increasingly part of the selection process.

2. International Companies as a Catalyst
Global players operating in China are also raising the bar for sustainability. Their expectations around transparency, circular economy principles, and formalized reporting are compelling local partners to evolve at a faster pace.

3. Digital Signage and Energy Efficiency
In the LED and digital signage segment, energy-efficient product design is emerging as a key competitive differentiator. While some companies continue to use sustainability as a marketing narrative, others are making meaningful investments in R&D—reducing power consumption and exploring recyclable materials to support their claims.

4. A Gap Between Intentions and Strategy
Despite the positive momentum, a clear gap remains between intention and execution. Many Chinese manufacturers are still in the early stages of defining what sustainability truly means for their business operations. Awareness is on the rise, but translating that awareness into measurable outcomes is an ongoing challenge.

5. Absen’s Path Toward Sustainable Innovation
Absen has begun aligning its product innovation with sustainability objectives, focusing on energy efficiency and lifecycle design. The company is actively working to reduce power consumption across its LED product lines and exploring strategies to incorporate circularity into production processes. While the path forward is still unfolding, sustainability is becoming a more central part of Absen’s long-term roadmap.

This is a pivotal time for the Pro AV industry in China. Companies like Absen recognize both the opportunity and the responsibility to help shape a more sustainable future, and look forward to ongoing collaboration and shared progress across the industry.

Written by: Ruben Rengel, Executive Vice President, Absen