Eco-industrial Parks In China Research Articles

Applicability of the International Framework for Eco-Industrial Park in China—Survey and Analysis Based on 17 Case Parks in Jiangxi Province

Applicability of the International Framework for Eco-Industrial Park in China—Survey and Analysis Based on 17 Case Parks in Jiangxi Province

Hindrance or facilitator? The economic consequences of national demonstration eco-industrial parks in China.

Many countries attach great importance to the green, low-carbon, and circular development of industrial parks. China is one of them and has entered an exploration journey of national demonstration eco-industrial parks (NDEIPs). However, the impact of the transformation of industrial parks into NDEIPs on local economic development still remains a mystery. To address this issue, we develop an empirical study using a combination of the multi-period difference-in-differences method and the propensity score matching method based on the panel data for 266 cities in China from 2001 to 2021. The results show that industrial parks becoming NDEIPs promotes cities' economic development. This conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests, such as the reverse causality test and the placebo test. Moreover, the park heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences vary according to differences in levels, industry types, life cycle phases, and the degree of foreign firm agglomeration. The city heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences differ based on administrative levels, innovation capabilities, technology industrialization, and environmental friendliness. The spatial heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences differ according to geographical location and whether situated in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The policy upgrading heterogeneity tests show that the economic consequences differ during the process of policy upgrading and transformation. In addition, the mechanism tests reveal that green innovation, human capital level, and firm attractiveness mediate the relationship between industrial parks becoming NDEIPs and cities' economic development. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the economic effects of the transformation of industrial parks into NDEIPs, and provides a reference for the government on how to maximize these economic effects.

Promote the decarbonization pathways of eco-industrial parks by considering their CO2 emissions structures and characters

China has proposed the goals of a carbon peaking target in 2030 and a carbon neutrality target in 2060 to mitigate climate change. In China, Eco-industrial parks (EIPs) are one of the platforms for achieving energy conservation and emission reduction. This study aims to investigate the future CO2 emissions reduction potential by evaluating two different types of national EIPs in China. Firstly, we constructed carbon emission inventories for EIP-N in Zhejiang Province and EIP-L in Shandong Province. Subsequently, leveraging these inventories, we developed an integrated model aimed at predicting the carbon emission peaks for both EIPs and discerning the main contributors. Secondly, we took EIP-N and EIP-L as examples and applied the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) model to establish three different scenarios for analyzing the future trends in carbon emissions. In a Business as usual (BAU) scenario (continue the current energy conservation and emission reduction policies), EIP-L can achieve carbon peaking, while the carbon emissions of EIP-N will continue to increase. In the Emissions control (EMC) scenario (considering the reduction of fossil fuels and the increased use of cleaner energy sources), EIP-N and EIP-L are projected to peak in 2029 and 2027, respectively. In the Reinforce mitigation (RFM) scenario (with fewer emissions from fuels and a higher share of clean energy generation), both EIPs are expected to achieve carbon peaking by 2025. Finally, we proposed the deep decarbonization of EIPs with different industrial characteristics. This study applied the LEAP model to the EIP scale, explored the paths of deep decarbonization development in different EIPs under the constraint of dual-carbon targets, providing a demonstration for China and other developing countries to achieve the goal of carbon capping in EIPs during rapid industrialization.

Development of Eco-Industrial Parks in China

Development of Eco-Industrial Parks in China

Development of Eco-Industrial Parks in China

Development of Eco-Industrial Parks in China

Development of Eco-industrial Parks in China

Over the past 20 years, China has made outstanding progress in the development of eco-industrial parks. Their number exceeds 110 parks, which is more than in any other country. They play an important role in improving the environmental performance of industrial clusters and transport hubs in many areas of the PRC. Their environmental performance indicators are increasing year by year. Their contribution to the economic and environmental performance of the territories is the subject of many studies. However, most papers study individual types of effects or the effectiveness of individual eco-industrial parks. This article systematically explores China's experience in the development of eco-industrial parks in terms of the dynamics of their total number, distribution across all territories of the stratum and all groups of effects. The study is structured as a comprehensive literature review using qualitative and quantitative tools to synthesize existing findings and official documents. As part of the study of temporal dynamics, the average duration of the creation of an eco-industrial park and its tendency to increase to 10 in 2022 were identified. In 2015-2022 a trend was found to limit park approvals and to focus on accelerating the certification of already approved parks. Eco-industrial parks are located in the most ecologically unfavorable provinces, which indicates a country-wide planned effort to improve the environmental situation with the help of eco-industrial parks. Over the past 5 years, a trend has been revealed to expand the geography of parks. The synthesis of studies on the effectiveness of parks indicate the high potential of parks to create positive economic, production and environmental effects. At the same time, the absence of documented social effects was revealed. The analysis of the eco-industrial park program in China made it possible to formulate recommendations for managing similar programs in Russia.

