Circular Economy Development Mode Based on System Theory

The paper tries to explore circular economy from the viewpoint of the system theory. Circular economy is a kind of complicated economic activity, and it is a wholly new ecotype economy proposed by Western countries after they had summed up many experiences and lessons from traditional economy. It is an entirety and has many layers. It keeps an open and dynamic balance. Because the system theory is the theoretical foundation of circular economy, we should systemically analyze and study circular economy from the macroscopic view, correctly grasp its operational laws, improve its service functions, and realize human beings＇ sustainable development. The paper introduces the content and general characteristics of the system theory and the idea of circular economy. Then it analyzes circular economy based on the system theory. The paper concludes that the integration of circular economy and the system theory can promote the functions of circular economy.     

Construction of Circular Economy Industrial System

Abstract

It is difficult to realize the transformation from traditional economy industrial system to circular economy industrial system. Regarding primary raw materials as the indicators, the industrial system has been specified according to the divergence among the indicators and the circular utilization modes. In comparison with the association among industrial systems, the relationship among industrial sub-systems is named as industrial cross-linking in this paper. The industrial system which could completely utilize and recycle the indicators should be increased and strengthened, and the circular economy industrial system with complete industrial association and industrial cross-linking should also be constructed. Taking the development of circular agricultural system basing on the traditional agricultural system as an example, the traditional agricultural products are regarded as the indicators which have been divided into foodstuff and crop straws which are used to produce food and articles for use, like fertilizer, energy and papers etc. The way to construct the circular agricultural industrial system is to increase the industrial systems that could utilize the products generated from crop straws, feces and other castoffs and transform the wastewater and other trucks into environmental friendly products. It has also been pointed out that the construction of circular economy industrial system is conducive to the foundation of circular industrial economics and the establishment of the construction layout of circular economy and the application schemes. Suggestions to the theoretical and practical work of the next step have also been brought forward in this paper.     

循环经济产业体系论纲

循环经济的核心是物质在产业间和产业与环境间的循环流动。发展循环经济要落实到具体的产业和企业上。需搞清具有物质循环利用关系的产业及其间的关系。为区别传统经济产业间的关系，避免走入用传统产业理论指导循环经济建设的误区，本文提出产业体系和循环经济产业体系的概念。并将若干与某种生产要素有关的产业相互联系、相互制约而构成的整体称为产业体系。以物质要素循环利用关系为纽带的产业体系称为循环经济产业体系。根据物质在环境社会系统中的流动模式。将循环经济产业体系中的产业分成物资产业、人的产业和环境产业三大类。要在传统（线性）经济的基础上发展循环经济。需理性地按生态学原理规范经济活动。重点强化废弃物再生和回用的环境产业。使之同物资产业和人的产业相协调。产业体系是对产业结构概念的发展。循环经济产业体系是循环经济理论和建设的重要内容。构建循环经济理论体系、出台有关法律法规和产业政策。是循环经济建设工作的重点。     

Prospering Revolution of Resource Efficiency in Northeast Industrial Area in China

Abstract

Despite its strong advantages in resource, technology and human resource, China's Northeast Industrial Area is also experiencing problems of unreasonable industrial structure, environmental pollution, and the degradation of ecological condition, etc., which prevent this area from achieving a sustainable development. Through analyzing the resource problem, the present paper proposed a strategy of circular economy for the prosperity of this are, discussed the theories of circular economy and resource recycling, and finally concluded that improving resource productivity is at the core of circular economy.     

Towards a Closed-Loop Materials Economy

Abstract

This paper introduces the recent appearance of a circular economy in such industrialized countries as Germany and Japan and outlines its concept and principles. The author emphasizes that a circular economy should become the breakthrough point for sustainable development and will enable a shift to a sustainable society of “doing less with less” away from the current high-consumption society of “doing more with more”     

C模式:中国发展循环经济的战略选择

我国循环经济发展到了需要深化的阶段。运用生态效率的概念揭示循环经济的减物质化本质，通过对生态效率进行情景分析，指出适合我国的循环经济发展模式-C模式。C模式也称1.5-2倍数发展战略，该模式将给予我图的GDP增长一个15—20年左右缓冲的阶段，并希望经过15-20年的经济增长方式调整，最终达到一种相对的减物质化阶段。同时指出实现中图循环经济发展的C模式，需要技术和政策的双重保障。在发展循环经济过程中，中国不但要关注传统的渐进式的部门内部的技术变革，还要前瞻性地促进跨部门的技术变革。同时，还要建立基于生命周期分析和现代治理理论的促进循环经济发展的全过程、全方位政策体系。     

