INNOVATION IN THE PATH OF CLEANER PRODUCTION AUDIT MECHANISM FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Zixiu Li - Key Laboratory of Eco-Industry of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, China
- Chunge Dang - Key Laboratory of Eco-Industry of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, China
- Mingjie Han - Key Laboratory of Eco-Industry of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, China
- Dandan Liu - Key Laboratory of Eco-Industry of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, China
- Available online in Detritus - In Press
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Abstract
Facing climate change and resource constraints, cleaner production (CP) and the circular economy (CE) are essential for achieving China's “dual carbon” goals. While CP and CE form a mutually reinforcing coupling through material flow synergy and waste management synergy, conventional cleaner production audits (CPA) remain limited to enterprise-level scope with fragmented waste management, failing to capture systemic resource circulation opportunities. To address this gap, the research proposes an innovative CPA mechanism integrating CE principles for enhanced waste management. The mechanism introduces three innovative pathways: (1) methodological transformation from enterprise-level to industry/park-level overall audit; (2) process optimization through refined waste and material flow management; and (3) evaluation criterion reconstruction integrating waste management and resource recovery indicators. This approach provides theoretical foundations and practical pathways for implementing CE-oriented waste management, contributing to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 9 (Sustainable Industrial Development), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and China's "Dual Carbon" objectives. While empirical validation through case studies remains a priority for future research, the proposed framework establishes a comprehensive methodological foundation for transforming conventional CPA practices toward circular economy principles.Keywords
Editorial History
- Received: 26 Nov 2025
- Revised: 17 Mar 2026
- Accepted: 04 May 2026
- Available online: 13 May 2026
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