Contributing to carbon peak: Estimating the causal impact of eco‐industrial parks on low‐carbon development in China

AbstractLow‐carbon development is associated with eco‐industrial parks (EIPs), but whether a causal relationship exists is unknown. A growing body of evidence from environmental engineering studies suggests that EIPs reduce carbon emissions, but few economic studies have assessed the causality, channels, and heterogeneity of this relationship. This study uses the staggered difference‐in‐difference method to construct a quasi‐natural experiment to assess the impact of national‐level EIPs on low‐carbon development. The empirical results reveal that EIPs help achieve low‐carbon development in China. Specifically, EIPs reduce the carbon intensity of the pilot cities by 7.2%. The channel analysis reveals that EIPs advance technological innovation, stimulate the Porter effect, and upgrade the industrial structure. Regional heterogeneity analysis further reveals that EIPs are more conducive to low‐carbon development in pilot cities in southern China, cities along the coast, and cities on the east of the Hu line. Further analysis shows that EIPs depress the peak of the environmental Kuznets curve and help achieve the turning point early. Moreover, this study offers fresh cases and patterns for the construction of EIPs in China. This study contributes to an in‐depth understanding of the role of EIPs in the low‐carbon transition in the largest developing country and provides inspiration for further policy optimization.

Comprehensive evaluation of environmental and economic benefits of industrial symbiosis in industrial parks

The benefit evaluation of industrial symbiosis in industrial parks plays an important part in park management. This study aims to propose a comprehensive assessment method for industrial symbiosis benefits by combining resource productivity and considering the impact of emissions in emergy analysis. Besides, classify industrial symbiosis according to the exchange of materials, water, and energy to conduct an in-depth analysis of diverse symbiosis. The case study of an eco-industrial park in China shows that industrial symbiosis has a positive effect in many aspects, including increasing the productivity of direct input materials, water, and energy by 0.33, 36.50, and 0.38 times respectively, reducing the emission impact by 30.91%, saving economic investment equal to 30.18% of gross domestic product, reducing the environmental load rate by 23.88% and increasing the sustainable development index by 32.74%. Suggestions on building a symbiosis network are put forward by comparing the contributions of symbiosis types. This study provides park managers with a symbiosis classification and a benefit evaluation tool to build symbiosis networks and make policies for sustainable industrial development.

Circular supply chain management: Performance outcomes and the role of eco-industrial parks in China

A circular economy (CE) is increasingly recognized as a more environmentally sustainable alternative to the dominant linear take-make-dispose economic model. We empirically investigate the effect of circular supply chain management (CSCM) on cost and financial performance in China, which has established the world’s largest system of eco-industrial parks (EIPs) to promote CE over the last decade. We combine the Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV), Contingent NRBV and the literature on CSCM to develop a conceptual model and test it using survey data collected from 255 Chinese manufacturing firms. The results show that CSCM, when exercised as a unified strategy, has a significant positive effect on cost and financial performance. Firms located within EIPs adopt CSCM at higher levels as compared to firms located outside EIPs. Nevertheless, the contextual factor of being located within an EIP does not moderate the CSCM practice-performance relationship, suggesting that performance is driven by practices rather than firms’ locations. These results were affirmed by post-survey participant validation in three focus group meetings and six face-to-face interviews. Our findings contribute to sustainability literature by offering a new construct and measurement items relevant to CSCM and provide practical insights to guide a transition to a CE.

Agent-based model for simulation of the sustainability revolution in eco-industrial parks.