循环经济创新评价指标体系研究

循环经济是绿色、低碳的可持续发展模式。实践充分证明,发展循环经济必须以创新为动力。循环经济创新是一项涉及面广、综合性很强的系统工程。为了科学地评价循环经济创新状况,构建一套设计合理、操作性较强的循环经济创新评价指标体系,为循环经济管理及其创新提供数据支持是十分必要的。本文根据循环经济理论,依据目前我国循环经济发展及循环经济创新情况,提出了构建循环经济创新评价指标的原则,并提出了涵盖9个一级指标、52个二级指标的评价体系。根据我国循环经济发展实际以及国家经济政策等综合考量,设置出了体现我国国情的循环经济创新评价指标体系的指标评分标准。主要用于对全社会和各地循环经济创新状况进行总体的定量判断,为循环经济发展提供依据和指导。     

Construction of Circular Economy Industrial System

It is difficult to realize the transformation from traditional economy industrial system to circular economy industrial system. Regarding primary raw materials as the indicators, the industrial system has been specified according to the divergence among the indicators and the circular utilization modes. In comparison with the association among industrial systems, the relationship among industrial sub-systems is named as industrial cross-linking in this paper. The industrial system which could completely utiLize and recycle the indicators shouM be increased and strengthened, and the circular economy industrial system with complete industrial association and industrial cross-linking should also be constructed. Taking the development of circular agricultural system basing on the traditional agricultural system as an example, the traditional agricultural products are regarded as the indicators which have been divided into foodstuff and crop straws which are used to produce food and articles for use, Like fertilizer, energy and papers etc. The way to construct the circular agricultural industrial system is to increase the industrial systems that could utilize the products generated from crop straws, feces and other castoffs and transform the wastewater and other trucks into environmental friendly products. It has also been pointed out that the construction of circular economy industrial system is conducive to the foundation of circular industrial economics and the establishment of the construction layout of circular economy and the application schemes. Suggestions to the theoretical and practical work of the next step have also been brought forward in this paper.     

循环经济发展指标体系研究及实证评价

以“3R”原则为指导和出发点,构建了自上而下的树型指标体系(包含目标层-控制层-指标层三层指标体系)。并形成了理论指标体系和操作指标体系,分别面向推广应用的理论研究和规划管理。据此,运用灰色关联度分析方法,对南通市循环经济规划进行预评价。分析发现：随着循环经济建设的不断推进。南通市循环经济发展水平将不断提升,但是其提升与发展表现出明显的阶段性特征,具体是：2002—2007年是对传统经济发展方式的延续与改造,因而仍处于相对粗放型的经济发展状态。循环经济建设的重点是污染减量排放和资源减量化;2008—2010年是粗放经济向集约经济转轨的阶段,此阶段更加注重生态环境保护以及污染减排和治理;2011-2020年进入了循环经济发展的初级阶段,资源集约型和节约型的循环经济初具规模。     

Urban Land-banking Planning: A New Instrument to Regulate Urban Land Supply-demand of Nanjing City

Abstract

It is the major purpose of the paper to present the urban land-banking planning and its functions of promoting the urban land-banking system and land use administration. The urban land-banking system has the potential attribute of acting as an irreplaceable role in urban land administration, but its unexpected function-deviation has impacted its implementation effect in China. A few city governments are attempting to deal with the problem by the urban land-banking planning which is expected to contribute to the extension of urban function, optimization of urban patterns, promotion of urban core competitiveness and overall construction of the urban value chain. In this paper, we primarily discuss the necessity, functions, purposes and main contents of the urban land-banking planning. Subsequently, the implementing situation of the urban land-banking system in Nanjing is analyzed, including its integrated mode, spatio-temporal quantitative distribution and main characteristics. Finally, the background and targets including total, compositions, space, and regulation points are gradually introduced to present the Nanjing land-banking planning version 2.     

Spatial Variation and Space Optimization of the Development of China’s Circular Economy

Abstract

China’s circular economy is still at the initial stage, whose development has many difficulties and problems requiring immediate resolution theoretically and practically. Due to the differences of regions on the scale of land, endowment of resources, economic basis and cultural background, the developmental levels and capabilities of circular economy are inevitably different. Based on establishing the indicator system for assessing the developmental level of regional circular economy, spatial variation of China’s circular economy is measured by the quantitative measurement using principal component analysis, and the existing problems are also analyzed and discussed. On one hand, the differences of the development capability of the circular economy of different provinces (cities) are profound in China; Difference between the first category (strong) and the second category (relatively strong) is 1.1264 points. Difference between the second category and the third category (relatively weak) is 0.3867 points. Difference between the third category and the fourth category (weak) is 1.0238 points. Difference between the first category and the fourth category reaches up to 2.0869 points. Average difference between the area where the developmental level of circular economy is relatively strong and the area where the developmental level of circular economy is relatively weak is 1.3617 points. The differences of the distribution of the areas, with different development capability of circular economy, which are located in the three economic regions of China, are also profound. The regions with a relatively strong development capability of circular economy are mainly located in the eastern economic area, which account for 22.58% of the whole regions, while only account for 12.90% in the middle and western economic areas. On the contrary, the regions with a relatively weak development capability of circular economy account for 48.39% in the middle and western area, while account for 16.13% in the eastern area. On the other hand, among regions with different development capability of circular economy, the regions with a relatively weak development capability of circular economy are in a dominant position, which account for 64.52% of all the provinces (cities), which indicates that the development of the China’s circular economy still has a long way to go. Though certain achievements have been made in the development of China’s circular economy, in general, there are still some obstacles to be tacked in the development of China’s circular economy which require the economic, legal and administrative methods.     

Research on the Sustainable Utilization of Water Resources of Jinan City

Abstract

The study on the sustainable utilization of water resources of Jinan city is a research hotspot in the urban sustainable development field. How to use a scientific and rational evaluation index system to analyze the sustainable utilization of water resources of Jinan city and then guide the development and utilization of water resources becomes particularly important. Based on the theory of sustainable development this study introduces the method, basic steps and evaluation indexes of the assessment of the development and utilization of water resources. By systemic analyzing the exploitation and utilization standards of water resources and economy and society in Jinan city, the evaluation and index system of sustainable utilization of water resources in Jinan city can be constructed and index weight can be confirmed, and then, the standard of sustainable utilization of water resources in different years can be analyzed comparably. Thus, the deficiency of lack of reflection of coordination extent in water resources development standard, society and economy in traditional evaluation method is settled efficiently. The paper takes the sustainable utilization of water resources of Qingdao City in 2008 as the standard to compare and assess the water resources utilization in Jinan City. The paper also collects data of water resources in Jinan City from 2001 to 2007. The result indicates that evaluation method is of feasibility and it is effective to the implementation of sustainable utilization strategy water resources in Jinan City.     

循环农业经济体系的内涵及其构建

协调经济发展与环境保护之间的关系，建立以循环经济理念为核心的循环农业经济体系，是改变传统农业经济增长方式，促进农村经济可持续发展的一项重要课题。本文在分析中国农业发展所面临的生态环境安全问题的基础上，探讨了循环农业经济体系的内涵及其特点，并与传统农业、生态农业和绿色农业进行了比较；由此构建了循环农业经济体系的框架，即由目标层、参与主体层、技术层和制度层四个层面共同组成的综合体系，各层面之间通过耦合、互动、协作、共进最终实现农业发展的生态效益、社会效益和经济效益的统一。     

Circular Makerspaces: the founder’s view

Abstract

Makerspaces – open access design and fabrication workshops – provide new contexts for design practice through ‘distributed production’. The global community of makerspaces has evolved quickly and in turn, substantial hype is attributed to its potential for radical sustainable innovation. In this article, we explore this potential in the context of the new ‘circular economy’ agenda. We focus the research on the critical role of makerspace managers/founders who are recognised as gatekeepers to circular practices. The research method is action-led including expert interviews (academics and founders/managers) as well as two generative context-mapping workshops, run at selected makerspaces in collaboration with their founders/managers. We unearth everyday ‘how-to’ guidance to interweave circular practices within makerspaces from the outset by: fostering an enabling culture; building local connections; nurturing individual/community capacities; and stimulating practical know-how. However, while the research reveals immense opportunities to cultivate circular literacy from within makerspaces, the prospects to ask more profound questions about our economy, through makerspace practices, are found to be compromised by day-to-day concerns. The insights from this research can act as a starting point for future work in this emerging research area.     

