Pursuing sustainable industrial development through the ecoindustrial parks
According to the article, Chertow defines EcoIndustrial park (EIP) as a resource sharing
among collocated firms engaged traditionally separate industries in a collective approach to
business and environmental management involving the physical exchanges of materials, energy
water, and byproducts. The ecoindustrial park (EIP) concept has been introduced in few parts of
the globe but now being implemented by in China by their government due to the serious high
pollutant discharge, high resource consumption, and low economic value within their country.
Their main goal is to pursue a pattern of sustainable production and consumption through a
series of concepts and methods that is environmentally friendly through the power of the
government who acts a s key role player.
Within the three case studies, Dafeng, Lubei, and Nanhai, three points are addressed: the
industrial and environmental backgrounds of EIP projects, specific resource sharing, and benefits
and challenges in these projects. All while holistic, economic, social, and technical aspects are as
necessary guidelines to develop successful EIP projects.
Government in China began taking actions towards sustainability because of the visible
and serious pollution, and began a new strategy towards industrial development known as the
“circular economy” strategy which is intended to combine environmental objectives into general
economics activities through two development phases. First, pilots initiated within firm,
industrial park, and regional levels on emphasizing recycling typical resources like paper or
metals, reducing pollutants, and residue reuse inside several industrial sectors like coal mining
and chemical industry. Second, maturing social system that includes laws, institutions,
preferential policies, and technical standards necessary for resource utilization efficiency
expected to be implemented before 2010.