Eco-industrial parks (EIPs) are of increasing importance for implementing industrial ecology strategies and are facing increasing challenges in terms of environmental pollution and resource scarcity. As a complex adaptive system, an EIP involves multiple sectors and faces various disturbances that influence its evolutionary trajectories. This study adopts an agent-based model to simulate the material flows and industrial symbiosis process in the EIP, considering the initiative of each company and the ever-changing environment. The proposed EIP model emphasises the heterogeneity of companies and attempts to reflect multiple and dynamic factors that have received less attention in previous studies. This model contains two types of agents, companies and the external environment. A company agent makes decisions and interacts with other agents following its own behaviour rules, while the external environment agent functions to coordinate the material flows and exert influence on the companies. The model has been verified and validated by simulating a 20-year-period development of an empirical EIP in China. The simulation results are assessed by three indicators: eco-connectance, eco-efficiency, and industrial symbiosis indicator. Results showed that during the growing phase, the eco-connectance increased from 0.02 to 0.1 for the non-disturbance situation. The eco-efficiency and industrial symbiosis indicator also realised 78.5% and 74.8% of their total increments. The outcome of this research provides insights for the design of the strategies to improve the industrial symbiosis performance and is of high potential to facilitate EIPs in promoting eco-transformation and sustainable development.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban stream sediments of Suzhou Industrial Park, an emerging eco-industrial park in China: Occurrence, sources and potential risk

In this study, urban stream sediment samples were collected in the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), one of the earliest national demonstration eco-industrial parks of China. PAHs were analyzed in these sediments, and concentrations of total PAHs were 180–81,000 ng g−1 (5700 ± 14,000 ng g−1). Medium molecular weight (4- ring) PAHs were predominant (42 ± 12%), followed by high molecular weight (5- and 6- ring) PAHs (31 ± 10%). No correlation was found between concentrations of PAHs and land uses of SIP in this study. Diagnostic ratios and a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model indicated that coal/biomass combustion might be the primary PAH source (61%), followed by non-combustion sources (21%) and vehicular emission (18%). According to the spatial analysis, PAHs in the sediments of SIP might be mainly associated with the coal/biomass combustion in the northeast industrial zone. Residential & commercial activities seem not to be the major causes of PAH contamination. Total PAH toxic equivalent concentrations, effect range low/effect range median values, and mean effects range–median quotient all showed that PAHs were present at a low toxicity risk level in most regions of the SIP. However, vigilance is required at some sampling sites with extremely high PAH concentrations or high mean effects range–median quotient.

Robustness of eco-industrial symbiosis network: a case study of China.

As a complex network, eco-industrial symbiosis network is featured with complexity, openness, and non-linearity. A methodology is proposed to analyze and optimize the eco-industrial symbiosis network from the perspective of complex network theory. Structural robustness index and performance robustness index are established as the analysis model. Consequently, a robust method is developed to optimize the eco-industrial symbiosis network system based on the percolation theory. A conceptual framework is put forward to improve the robustness of eco-industrial symbiosis network system by introducing the "spare core" enterprise which is validated by quantitative analysis. The empirical results show that the robustness of eco-industrial symbiosis network varies under both random failure and intentional disturbance scenarios. However, eco-industrial symbiosis network system has strong self-regulation capability as long as the core enterprise is still in operation. It is recommended that supplementary chain could be added to those enterprises with lower network node connectivity to form "spare core" enterprise. This can not only effectively reduce the dependence of other enterprises on core enterprises, but also further improve the robustness of eco-industrial symbiosis network. This methodology is practically validated by a case analysis of eco-industrial park in China. The findings provide useful inputs to the design and operation of eco-industrial parks.

Comprehensive benefit evaluation of eco-industrial parks by employing the best-worst method based on circular economy and sustainability

At the aim of solving the increasing conflicts among the economic growth, resource shortage, and environmental aggravation, the eco-industrial park becomes a significant research issue to achieve sustainable development and circular economy. Therefore, evaluating the comprehensive benefit of eco-industrial parks and providing references and policy formulation in supporting the improvement of construction and management level for eco-industrial parks are of great significance. In this paper, a hybrid framework was proposed to assess the comprehensive benefit of eco-industrial parks in terms of circular economy and sustainability. Firstly, the evaluation index system was constructed by using grey-Delphi method, which included economic benefit criteria, social benefit criteria, and environmental benefit criteria with nine quantitative sub-criteria and four qualitative sub-criteria. Then, a new comparison-based method, namely the best-worst method, was employed to determine the weights of all sub-criteria and the performance values of all selected eco-industrial parks with respect to the qualitative sub-criteria. Finally, five selected representative eco-industrial parks in China were ranked in terms of comprehensive benefit, and the optimal eco-industrial park was selected. According to the results of comprehensive benefit evaluation for eco-industrial parks, the strengths and weaknesses of each eco-industrial park were obvious. At the end, the recommendations for the effective and rapid development of eco-industrial parks were formulated.

