The “sweetness” of development with the “bitter” fortress—Jiande chemical industry has tasted the “sweetness” of circular economy

Jiande City, located in the upper reaches of the Qiantang River, once relied heavily on its chemical industry, which brought economic growth but also severe environmental damage. The production of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, was particularly polluting, and local company Xin'an Chemical struggled with environmental issues and resource inefficiency. However, through innovation, the company developed a unique "glyphosate-silicone product chain," where waste methyl chloride from glyphosate production was recycled into raw materials for silicon monomers, and waste hydrochloric acid from the silicone process was reused in glyphosate manufacturing. This breakthrough not only minimized waste but also significantly improved resource efficiency, earning the technology the National Scientific and Technological Progress Second Prize. Xin'an Chemical's success became a model for Jiande's shift toward a circular economy. The city, once known as an "environmental killer," has since taken decisive steps to address pollution. Over the past years, local authorities have shut down or relocated more than 10 chemical companies and pushed others to meet stricter emission standards. Major investments were made in pollution control infrastructure, with over 50 million yuan allocated to upgrade facilities. Companies like Dayang Chemical and Jianye Organic underwent major renovations, while others embraced cleaner production technologies. One such example is Xin'an Chemical, which adopted advanced acetone method technology, boosting the single-pass conversion rate from 82% to 99.5%. This led to annual savings of 39 million yuan, 30,000 tons of coal, and 200 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions. As a result, Xin'an became a provincial demonstration site for clean production. Other companies, including Silicone Plant and Chemical Plant No. 2, also passed clean production assessments, and five more were included in the provincial pilot program this year. The transformation extended beyond individual companies. By establishing a rational industrial chain, waste products turned into valuable resources. For instance, Xin'an Chemical now recycles over 20 million cubic meters of hydrogen annually, saving 80 million yuan in costs. According to Wang Wei, chairman of Xin'an Chemical, the shift from environmental burden to resource recycling has become their biggest competitive advantage. Last year, Xin'an acquired its main competitor, Jiangnan Chemical, capturing about 25% of the domestic organic silicon market and achieving sales revenue of nearly 1.7 billion yuan and a profit of 173 million yuan. Jiande’s chemical industry has seen impressive growth. In the first eight months of this year alone, sales reached 3.127 billion yuan, and profits hit 280 million yuan, rising by 42% and 83% respectively. This growth helped drive the city’s overall economic development, with industrial output above designated size reaching 7.728 billion yuan and total fiscal revenue hitting 657 million yuan—up 32.2% and 21.75% year-on-year. Jiande’s story reflects how sustainable practices can transform traditional industries, turning environmental challenges into opportunities for long-term economic success.

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