Development of Eco-Efficient Industrial Parks in China: A review

This report reviews three national certification programs in China—the EIP Demonstration Program, the Circular Transformation of Industrial Parks (CTIP), and the Low-Carbon Industrial Park Program—aimed at improving the eco-efficiency and carbon performance of industrial zones. While voluntary, these programs motivate participation through official certification, financial subsidies (particularly in the CTIP program), and the ability to attract investment. The report highlights that while these initiatives promote industrial symbiosis and resource efficiency, there remains a significant need for capacity building and more comprehensive low-carbon evaluation standards.

• China has implemented three primary national programs to develop eco-efficient industrial parks: the EIP Demonstration Program (led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection), the Circular Transformation of Industrial Parks (led by the National Development and Reform Committee and the Ministry of Finance), and the Low-Carbon Industrial Park Program (led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology).
• The EIP Demonstration Program focuses on minimizing waste and improving eco-efficiency through industrial symbiosis and clean production. It categorizes parks as sector-specific, sector-integrated, or venous industry EIPs. As of the report's data, 94 zones had approved development plans as National Trial EIPs, with 31 fully accredited as National Demonstration EIPs.
• The Circular Transformation of Industrial Parks (CTIP), a successor to the Circular Economy Pilot Zone (CEPZ) program, provides direct national financing to participating zones. In 2012, RMB 745 million was provided to 22 industrial zones, with an estimated average subsidy of RMB 182 million per zone, representing approximately 8.5 per cent of project investment.
• The Low-Carbon Industrial Park Program, launched in September 2013, specifically targets the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A pilot experiment from 2014 to 2016 involved 55 selected zones, with an official goal of reaching 80 pioneering zones by 2015.
• The three programs exhibit overlapping goals and participants. Out of approximately 1,568 industrial zones in China, about 13 per cent (211 zones) participated in at least one pilot program by 2014, with 33 zones participating in two or three programs.
• Industrial zones are motivated to participate in these voluntary certifications to attract domestic and foreign investment, demonstrate alignment with government priorities, and access capital for energy and emission projects. However, barriers include a lack of technical capacity, limited technological development, and a lack of clear guidance and definitions.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Development of Eco-Efficient Industrial Parks in China: A review. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/development-eco-efficient-industrial-parks-china-review-en.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Development of Eco-Efficient Industrial Parks in China: A review. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/development-eco-efficient-industrial-parks-china-review-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Development of Eco-Efficient Industrial Parks in China: A review |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/development-eco-efficient-industrial-parks-china-review-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentnddevelopment, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Development of Eco-Efficient Industrial Parks in China: A review}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/development-eco-efficient-industrial-parks-china-review-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }