Benelux Chamber Brings Member ESG Perspectives to the World Brand Moganshan Summit
Last weekend, the Benelux Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai took part in the 2026 World Brand Moganshan Summit, held in Deqing, Zhejiang Province. With the theme "Brands Bring Better Future for the World," the Summit is an annual platform co-hosted by the Brand Work Office of Xinhua News Agency and the China Council for Brand Development, bringing together government representatives, enterprises, higher education institutions, and industry associations to exchange on brand development and global business trends.
As part of the Summit's program, the Benelux Chamber was invited to participate in a dedicated panel discussion on ESG Practices from a Corporate Perspective (企业视角下的ESG实践), joining fellow speakers from across the international and Chinese business community.
The Chamber’s participation came at the invitation of Patrick Nijs, former Ambassador of Belgium to China, Lifetime Honorary Ambassador, and a valued member of the Benelux Chamber. Patrick has been actively promoting ESG, sustainability, and responsible business practices, and his continued commitment to these causes helped bring together a meaningful discussion on how companies can embed ESG principles into their long-term development.
Our Commercial Director Kim Steen addressed the question of why the Benelux Chamber is so actively engaged in ESG. He stated “We create a neutral platform where companies, experts, and members can exchange knowledge and turn ESG from a broad concept into concrete business action. Companies should not treat ESG as a separate reporting exercise. Done well, ESG becomes part of competitiveness. It helps companies become more resilient, more credible, and better prepared for long-term growth.”
Hermes Galvao spoke to the role of Luxembourg in green finance, highlighting the country's position as one of Europe's leading hubs for sustainable investment infrastructure. “From the Luxembourg Green Exchange to its broader ecosystem for ESG-aligned capital, Luxembourg offers a meaningful reference point for Benelux and Chinese companies as they navigate differing expectations around sustainability reporting and cross-border alignment.”
The Benelux Chamber was also pleased to share the stage with two of its members. Paul van Brenkelen (EQOLOGIC) brought a grounded, practical perspective on what ESG truly means at the company level: “China’s ecological vision and global ESG standards are not competing paths, they are complementary. Companies that learn to bridge both will lead the future of sustainable business.”
“ESG is not about perfection; it’s about progress. Every SME can take meaningful steps when ESG becomes practical, not theoretical.”
Emmanuel Delplanque (Be-Cause (Shanghai) Environment Technology) made a compelling case for circular economy as a core pillar of sustainable business:
"Because resource scarcity and carbon taxes like CBAM are already reshaping global trade, circular economy push—driven by the 15th Five-Year Plan—is not just an environmental mandate but a new competitive reality.
It urges to move from a linear 'take-make-waste' model to a circular one, using strategies like eco-design, Product-as-a-Service, and recycling to lower costs and maintain export market access.
Because non-compliance risks losing access to both the Chinese and European markets, embracing circularity is essential for protecting supply chains, reducing CBAM liabilities, and turning resource efficiency into a long-term business advantage."
“circular economy isn’t a green story. It is the business model for the resource-constrained world we already live in”
The Benelux Chamber looks forward to continuing these conversations and supporting its members as they navigate their own ESG journeys. To make sure we know what matters most to you, we would like to hear from you directly. Please fill in our short survey and help us understand what ESG topics our member experts should cover next.