(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-31 10:02

Establishing a circular economy will have multiple benefits for society, says an article in People's Daily. The following is an excerpt:

The submission of the draft law for the circular economy to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) for a first reading marks the advance of efforts to enshrine recycling and conservation in law.

The economic boom of the last couple decades has placed an enormous strain on our environment. Efforts to achieve sustainable development have been retarded by pollution, and the country's environmental problems have hurt its reputation within the international community.

Having a circular economy will help the country strike a balance. When the system is enshrined in law, it will help support resource-saving methods of manufacturing, consumption and urban planning.

Academics say the key obstacles for developing a circular economy in China are the regional disparities in industrialization, underdeveloped recycling facilities and the absence of a long-term plan for nurturing the circular economy.

The draft law being formulated by legislators has taken these obstacles into consideration. It also states that manufacturers have the primary responsibility for putting the circular economy into practice. The law imposes strict standards on emissions and resource use by manufacturers in several industries.

Meanwhile, the government should play an active part in encouraging manufacturers and the public to do their part in nurturing the circular economy.

The government should offer favorable policies for technological innovation, consumption and education. Financial subsidies may also be necessary as an incentive.

According to insiders, the draft law is quite comprehensive in its stipulations about the measures to promote the circular economy. The next step is to ensure these measures are carried out without being distorted.