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• 4D GIS-MFA-LCA model was used to analyze the characteristic of BMS, BW and ECEs. • The consumption of metallic building materials in construction sector is increasing. • Tourism and entertainment area appears to have the fastest increasing rate of BMS. • Cement can capture about 517 kt CO 2 eq of ECEs, as a carbon sink source. • Economy and population are the driving force for urban BMS in Macao. Enhancing the understanding on the temporal and spatial distribution of urban building material metabolism is crucial for informing urban resource, waste, and environmental management. However, this endeavor is often impeded by inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the typology and material composition data of buildings. Taking Macao as a case, this study established a 4D GIS-MFA-LCA model and compiled a local material composition database to address these gaps, for a detailed characterization of the quantity, quality, and temporal-spatial distribution of the urban building stocks and flows in Macao. The results show that between 1980 and 2020, the building materials stock (BMS) in Macao increased from 6.3 to 55.1 Mt (equaling 1.1 to 14.7 Mt CO 2 eq of embodied carbon emission), accompanied by corresponding increases of 0.03 Mt to 0.7 Mt of building waste (BW). The tourism and entertainment area exhibited the fastest increasing rate of BMS in Macao. IPAT analysis shows that the economy, population growth and demographic changes have been the driving forces for BMS in Macao. The results of this study can help cities take effective measures toward achieving a circular economy and highlight the role of such information and urban planning in urban building resource, waste, and management strategies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) accounts for 30% to 40% of the total amount of waste in China. CDW is usually randomly dumped or disposed in landfills and the average recycling rate of CDW in China is only about 5%. Considering there is big challenge in adoption of circular economy in CDW industry in China while related research is still limited, we conduct the CDW management analysis through 3R principle. Existing policies and management situations were investigated and analyzed based on the reduction, reuse and recycle principles. Results reveal that primary barriers of reducing CDW in China include lack of building design standard for reducing CDW, low cost for CDW disposal and inappropriate urban planning. Barriers to reuse CDW include lack of guidance for effective CDW collection and sorting, lack of knowledge and standard for reused CDW, and an under-developed market for reused CDW. As for recycling of CDW, key challenges are identified as ineffective management system, immature recycling technology, under-developed market for recycled CDW products and immature recycling market operation. Proposals to improve the current situation based on 3R principle are also proposed, including designing effective circular economy model, reinforcing the source control of CDW, adopting innovative technologies and market models, and implementing targeted economic incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of a circular economy (CE) has become prominent in both European and Chinese policy making. Chinese and European perspectives on a CE share a common conceptual basis and exhibit many similar concerns in seeking to enhance resource efficiency. Yet they also differ, and this article explores differences in the focus of CE policy in China and Europe. We present evidence on the differing understandings of the CE concept in Chinese and European policy discourse, drawing on qualitative and quantitative analysis of policy documents, media articles, and academic publications. We show that the Chinese perspective on the CE is broad, incorporating pollution and other issues alongside waste and resource concerns, and it is framed as a response to the environmental challenges created by rapid growth and industrialization. In contrast, Europe's conception of the CE has a narrower environmental scope, focusing more narrowly on waste and resources and opportunities for business. We then examine similarities and differences in the focus of policy activity in the two regions and in the indicators used to measure progress. We show differences in the treatment of issues of scale and place and different priorities across value chains (from design to manufacture, consumption, and waste management). We suggest some reasons for the divergent policy articulation of the CE concept and suggest lessons that each region can learn from the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's wide-ranging circular economy (CE) efforts have been studied multiple times from a range of perspectives. Synthesizing the relevant literature, this paper provides a critical reflection on the transition to a CE in China. Key factors for China's success in shifting towards a CE are seen in multi-level indicators and upscaling niches. This paper makes a novel contribution on limitations to progress, based on emerging evidence on CE projects that fail to sustain. Enriched by experts feedback, this paper critically addresses future challenges to a deep transition resulting from implementation gaps between early majorities and mass markets and coordination challenges arising through regional and sectoral differences. In light of China's commitments to climate neutrality by 2060, such challenges are considered serious. Based on feasible policy learning, the paper however proposes synergies between the CE and decarbonisation driven by efficiency improvements, comprehensive core indicators, upscaling and urban policies as trigger for deeper transformations. Finally the paper undertakes broader reflections and an outlook on evidence-orientated policy learning for a CE and decarbonisation in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been observed