From September 25th to 28th, 2025, the World Design Capital Conference was grandly held in Shanghai. The globally leading green technology company Envision Group was invited to appear at the “Endless Regeneration” themed exhibition, showcasing the development blueprint for humanity’s “new prosperity” to all sectors of society through the world’s largest green hydrogen-ammonia project and the popular “Envision Plastic Waste Art Car”.

The World Design Capital Conference is a high-level international design event jointly organized by the Shanghai Municipal Government and UNESCO. Since its inception in 2021, it has been held for four consecutive sessions, gathering top design forces and cutting-edge achievements from around the world, becoming an important window to showcase urban soft power and industrial innovation. This year’s conference coincides with the 15th anniversary of Shanghai being honored as a “Design Capital”, attracting over 3,000 design works for exhibition, once again highlighting its unique influence and appeal in the global design community.

From Fossil Fuels to Clean Energy: A Dialogue Spanning a Century

The “Endless Regeneration” themed exhibition, located at the center of the event, is based on the Eastern philosophy of “regeneration”, calling for a transformation of the civilizational paradigm—making design a key force for healing the planet and empowering the web of life. The exhibition dramatically juxtaposes the world’s first mass-produced assembly line car—the Ford Model T—with the Envision Plastic Waste Art Car, creating a profound dialogue spanning 120 years from start to finish.

Among them, the Envision Plastic Waste Art Car is a highlight of the exhibition. Reportedly, this “popular waste car”, which was previously showcased at the main venue of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference World Leaders Summit, was jointly created by the world champion team—Envision Racing Formula E team—and the British design firm Lazerian. Using 100 kilograms of plastic waste as raw material, it took 700 hours of pure handcrafting to create a 1:1 replica of a Formula E race car. Using motorsport as a medium, this artwork takes “anti-plastic” as its theme, aiming to voice the next generation’s concerns about climate issues, and demonstrating the pioneering awareness and social responsibility of Chinese companies like Envision on the global stage.

Beyond the design philosophy of regeneration unearthed from the artistic rebirth of plastic waste, the Envision team’s status as a “champion team” was also a key reason for the curators’ selection of this art car. As the only team with Chinese background in the Formula E championship, Envision Racing won the 2023 Formula E World Championship overall title.

“The Envision Plastic Waste Art Car is placed at the end of the exhibition route, echoing the Ford Model T at the starting point, symbolizing the paradigm shift from the industrial civilization represented by fossil fuels to a new relationship between humanity and nature represented by clean energy,” stated the Creative Director and Chief Curator of the World Design Capital Conference main exhibition. He noted that the Envision Plastic Waste Art Car is not just a creative work, but also a concrete expression of the company’s commitment to sustainable development. Just as the 200-meter recycled track in the pavilion signifies: sustainability is not the end point, but a new starting point for an ecological civilization led by Shanghai.

Building a Green New Oil Base in the Gobi: Opening New Space for Human Civilization

“No one imagined that we could build the world’s largest green new oil base in the Gobi Desert. Utilizing the unlimited wind and solar resources of the Gobi, the ‘electrolyzer’ in front of you converts water into green hydrogen, which is then synthesized into green ammonia for easy storage and transport, providing green industrial raw materials for countless industries.”

At the center of the themed exhibition, the proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer independently developed by Envision also became a focus of attention. Unlike traditional industrial displays, this device stands on a patch of “desert”, showing how the “green new prosperity” of human civilization is being nurtured in the harshest, most barren environments.

“The main feature of the PEM electrolyzer is that it uses pure water electrolysis, is pollution-free, and produces higher purity hydrogen,” explained Envision’s Chief Hydrogen Engineer. Compared to other products on the market, the Envision PEM electrolyzer uses a lower loading of precious metals. Its specially designed membrane electrode and structure, along with a novel integrated flow field design, give the product advantages such as easy assembly, low cost, and high durability.

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World Design Capital Conference

The World Design Capital (WDC) is a city-based designation awarded biennially by the World Design Organization to recognize municipalities that effectively use design to improve social, cultural, and economic life. It is not a single conference but a year-long program of events, where the selected city showcases its design-driven urban development projects. The initiative began in 2008 with Torino, Italy, as the first designated capital, aiming to promote the application of design for more livable and sustainable cities.

Shanghai

Shanghai is a major global financial hub and China’s most populous city, located on the central coast. Historically a small fishing village, it grew into a significant port after being forced open to foreign trade by the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, leading to the establishment of the famous international concessions. Today, it is renowned for its striking skyline, featuring landmarks like the Pudong district’s skyscrapers, which symbolize its rapid modern development.

UNESCO

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, founded in 1945 to promote peace and security through international cooperation in education, science, and culture. It is best known for its World Heritage program, which identifies, protects, and preserves cultural and natural heritage sites around the globe considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.

Ford Model T

The Ford Model T was an automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1908 to 1927. It is historically significant for revolutionizing personal transportation and American industry, largely due to the introduction of the moving assembly line, which made cars affordable for the average person. Its success popularized the car, transforming 20th-century society and earning it the nickname “Tin Lizzie.”

Envision Plastic Waste Art Car

The Envision Plastic Waste Art Car is a mobile art installation created to raise awareness about plastic pollution. It was constructed from discarded plastic waste collected from beaches and communities, transforming trash into a vibrant, thought-provoking sculpture. The car travels to festivals and public events, serving as a powerful symbol of the need for environmental responsibility and creative recycling.

COP26 UN Climate Change Conference

The COP26 UN Climate Change Conference was the 26th annual Conference of the Parties, held in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021. It was a critical summit where world leaders negotiated the Glasgow Climate Pact to accelerate action on the goals of the Paris Agreement. The conference aimed to secure global net-zero emissions by mid-century and keep the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach.

Formula E

Formula E is the highest class of international electric single-seater auto racing, officially founded in 2011. The championship was created to serve as a platform for developing and promoting electric vehicle technology, showcasing its potential in a competitive environment. Races, known as E-Prix, are typically held on temporary street circuits in the heart of major cities around the world.

Gobi Desert

The Gobi Desert is a vast, cold desert region in northern China and southern Mongolia, renowned for its dramatic landscapes of dunes, mountains, and steppes. Historically, it was a significant part of the Silk Road network, with several important cities and trade routes established along its oases. The desert is also one of the world’s richest fossil-bearing areas, where the first discovered dinosaur eggs were unearthed.