Comparing the vulnerability of different coal industrial symbiosis networks under economic fluctuations

We establish a vulnerability analytical framework of CISN, and illustrate the impact path of economic fluctuation on CISN performance. Based on this, we propose an improved cascading failure model with directed weighted network, and design five network performance indicators (i.e., relative value of cascading failure, average path length, relative value of maximal connected sub-graphs, network efficiency, and structure entropy). Taking three coal eco-industrial parks in China as cases, we simulate and compare the impacts on CISN vulnerability (i.e., equality-based, dependent-based, and nested-based CISNs) of economic fluctuation. The results indicate that the interaction between economic fluctuation and network structure is the key factor in determining system vulnerability. Concerning overall vulnerability, equality-based CISN is highest, dependent-based CISN is next, and nested-based CISN is lowest. Regarding disturbance type, the changes in the five performance indicators of the three types of CISN are more intense under energy price shocks than with declining demand. Moreover, the cascading failure scale of equality-based CISN is greatest with declining demand, while the other two kinds of CISN’s is greatest under energy price shocks. Concerning disturbance intensity, equality-based CISN shows initial value sensitivity to economic fluctuation, and nested-based CISN has the strongest tolerances for economic fluctuation. From the network performance perspective, the performance of nested-based CISN is superior to that of dependent-based and equality-based CISNs. Due to longer average path length and lower network efficiency, the failure diffusion trend of equality-based CISN shows the curve of Type-S, and the diffusion rate is smooth and slow. Contrariwise, the initial diffusion rate of dependent-based CISN is the highest, indicating that the loss of system efficiency can somewhat improve the system’s anti-risk ability.

The monitoring and research of unstable locations in eco-industrial networks

A functioning eco-industrial system is a common complex network that often appears to be an unstable phenomenon. The Signed Directed Graph (SDG) model for detecting unstable sources in an eco-industrial network was built based on fault diagnosis technology for the complex system. A method that partitions the community structure of the network firstly and then detects unstable sources with the community was proposed in this paper based on the observed results. In order to clarify the degree of an eco-industrial network detection and undetermined node symbols, the technique based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to detect unstable sources and entropy theory for determining the relationships between node enterprises were presented, and we also explored the unstable node enterprises in the eco-industrial network. The Yushen Eco-industrial Park in China was presented as a case for unstable sources analysis. This choice is consistent with the proposed model.

Evaluating the comprehensive benefit of eco-industrial parks by employing multi-criteria decision making approach for circular economy

With the increasing conflicts among economic growth, environmental deterioration, and resource shortage, as an effective way to achieve the sustainable development and circular economy, the eco-industrial park gradually becomes a critical research issue in the field of recycling economy. In this paper, a hybrid framework for evaluating the comprehensive benefit of eco-industrial parks from the perspective of circular economy was proposed. Firstly, the evaluation index system for eco-industrial parks was constructed by employing the grey-Delphi method according to the opinions provided by experts from relevant fields, which includes economic benefit criteria, social benefit criteria, environmental benefit criteria, ecology industry construction criteria, and management level criteria, consisting of seventeen quantitative sub-criteria and nine qualitative sub-criteria. Secondly, in order to solve complicated, uncertain and ambiguous problems under the fuzzy background, a hybrid multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach was put forward on the basis of superiority linguistic ratings and entropy weight method for weight determination as well as fuzzy-VIKOR for ranking alternatives. Finally, the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed hybrid MCDM approach was demonstrated through a case analysis of six representative eco-industrial parks in China, and the comprehensive benefits of six eco-industrial parks were prioritized effectively. The hybrid MCDM approach in this paper presents a great potential in evaluating and ranking the comprehensive benefits of eco-industrial parks through solving complex and ambiguous problems in a fuzzy environment and varying MCDM tools. The evaluation findings by employing the proposed MCDM approach can provide references for the construction and management of eco-industrial parks and relevant policy formulation.

