Core Viewpoint - The development of a circular economy is crucial for addressing resource scarcity and environmental pollution, especially in China, which is facing significant challenges as the world's second-largest economy. The circular economy is increasingly recognized as a vital pathway for achieving comprehensive green transformation and carbon neutrality goals [1][2]. Industry Overview - Circular economy is an economic growth model focused on efficient and cyclical resource utilization, characterized by low consumption, low emissions, and high efficiency, aligning with sustainable development principles. It represents a fundamental shift from traditional linear economic models to a closed-loop feedback process of resource use, clean production, and resource regeneration [2][4]. Application Areas - The circular economy has a wide range of applications, including: - Resource regeneration and recycling, utilizing waste materials to replace virgin resources. - Comprehensive utilization of bulk solid waste, such as using fly ash and smelting slag to produce alternative building materials. - Biomass waste utilization for clean energy, replacing traditional fossil fuels. - Recovery of waste heat and energy from industrial processes to improve system efficiency. - Circular transformation of industrial parks to enhance resource and energy utilization efficiency [5][6]. Current Development Status - The Chinese government has prioritized the development of the circular economy as a strategic initiative for sustainable development, implementing various policies to promote high-quality growth in this sector [7][8]. Market Size - The circular economy industry in China is experiencing robust growth, with the market size surpassing 4 trillion yuan in 2023 and projected to reach approximately 4.64 trillion yuan in 2024. Key growth drivers include the comprehensive utilization of bulk solid waste, resource regeneration, and waste resource utilization [12][14]. Competitive Landscape - The market for circular economy in China is characterized by diverse competition, with state-owned enterprises holding significant market shares due to policy support. However, private enterprises are emerging as new forces, leveraging flexible operations and differentiated services. The competition is particularly intense in areas such as industrial solid waste treatment and recycling of used resources [19]. Challenges Faced - Despite progress, the circular economy in China faces challenges, including insufficient industrial scale and specialization, inadequate incentive mechanisms and regulatory frameworks, and insufficient resource recovery in key areas [20]. Future Development Trends - The future of the circular economy is expected to be shaped by technological innovation, improved policy frameworks, deepened industry collaboration, and expanded international cooperation. Technologies such as IoT, AI, and big data will enhance resource recovery efficiency, while a more robust policy environment will support high-quality development in the sector [21][23][24].