1. Reduction principle
Belonging to the input method, it aims to reduce the quality of materials entering the production and consumption process, save the use of resources from the source and reduce the discharge of pollutants.
In production, the principle of shrinkage is often manifested in the requirements of miniaturization of product volume and lightweight of product. In addition, the product packaging is required to pursue simplicity rather than luxury and waste, so as to achieve the purpose of reducing waste emissions. Reduction is the most important thing, and controlling the amount of waste from the source is the most thorough and effective management method. When waste must be generated, it should be minimized; The next step is to reuse or recycle when feasible.
2. Reuse principle
It is a process method aimed at improving the utilization efficiency of products and services and reducing the pollution of primary products.
The principle of reuse requires that products and packaging containers can be used many times in the initial form, instead of once, that is, to extend the time length of products and services and improve the utilization efficiency of products and services, so as to resist the proliferation of disposable goods in today's world, such as the resistance to disposable chopsticks. It is necessary to standardize the design of products, study the disassembly and reuse of parts and realize the reuse of parts.
3. The principle of recycling
Belonging to the input method, the purpose is to turn waste into resources again, so as to reduce the final treatment capacity, which is also commonly known as waste recovery and comprehensive utilization. Recycling can reduce the generation of garbage and make new products that consume less energy.
The principle of recycling requires that the produced goods can become available resources instead of waste after completing their use functions, so as to expand the supply of resources and reduce the final processing capacity. Therefore, some countries require the ingredients of raw materials to be marked on large-scale machinery and equipment in order to find ways to recycle or use them for new purposes, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) Cleaner Production Promotion Law promulgated by China also has the same provision. Obviously, the implementation of the principle of reuse and recycling in turn strengthens the implementation of the principle of reduction.
On the relationship between reduction, reuse and recycling, China should not only absorb the experience of developed countries, but also consider the basic national conditions of China. Japan, Germany and other developed countries are in the post-industrial era, and the resource utilization rate is already high, and the potential for front-end reduction is relatively small. These countries pay attention to the recycling of resources when developing circular economy; However, China is in the stage of rapid industrialization, with high energy and material consumption and great potential for front-end reduction. At present, special emphasis should be placed on reduction. Therefore, some scholars believe that the importance of 3R principle in developing circular economy is not parallel, and its priority is reduction, reuse and recycling. Reduction is the key and foundation. First, we should minimize it.
Generally speaking, the 3R principle of circular economy enables resources to be used with the highest efficiency and maximum recycling with the lowest input, minimizes pollutant emissions, and makes economic activities conform to the material cycle law of natural ecosystems, thus realizing the ecological turn of human activities.