Public policy

Incentive

Macroeconomics

Linguistics

Philosophy

Ecology

Biology

Economic system

Sustainability

Government (linguistics)

Industrial ecology

China

Economics

Market economy

Computer science

Conceptual framework

Industrial policy

Business

Computer network

Subsidy

Policy analysis

Political science

Resource efficiency

Sustainable development

Sociology

Public administration

Industrial organization

Economic growth

Natural resource economics

Resource (disambiguation)

Production (economics)

Circular economy

Social science

Journal of Industrial Ecology

Summary Circular economy concepts, practices, and policies are increasingly drawing attention as important means for the pursuit of sustainable development. This article uses a conceptual framework to catalogue and investigate policy efforts for the circular economy in China. Based on the framework, policy prototypes and specific examples are identified: resource‐oriented, production‐oriented, waste, and use‐oriented and life cycle policies. A comprehensive review of 280 related policies shows that China has a long history of resource‐oriented policies and implemented production‐oriented policies very quickly after the year 2000. China's policies toward the circular economy became more comprehensive through time, with a broad engagement of government agencies, an extensive and progressive coverage of recycling opportunities, production initiatives across multiple scales, and use of different policy instruments. The continuous progress has been driven by proactive state actors and their learning from the international society. The current policy framework, however, is concerned more with the means rather than the ends of the circular economy, and relies too much on direct subsidies and other financial incentives. Policy making can be improved by more explicit consideration of the whole production life cycle and use of market‐based policy design.

Efforts for a Circular Economy in China: A Comprehensive Review of Policies