循环经济学:学科特征与趋势展望

在比较分析有关循环经济学研究内容相关论述的基础上．从“自然-人类社会-空间”三维系统的角度，提出循环经济学的内涵．认为循环经济学是以缓解资源、环境、生态问题为目标，运用经济学方法研究物质流、能源流的运行机理、方式、技术、效率、机制的一门应用经济学科．并且从人地关系系统分解角度．分别界定了生态经济学、资源经济学、环境经济学与循环经济学的研究范畴．认为循环经济学是以人类系统与自然系统的相互关系及其所引起的人与人之间的相互关系为研究对象的．而生态经济学、资源经济学、环境经济学所涉及的只是人地关系中的子系统。据此，还进一步分析了当前我国循环经济学研究的主要方向、发展趋势。研究视角主要包括技术流程分析、深层生态分析和模式分析；今后的研究趋势则主要在于寻求理论创新、加强对循环经济模式的经济学分析，加强对于区域循环经济发展的长期分析、加强对于循环经济运行的多角度分析和加强循环经济学与相关学科的对比与借鉴研究。在此基础上构建包括理论体系、内容体系和方法体系在内的循环经济学研究的内容体系：     

物质流分析方法的理论及其应用研究

物质流分析既是发展循环经济重要的辅助手段，也是衡量循环经济发展水平的方法。目前，世界上的一些主要发达国家已经开展了物质流分析的研究与实践。我国物质流分析的研究尚处于起步阶段，特别是以城市为对象的区域物质流分析研究在我国尚处于起步和尝试阶段。为促进循环经济在我国的健康发展．应该结合我国实际，逐渐开展区（县）层面的物质流分析。本文在借鉴国外物质流分析的实践经验的基础上，以青岛市城阳区为例，运用物质流分析方法，首次对区（县）级行政区域进行了研究。此外，结合物质流分析结果，运用IPAT方程，建立了城阳区循环经济建设的指标体系，为其他地区实施区域层面物质流分析、建立循环经济建设指标体系提供了借鉴。研究表明．物质流分析对区域循环经济的规划建设具有重要意义。     

生态技术系统构建的原则和方法

发展循环经济，是实现新型工业化的必由之路。构建生态技术系统，是发展循环经济的关键。本文提出应在减物质化原则、3R原则(减量化、再利用和循环原则)和系统优化原则指导下，以工业代谢分析、结构分析和生命周期分析为基础，通过耦合、串联和柔化的方法，构建生态技术系统。     

我国水资源循环经济发展与创新体系构建

循环经济是针对持续经济增长对资源和环境压力而提出的一种发展理念、经济制度和技术范式相结合的新的经济发展模式,它以高效利用和循环利用为核心,以低消耗、低排放、高效率为基本特征,符合可持续发展思想。当前我国面临严重的水资源危机,循环经济是实现我国人口、资源与环境可持续发展的重要途径和有效措施,是我国水资源新战略的理想选择。水资源循环经济力图使人类对水资源的开发利用活动既符合水循环自然规律,又遵循社会经济规律,实现水循环与经济循环的和谐统一。水资源循环经济遵循减量化、再利用、再循环原则。我国发展水资源循环经济虽然已经具备一定的基础,但必须改革现有机制和体制,建立长效机制,构建水资源制度、技术和观念创新的体系。     

The Essence of a Recycling Economy: Circular Utilization of Resources

Abstract

By analyzing the relationship between a recycling economy and sustainable development theory, this article puts forward the basic concept of a recycling economy as a dynamic economic operational model, and explains the four basic characteristics. It is stressed that the essential element of a recycling economy is the use of resources circularly. In the end, this article analyzes the phenomena of utilizing the recycling economy concept incorrectly, and sets forth a number of problems that should be noted during the process of developing a recycling economy in China.     

Design of indicators for measuring product performance in the circular economy

Abstract

This paper explores measurement of product performance with respect to circular economy (CE) principles. Potential indicators are assessed with special attention given to questions such as: the variables that should be measured; how these variables should be assessed; and in which format they should be presented. The resulting considerations are used to develop a prototype whose design is informed through feedback from CE experts. The prototype uses a points-based questionnaire which converges into a simple final result with minimum and maximum limits. The selected approach is critically appraised, and its utility for decision-making discussed. The prototype is tested against a product in the chemical processing industry. The strengths include: ease of use; simplicity; speed; and an effective metaphor for the diffusion of CE principles. The limitations include: the opaque and potentially misleading nature of a single metric; superficial engagement with decision-making; and the reliance on context-specific assumptions. Future developments could include refining the approach to encourage deeper reflection, and generalisation of the approach to different industry sectors or sustainability frameworks.