Industrial metabolism of copper and sulfur in a copper-specific eco-industrial park in China

Copper concentrate with high copper and sulfur content is the most important raw material in the copper industry. With the scarcity of copper ore resources, resource efficiency must be improved urgently to minimize further losses. This research seeks to elucidate the industrial metabolism of copper and sulfur in the copper smelting process using substance flow analysis and in turn aid in the optimization of production processes. A general model is constructed, and six indices are proposed to quantify and evaluate copper and sulfur metabolisms as well as the economic performance of the system. The Xiangguang Eco-industrial Park (XGEIP), which is a typical sector-specific industrial park in China that mainly caters to enterprises dealing with copper smelting and cathode copper deep processing, is chosen for the case study. On the basis of a five-year in-depth data collection and verification, this research presents the dynamic changes of copper and sulfur metabolism in the XGEIP. The results show that the resource utilization efficiencies of copper and sulfur increased year by year while the environmental impact decreased from 2008 to 2012. In 2012, resource utilization efficiencies of copper and sulfur reached 99.11% and 98.84%, respectively. Copper loss occurred mostly in the disposal of slag tailings (0.65%) while sulfur loss was observed mostly in the waste gas (0.66%). The environmental factors of copper and sulfur both decreased to 0.014 ton/ton in the system, falling well within the value range of bulk chemicals (i.e., <1 to 5). Meanwhile, the resource productivity of the copper concentrate underwent rapid growth with the extension of industrial chains during this period. In 2012, the resource productivity reached 6.20 thousand Yuan/ton, which showed an increase of 786% from that in 2008. These indices indicated that the XGEIP exhibited high productivity and low environmental impact. The results of this work can serve as a reference for decision makers in planning the future of the XGEIP and the development of the copper smelting industry.

Environmental practice and its effect on the sustainable development of eco-industrial parks in China

After more than a decade of development, eco-industrial parks (EIPs) have made significant progress in saving resources and protecting the environment in China. Meanwhile, many problems have emerged, such as poor stability, poor profitability and weak eco-industrial chains, which have impeded the EIP’s sustainable devel opment. Faced with variable environmental practices and limited resources and capital, EIPs need to address suitable environmental practices seriously to configure resources reasonably and ultimately realize sustainable development. Therefore, based on an analysis of the elements of environmental practice and sustainable development level, this article aims at identifying those environmental practices that can improve the sustainable development level of EIPs and to analyze the impact of those different environmental practices on the sustainable development level of EIPs using factor analysis and analytic hierarchy process. The results could provide theoretical guidance and reference for decision-making to Chinese government and administration committees of EIPs for choosing and implementing environmental practices.

Study of Eco-Industrial Park Concept and Connotation

Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) is one of the most important practice forms of industrial ecology theory. Since the late 1990s EIP was introduced to China, many traditional industrial parks got down to construct EIPs. Represented by the National Eco-industrial Demonstration Parks (NEDPs), there were 85 parks passed the review of NEDPs construction planning, and 26 parks were named by NEDPs. In developing of the EIPs in China, there was still lack of clear and accurate understanding of the concept and connotation of EIPs. Based on the summary and analysis of the representative EIP definitions by domestic and foreign scholars, in combination with the practical situation of the industrial structure adjustment and industrial park development in China, this study put forward the three main points of EIP connotation. That meant that the coordinate development of the second industry and third industry; the construction of eco-industrial chain; the coordination development of economy and environment.

Environmental Performance Analysis of Eco‐Industrial Parks in China: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

SummaryIn pursuit of more sustainable development of industry, China has been actively developing eco‐industrial parks (EIPs) for more than a decade. However, the environmental value of these EIPs remains largely unverified. This study aimed to evaluate the environmental performance of national EIPs in China using data envelopment analysis. Eco‐efficiency and environmental performance indices were used to represent the static and dynamic environmental performance of EIPs, respectively. An environmental performance index was formed by combining measures of eco‐efficiency in a dynamic setting with the sequential Malmquist index approach. We obtained three main empirical findings. First, 34 national EIPs exhibited a cumulative environmental performance improvement of 89.4% from 2007 to 2010, which is primarily the result of eco‐efficiency change rather than environmental technical change. Second, compared with the trial EIPs, the demonstration EIPs had a higher average eco‐efficiency (0.611 vs. 0.446 in 2010) and experienced greater average environmental performance improvement (129% vs. 60%). Third, the EIPs retrofitted from high‐tech industrial development zones exhibited much higher average eco‐efficiency (0.798 vs. 0.440 in 2010) than those retrofitted from economic and technical development zones. The key measures supporting the performance improvement and policy implications for the development of EIPs are also discussed.