Systemic governance and circular economy synergies: A multidimensional analysis of China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiative
China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiative, launched in 2018, represents a transformative strategy to address escalating solid waste challenges through systemic governance and circular economy principles. This study systematically examines the initiative's framework, including pilot project de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Circular Economy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773167725000287 |
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| author | Yushuang Li Guijuan Shan Shuoshuo Hao Jian Li Jinhui Li |
| author_facet | Yushuang Li Guijuan Shan Shuoshuo Hao Jian Li Jinhui Li |
| author_sort | Yushuang Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiative, launched in 2018, represents a transformative strategy to address escalating solid waste challenges through systemic governance and circular economy principles. This study systematically examines the initiative's framework, including pilot project deployment, policy evolution, and scalability during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025). The phased implementation prioritized sector-specific models—industrial symbiosis, agricultural circularity, and smart municipal waste networks—to transition from risk control to green transformation. A SWOT analysis identifies strengths in centralized governance and technological innovation while highlighting challenges such as regional disparities in infrastructure and low market acceptance of recycled materials. Strategic recommendations emphasize data-driven governance, fiscal incentives for circular businesses, and cross-sector collaboration to bridge implementation gaps. This research underscores the initiative's dual impact: mitigating solid waste pressures and offering globally replicable insights. The framework provides a blueprint for sustainable urbanization, contributing actionable strategies to the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda through scalable models of circular economy integration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a1df01c4c5694c978a4cbda8ab5d8bad |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2773-1677 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Circular Economy |
| spelling | doaj-art-a1df01c4c5694c978a4cbda8ab5d8bad2025-08-20T03:43:55ZengElsevierCircular Economy2773-16772025-09-014310015310.1016/j.cec.2025.100153Systemic governance and circular economy synergies: A multidimensional analysis of China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiativeYushuang Li0Guijuan Shan1Shuoshuo Hao2Jian Li3Jinhui Li4State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, ChinaState Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaState Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaShandong Provincial Center for Pollution Prevention and Control of Solid Waste and Hazardous Chemicals, Jinan 250012, ChinaState Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Corresponding author.China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiative, launched in 2018, represents a transformative strategy to address escalating solid waste challenges through systemic governance and circular economy principles. This study systematically examines the initiative's framework, including pilot project deployment, policy evolution, and scalability during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025). The phased implementation prioritized sector-specific models—industrial symbiosis, agricultural circularity, and smart municipal waste networks—to transition from risk control to green transformation. A SWOT analysis identifies strengths in centralized governance and technological innovation while highlighting challenges such as regional disparities in infrastructure and low market acceptance of recycled materials. Strategic recommendations emphasize data-driven governance, fiscal incentives for circular businesses, and cross-sector collaboration to bridge implementation gaps. This research underscores the initiative's dual impact: mitigating solid waste pressures and offering globally replicable insights. The framework provides a blueprint for sustainable urbanization, contributing actionable strategies to the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda through scalable models of circular economy integration.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773167725000287Systemic governanceCircular economySustainable urbanizationSWOT-driven strategies |
| spellingShingle | Yushuang Li Guijuan Shan Shuoshuo Hao Jian Li Jinhui Li Systemic governance and circular economy synergies: A multidimensional analysis of China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiative Circular Economy Systemic governance Circular economy Sustainable urbanization SWOT-driven strategies |
| title | Systemic governance and circular economy synergies: A multidimensional analysis of China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiative |
| title_full | Systemic governance and circular economy synergies: A multidimensional analysis of China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiative |
| title_fullStr | Systemic governance and circular economy synergies: A multidimensional analysis of China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiative |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systemic governance and circular economy synergies: A multidimensional analysis of China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiative |
| title_short | Systemic governance and circular economy synergies: A multidimensional analysis of China's “Zero-waste Cities” initiative |
| title_sort | systemic governance and circular economy synergies a multidimensional analysis of china s zero waste cities initiative |
| topic | Systemic governance Circular economy Sustainable urbanization SWOT-driven strategies |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773167725000287 |
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