On this Research Project

“Circular economy” has developed to an important economic, ecological and political issue in China because of relative scarcity of raw materials and problems with waste management and emissions. The perspective is a cascade of repeated uses of substances. Firstly similar approaches - “3R” (reducing, reusing, and recycling resources), SMM in other countries are compared. Recent Pilot Projects in Circular Economy shall be evaluated. The emphasis is on the measurement of progress in an comparative view: Central is the performance of resource productivity and driving forces; compilation and discussion of data and indicators of circular economy in China in comparison with EU-countries. The focus is on the meso level (region, branch, industrial parks). Results will be: identifying comparative good practise and potentials of synergies and improving resource productivity. Methodologically cultural, social and natural sciences are integrated. The special feature is intimate knowledge of Chinese characteristics, cultural and historic specific conditions. E.g. Circular economy in China can look back on a long tradition leading back to the pre-modern era.