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ANTA Sports Included in Hang Seng ESG 50 Index for the First Time
Releases Roadmap for Phasing Out of High-Risk Substances, Leading Industry Sustainable Development
(Hong Kong SAR, 28 August, 2025) – ANTA Sports Products Limited ("ANTA Sports" or the "Company", stock codes: 2020 (HKD counter) and 82020 (RMB counter), and its subsidiaries collectively the "Group”) has announced its first inclusion in the Hang Seng ESG 50 Index, becoming the only footwear and apparel company in the index among the top 50 Hong Kong-listed companies in terms of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance. The inclusion underscores ANTA Sports' leadership and progress in sustainable development across the industry. In a further step towards environmental responsibility, ANTA Sports has disclosed for the first time the "ANTA Sports Chemical Safety Technical Specification (ANTA Sports J01)" and updated its "ANTA Sports Chemical Management Handbook", outlining a clear roadmap for phasing out high-risk substances. Notably, ANTA Sports has become the first in China's sportswear sector to voluntarily commit to eliminating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with plans to transition all branded waterproof products to fluorine-free formulations from 2027.
Constituent stocks of the Hang Seng ESG 50 Index are selected based on the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index (HSSUS), comprising the 50 largest Hong Kong-listed companies demonstrating the strongest ESG performance. The index evaluates companies across three key pillars: environmental impact (including carbon emissions and resource management), social responsibility (including labor rights and community engagement), and corporate governance (including transparency and anti-corruption measures). Only the top 50 scoring companies are selected. The index serves not only as a benchmark for ESG but also provides a reference standard for stakeholders focused on sustainable development.
ANTA Sports has released its first publicly disclosed restricted substance list through the "ANTA Sports Chemical Safety Technical Specification (ANTA Sports J01)", setting minimum product quality and outlining a clear roadmap for phasing out high-risk substances. Complementing this, the updated "ANTA Sports Chemical Management Handbook" introduces best practices across the entire product lifecycle, from raw materials and manufacturing processes to final goods, aimed at enhancing supplier compliance with ANTA Sports J01 and mitigating potential risks.
The Group has established control measures for high-risk substances and implemented a phased elimination timeline:
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Aligned with California's AB 1817 bill, using total organic fluorine as the control basis, requiring apparel and textiles exported to the United States after January 1, 2025 to have total organic fluorine content below 100 ppm; the same standards are expected to be implemented in China and other markets by 2027.
- Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) and alkylphenols (APs): Starting 2025, the supply chain is required to establish transparent processes and submit testing reports, with ongoing improvement measures based on results.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): Prohibited in footwear and apparel components from December 2024, with unilateral prohibition from June 2025.
- N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMFa): Priority promotion of water-based or solvent-free processes to reduce volatile organic compounds.
- Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and chloroprene rubber: Prohibited from December 2024.
As a key step in promoting fluorine-free alternatives, the ANTA Brand has also launched the high-performance fluorine-free waterproof and breathable material "AEROVENT ZERO". The material, jointly developed by the ANTA Brand and Donghua University, represents China's first independently developed high-performance fluorine-free waterproof breathable material to achieve mass production. The material uses bio-based polymers to replace traditional petroleum-based materials, providing crucial technical support for fluorine-free alternatives.
ANTA Sports has strengthened its sustainable chemical management framework by adopting internationally recognized chemical management standards and systems. Since 2023, the Group has joined the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation as a signatory brand, successfully onboarding 131 footwear and apparel supply chain partners to the ZDHC Gateway platform. Of these partners, nearly 90% have submitted Performance InCheck reports, enabling chemical compliance assessments against the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL). From 2025, the Group has also begun implementing ClearStream reporting across its supply chain to monitor wastewater discharge quality, reinforce output-end compliance, and support closed-loop control. To further promote transparency and stakeholder engagement, ANTA Sports has launched a dedicated "Chemical Management" section on its ESG webpage, detailing policy frameworks progress updates.
Lai Shixian, Chairman of the Sustainability Committee and Co-CEO of ANTA Sports, said, "Our inclusion in the Hang Seng ESG 50 Index underscores ANTA Sports' unwavering commitment to sustainability excellence. Rigorous chemical management represents a cornerstone of our commitment to product excellence and consumer protection. Going forward, we will deepen our collaboration with supply chain partners to advance innovation, refine our chemical management protocols, and sustain our position at the industry forefront."
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About ANTA Sports
ANTA was established in 1991; while ANTA Sports Products Limited, a widely recognized global sportswear company, was listed on the Main Board of HKEx in 2007 (Stock Codes: 2020 (HKD counter) and 82020 (RMB counter)). The mission of the Company is to bring the transcendent sports spirit into everyone’s life. ANTA Sports principally engages in R&D, design, manufacturing, marketing and sales of professional sports products including footwear, apparel and accessories. By embracing an all-round brand portfolio including ANTA, FILA, DESCENTE, KOLON SPORT, JACK WOLFSKIN and MAIA ACTIVE, etc., ANTA Sports aims to unlock the potential of both the mass and high-end sportswear markets. ANTA Sports is also the largest shareholder of Amer Sports, Inc., a global group of iconic sports and outdoor brands, including Arc’teryx, Salomon, Wilson, Peak Performance, and Atomic, whose shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AS).
IR website: http://ir.anta.com
ESG website: http://ir.anta.com/esg/
WeChat official account: antatiyu_20070710
For further information, please contact:
ANTA Sports Products Limited
Investor Relations Department
Tel: (852) 2116 1660
Fax: (852) 2116 1590
E-mail: ir@anta.com.hk
Sustainability Department
Tel: (852) 2116 1660
Fax: (852) 2116 1590
E-mail: esg@anta.com.hk
Group Corporate Communications Department
anta_ccpr@anta.com
CDR
Linda Pui / Jobie Cheung
Tel: (852) 3103 0118 / (852) 3103 0107
Email: AntaSportsIR@cdrconsultancy.com