By Charles McElwee

A draft of China’s “Circular Economy” law was submitted for deliberation in August 2007 to the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature. At that time it was expected to take effect in January 2008. It did not. It apparently remains, however, on this year’s agenda for the Standing Committee (as noted in a report delivered by Wu Bangguo on the work of the Standing Committee to the recently concluded First Session of the 11th NPC).

“Circular Economy” is how China’s definition of sustainability gets translated into English. The draft law establishes the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle (at least at the industrial level) as legal mandates, and imposes requirements that new industrial facilities (a) incorporate energy efficiency and water conservation designs and (b) explore ways to reduce their use of hazardous substances. Read the rest of “China’s “Circular Economy” Law” or post a comment

I recently had the opportunity to visit two factories in the southern China town of Kaiping that produced denim jeans for a major discount retailer in the United States. Considering that the only reports of Chinese textile factories that I had come across had been critical, the visit was a (pleasant) surprise.

Working conditions were orderly and tidy, the air was cool despite scorching heat just beyond the concrete walls, generous lighting flowed from large bay windows, …

Read the rest of “Made (responsibly?) In China” or post a comment >>

By Katherine Don

I recently had the opportunity to visit two factories in the southern China town of Kaiping that produced denim jeans for a major discount retailer in the United States. Considering that the only reports of Chinese textile factories that I had come across had been critical, the visit was a (pleasant) surprise.

Working conditions were orderly and tidy, the air was cool despite scorching heat just beyond the concrete walls, generous lighting flowed from large bay windows, and healthy employees casually chatted above the hum of the machines barely noticing the presence of the factory owner leading us through. A sense of respect and camaraderie passed between the management and employees, ages 20-40, while the atmosphere was calm yet efficient for a Sunday afternoon without a sense of employee exhaustion or oppression. Read the rest of “Made (responsibly?) In China” or post a comment