that the massive urbanization has boosted up infinite construction in the developed as well as developing countries. The construction and demolition waste has been correspondingly increased enormously which results in nasty and fatal impacts on urban sustainability and survival in the term of economic values and environmental safety. Considering construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) in the USA and China and its comparison has not been discussed, this study explores some research questions to fill such gaps: What are the existing CDWM policies and regulations in these two countries? What is the market mode for CDWM? What are the key challenges of CDWM? What are the CDWM contribution and limitations toward circular economy? What are the lessons that must be exemplary for the two economies through mutual learning? Our results show that the CD waste generation and its management are influenced by several factors including population, urbanization, gross domestic product (GDP), and CDWM regulatory measures. The USA has more developed CDWM system. Whereas, China is a growing economy and it has some management deficiencies in the construction industry. Key suggestions for improving CDWM include: i. Government supervision along with an economic incentive approach, ii. Interaction between Stakeholders, iii. Mutual coordination among operational departments, iv. Audit and inspection setup, and v. Continuous development and integration of emerging technologies. Image 1 • Review policies and market mode of construction and demolition waste management in the USA and China. • Identify challenges of construction and demolition waste management in United States and China. • Conduct comparative study between the United States and China and conclude mutual learning suggestions. • Propose recommendations to improve construction and demolition waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repair of mobile phones fits with the vision of a circular economy in an urban context and with the Sustainable Development Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities. Drawing on the literature about firm level competitiveness and closed-loop design through repair, remanufacturing or recycling, we analyze the business ecosystem of independent mobile phone repair shops in the Netherlands, Poland and China as a glocal business activity. The analysis is based on primary data collection through a questionnaire to independent repair shops in the Netherlands (n = 130), Poland (n = 443) and China (n = 175) with response rates of 13%, 12%, 40%, respectively; and 17 interviews in the Netherlands, 40 in Poland, and 70 in China. Findings indicate that to maintain a strong position in the local market and to sustain the trust of customers, independent mobile phone repair shops offer a range of customized services based on direct contact with customers. In China, the increasing prices of spare parts and falling prices of mobile phones constitute the most important challenges, whereas in the Netherlands and Poland, the most important challenges are the competitive pressures from informal repair activities, and new repair shops. Our research also revealed that repairability strongly depends on the global manufacturers' circularity choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a critical review of the current challenges faced in recycling glass packaging based on the principles of Circular Economy, and discusses opportunities to increase the waste glass recycling rate in Stockholm, Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR) and Shanghai. Several criteria were adopted from the definition of circular economy: i) whether there are any educational programs in place that teach and inform the populace and industries about loop-closing activities and their connectivity, ii) whether there are any profit-generating businesses supporting activities, such as recycling and reusing of salvaged waste glass, iii) whether there are any grassroots measures, such as waste glass sorting, that facilitate loop-closing profit-generating businesses, iv) whether there are policies in place to support loop-closing activities, and v) whether there are policies that cater to organizations (that are involved in loop-closing) at the micro-, meso- and macro-levels. All three cities approached their macro-level strategies differently. While Shanghai and Stockholm have specific circular economy-related legislation, Hong Kong uses its Waste Reduction Framework Plan to approve Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal (Product Container) Ordinance 2016. All three cities have policies that translate macro-level policies from the national or provincial level to the meso-level to influence industrial network and practices. For example, Shanghai uses its "Integration of Two Networks' concept in policymaking to integrate waste management and waste treatment systems in the local industry. Finally, the three cities collectively provide a rich array of micro-level circular economy strategies that involves different stakeholders. Although the three case cities are facing different challenged with different economic, cultural and institutional perspectives, lessons distilled from Stockholm, Hong Kong and Shanghai regarding circular economy-related education programs, loop-closing activities involving commercial sectors and grassroots civic sectors, and policies supporting loop-closing business and infrastructure provide other cities a rich source of information that may be relevant to others in the global effort to increase recycling rate of waste glass. [Display omitted] • Waste glass recycling strategies of three cities are assessed with CE concepts. • These cities are Stockholm, Hong Kong and Shanghai. • Commonalities include loop-closing practices and policies at three levels. • Each has Circular Economy educational programs supporting these policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]