Circular Economy and Resource Utilization in Petrochemical Industry

    The petrochemical industry is an important pillar industry of the national economy and one of the main sources of energy consumption and environmental pollution. How to achieve resource conservation and environmental protection while ensuring energy security and promoting industrial development is a major challenge for the petrochemical industry. As a new type of economic model, circular economy aims at efficient resource utilization, waste reduction, and low pollution emission, guided by theories of system thinking, life cycle analysis, and industrial ecology, through technological innovation, system innovation, management Innovation and other means to build a closed cycle system from production to consumption to waste disposal.

    The implementation of circular economy in the petrochemical industry is of great significance. First, resource utilization efficiency can be improved and costs can be reduced. The petrochemical industry involves multiple fields and multi-level production processes, and there is a large amount of energy, raw materials, water and other resource consumption and waste discharge. Through measures such as optimizing production processes, improving equipment technology, and developing clean products, resources can be reused or recycled within an enterprise or across enterprises, reducing dependence on external resources and the burden on the environment.

According to statistics, during the "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan" period (2016-2020), member units of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation have saved energy of about 150 million tons of standard coal (accounting for nearly 20% of the country's total energy saving), and saved about 100 million tons of water resources. billion cubic meters (accounting for nearly 10% of the country's total water saving), reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 400 million tons.

    Second, it can promote industrial transformation and upgrading and enhance competitiveness. The petrochemical industry is facing multiple pressures such as changes in domestic and foreign market demand, product structure adjustments, and carbon neutrality goals. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period (2021-2025), the petrochemical industry should accelerate the pace of industrial upgrading and transformation and product innovation, and promote the development of industrial layout to the high-end of the industrial chain and the development of strategic emerging industries. The circular economy can promote the transformation of the petrochemical industry from the traditional linear production model to the circular ecological model, from a single resource consumption type to a multi-resource comprehensive utilization type, and from low value-added product production to high value-added service provision. . Through the circular economy, more new products, new technologies, new formats, and new models that meet market demand and environmental standards can be developed, and the status and influence of the petrochemical industry in the global value chain can be enhanced.

    Finally, social responsibility and public trust can be enhanced. As an important support for national economic and social development, the petrochemical industry undertakes important missions such as ensuring energy supply and meeting people's needs for a better life. At the same time, it must also undertake important responsibilities such as protecting the ecological environment and promoting sustainable development. Circular economy can help the petrochemical industry achieve win-win economic and social benefits, enhance corporate image and brand value, and enhance public recognition and trust in the petrochemical industry.

    In short, the concept of circular economy has broad application space and huge development potential in the petrochemical industry. At present, under the guidance of the national "14th Five-Year Plan" and the "Double Carbon" goal, promoted by relevant organizations and institutions such as the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, and with the active participation of the majority of petrochemical enterprises, during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period The development of circular economy has become the consensus of the petrochemical industry and has achieved a series of results. For example, in terms of park recycling, the "China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Park Construction and Management Regulations" has been issued and implemented; in terms of plastic recycling, the "White Paper on Plastic Recycling in China" has been compiled; in terms of power battery recycling, the "Power Battery "Recycling Technology Roadmap" has been formulated.

    In the future, we have the confidence and ability to better practice and promote the concept of circular economy in the petrochemical industry, and make greater contributions to building a resource-saving and environment-friendly society.