China announces plan for circular economy to meet environmental goals

China aims to take various actions by 2025 to boost recycling and resource use, increase efficiency, and promote clean manufacturing in critical industries, including petrochemicals, To foster a circular economy. On July 7, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced the country’s 14th five-year circular economy development plan (2021-2025).

By 2025, a fully implemented recycling production mode will be in place, green design and clean production will be extensively pushed, and a resource recycling industrial system that serves the entire society will be completed.

According to the plan, resource utilization efficiency will have improved significantly by then, and the rate of primary resource substitution by renewable resources would have grown even more. The strategy anticipates a 20% increase in key resource production by 2025 compared to 2020.

Energy and water usage per unit gross domestic product (GDP) will be lowered by 13.5 and 16 percent, respectively.

Crop stalks will have a comprehensive utilization rate of more than 86%, whereas bulk solid waste and building debris will have a thorough utilization rate of 60%.

By that time, the value of the resources recycling industry’s production will have surpassed CNY 5 trillion. It will encourage the construction of industrial parks that recycle, as well as the complete utilization of waste, gradient utilization of energy, and water resource recycling.