China and US Business Councils for Sustainable Development joined hands in EcoPartnership Program

The US Business Council for Sustainable Development (US BCSD) and the China Business Council for Sustainable Development (CBCSD) joined hands in EcoPartnership program. They together initiated a Hebei By-Product Synergy (BPS) Project under the EcoPartnership program in May 2012. This project will produce cross-industry material reuse opportunities that ultimately bring a scalable circular economy network to the Hebei region in China through the matching of wastes and under-valued resources at one facility with potential users at other facilities. The project team has identified Tangshan and Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province as optimal locations based on government support, potential for strong industry participation, and community need. A number of CBCSD and US BCSD member companies have operations in the region and are encouraged to participate. The project includes creation of an online, locally owned materials marketplace to facilitate exchanges and exploration of alternative financing options for viable synergies.By working together to share cross-industry knowledge and capabilities, network members realize a number of benefits through BPS, including increased revenue from by-products, reduction in waste disposal costs, substitution of lower-cost and locally sourced recycled feedstocks, reduction in energy use and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulation of entrepreneurship and economic development.