Combats with VOCs - Strategies and Management in China and Europe

Abstract: This work aims to figure out the history and footpath of the trials and combats against VOCs emission in China. As China is a country that overlooked the environmental problems for decades (e.g. VOCs emissions), China’s environmental management system has not been mature and well-functioned towards current severe environmental pollution over China. Hence, a sounder and more flexible system for controlling VOCs emission from industry should be built up, urgently. This paper also attempts to come up with some reasonable and practical suggestions for improvement of the environmental management system with inspiration from European countries and markets. In this paper, “management system” and “treatment technology” in China are both options that will be explored thoroughly. Desktop research and interviewing are the major means of investigation. As to some research on management system, China’s national policies, provincial policies, emission standards, etc. are investigated; in addition, on-going treatment technology in China by enterprises and companies are also explored, with a summary of VOCs recovery and treatment techniques. European countries are explored as pioneers and models for treatment of VOCs emission. By learning some technology created and applied in EU markets, Chinese market can also be inspired and introduced. After that, some analysis on China’s VOCs management system coming from several aspects, i.e. governance dilemma, technology application, economic initiative and public participation, is made. Finally, some recommendation for management policies and technology application have been proposed as well, as a result of this study on VOCs emission for China’s authorities.