Designing new environmental policy instruments to promote the sustainable development of iron and steel production in China: A comparative analysis of cleaner production assessment indicator systems and the assessment principles of the green factory

A large number of environmental policy instruments are developed and issued every year to reduce pollution emissions and energy consumption in iron and steel industry and promote a shift toward to more sustainable modes of production. However, how to design new policy instruments and embed them into existing policy networks and avoid policy repetition and policy leap in policy practice and research has not attracted sufficient attention in China. This article is based on a detailed comparison of two proactive indicator systems, that is, cleaner production assessment indicator systems and the assessment principles of the green factory in the iron and steel industry. The comparative analysis of input and process indicators indicates that cleaner production assessment indicator systems and the assessment principles of the green factory are similar and updated policy instruments. The assessment principles of the green factory broaden the coverage from the traditional focus on reducing the environmental effect of industrial production to supply chain management, management standardization, and the precautionary function. The green factory is a suitable alternative to cleaner production. The mechanism and policy driver for the assessment principles of the green factory were analyzed. We found that when the new components reach 40%, a new policy instrument is rational for institutional adaptability and to avoid policies overlapping and repeating. The current article concludes with a discussion about the broad implications of this layered but path-dependent pattern regarding the design of new environmental instruments in existing policy networks for promoting the sustainable development of the mineral industry.