Approaches to the low carbon transition of heavy industries: The role of Circular Economy measures in China and Germany
Keywords: Circular Economy; decarbonization; energy efficiency; renewable sources; and carbon capture technologies | Study published: December 2023
The report focuses on leveraging circular economy strategies to facilitate the low carbon transition of heavy industries in China and Germany. The report emphasizes the imperative of integrating circular economy principles into the decarbonization efforts of industries. While energy efficiency, renewable sources, and carbon capture technologies are well recognised pillars, the report highlights the importance of resource efficiency and the circular economy concept. Circular economy strategies aim to minimize resource consumption through approaches such as resource saving design, efficient resource utilization, and product life extension.
This report underscores the pivotal role of circular economy strategies in steering heavy industries toward a low carbon trajectory. It calls for unified efforts to embrace circularity, curtail emissions, and optimize resource utilization.
- The report underscores the significance of material efficiency within the construction sector, given the substantial emissions from cement and concrete production.
- The recommendations encompass optimizing building design, reducing clinker content, and implementing prefabrication techniques to mitigate emissions.
- For plastics, the report focuses on three circular solutions—mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and bioplastics.
The study is a result of the Climate and Energy Partnership
