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United Nations Global Compact: Release of Chinese Version of Circular Economy Strategic Guidelines

New Observations on Waste Plastics 2025-12-28 10:12:11

On December 1st, the United Nations Global Compact Organization held the "Accelerating Forward: 2025 UN Global Compact Organization Knowledge Achievement Release Conference" at its liaison office in Beijing, China, and officially released the Chinese version of the "Circular Economy Strategic Guide - A Step-by-Step Guide for Impact-Driven Enterprises in the Circular Economy" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guide").

This "Guide" aims to outline the key pathways for enterprises to achieve circular development and provides a step-by-step guide to better assist enterprises in formulating impact-oriented circular economy strategies. Readers can access it by scanning the QR code:

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Local policies, resources, and business practices

The original German version of the "Guide" was jointly produced by the United Nations Global Compact Network Germany and the World Wildlife Fund Germany. The Chinese version of the "Guide" is based on the English version and has been localized by incorporating Chinese policies and corporate case studies, adding 19 examples of Chinese corporate practices, 25 Chinese policies, and 22 supporting measures. The editing and review support were provided by the UNGC GDI for SDG project team.

It is worth mentioning that Chapters 1.5 and 3 of the "Guide" specifically outline the regulatory frameworks and enterprise support programs for circular economy policies in Germany, China, and the European Union for enterprises' reference.

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It is imperative to accelerate the development of the circular economy across industries and enterprises of all sizes.

China is accelerating resource efficiency and system construction. By 2025, China's major resource productivity is expected to increase by about 20% compared to 2020, with a comprehensive utilization rate of bulk solid waste reaching 60%. By 2030, a comprehensive, efficient, and orderly waste recycling system will be established, with the resource value of various waste types fully tapped. The proportion of recycled materials in raw material supply will be further enhanced, and the scale and quality of the resource recycling industry will be significantly improved. The level of waste recycling will generally rank among the world's leading countries ("China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change" and "Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a Waste Recycling System").

Although China's recycling and utilization system for renewable resources is continuously improving, resource circulation still faces many challenges and bottlenecks. Currently, only a small portion of raw materials is recycled after single-use, and there are still limitations in the restoration of performance and value conversion of recycled materials, making it difficult to fully restore their original use value. The global situation is equally severe, with the global economic circulation rate at only 7.2% in 2023 (according to the "Global Circularity Gap Report").

The changes in the international situation have further weakened the stability and resilience of the raw material supply chain, making it difficult to meet the needs of industrial production activities and modernization in various countries, thereby potentially restricting stable and sustainable economic growth.

Implement a "three-step" strategy of current situation assessment, strategic coordination and objectives, and implementation path.

We are standing at a historical turning point in the plastic circular economy!

As pointed out in the United Nations "Circular Economy Strategy Guide," businesses need to develop impact-driven circular economy strategies.

ChinaRePlas2026, the 33rd China International Physical Recycling and Regeneration Conference & the 4th China International Chemical Recycling and Regeneration Conference, will respond to the United Nations' circular economy strategy. It will bring together global industry leaders, technology pioneers, policymakers, and investment institutions to jointly discuss new trends in plastic recycling policies and standards in China and globally. The conference aims to explore the journey from raw material recycling to high-value products, uncovering new growth points in the circular economy.

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United Nations Global Compact: Release of Chinese Version of Circular Economy Strategic Guidelines

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