With the rise of online shopping, the number of e-commerce express delivery has greatly increased. Ma Xulin, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and director of the Universal Service Department of the State Post Bureau, pointed out in the proposal on the management of e-commerce express green packaging that 60% of couriers currently come from e-commerce, and annual consumption of plastic bags 147 Billion, 8.6 billion boxes. National People's Congress representative Zhao Mingzhi believes that the express industry's 'plastic limit' has been put into immediate relief.
Courier bags, boxes consume surprisingly low recovery
Ma Xulin mentioned that in recent years, China's express delivery industry has achieved rapid development. In 2017, the volume of business exceeded 40 billion, which is more than seven times that in 2012. Among them, about 60% of express delivery comes from electricity suppliers. But there are Yes, plastic bags, packaging boxes, tapes, foam insulation materials and other packaging, filling a large number of use.
'The annual consumption of plastic bags is 14.7 billion, the packaging box is 8.6 billion, and the tape is 330 million rolls'. Ma Xulin pointed out that this has caused certain waste of resources and environmental pollution.
Zhao Mingzhi, the ambassador for the China Postal Group of Zhongshan Branch of the China Postal Group, who is the National People's Congress’s deputy, quoted a series of figures in the proposal: China's express delivery volume reached 31.3 billion in 2016, averaging over 20 items per person; Plastic bags, 24.7 billion meters of sealing tape, its length can be circled around the Earth's equator 425, this does not include woven bags, plastic bags, envelopes, crates, internal buffers, etc.. And the actual recovery of express delivery in the courier industry is only 10%.
'not only consumes a lot of raw materials, but also pollutes the environment', Zhao Mingzhi believes that the 'limited plastics' in the express delivery industry has been put in a hurry.
Replacing 2/3 transfer bags with eco-friendly bags by 2020
Earlier this year, the State Council issued the Opinions on Promoting the Coordinated Development of E-Commerce and Express Logistics, which proposed the formulation and implementation of e-commerce green packaging reduction packaging standards, carried out green packaging pilot demonstrations, and encouraged the establishment of recycling systems.
The “Provisional Regulations for Express Delivery” issued at the end of last month also encourages express delivery companies and senders to use degradable, recyclable and environmentally-friendly packaging materials, and encourages companies to adopt measures to recycle express packages to achieve reduced use and reuse of packaging materials.
'Express green development is not just an industry issue, it is a social issue'. Ma Junsheng, the director of the State Post Bureau, responded to the question of 'recycling of express mail packaging' at the briefing meeting of the China National News Agency, and stated that it intends to adopt a three-point ratio by 2020. The second transfer bag is replaced with an environmental protection bag.
Ma Junsheng pointed out that at present, there are two 'bands' that have a big impact on environmental protection in express delivery: Plastic tape and drum tape. If you can use degradable, soluble materials, the problem is solved.
In the proposal, Ma Xulin mentioned that China's courier packaging is green, reduced, and recyclable, and has achieved certain results.
For example, the Post Office started a pilot project last year to formulate industry standards for packaging biodegradable tapes. The penetration rate of key brand express eWay orders has increased from 55% in 2015 to more than 80%, and the average consumables usage for individual express mails has decreased by 5%.
Environmentally-friendly packaging costs high packaging recycling management
However, the green packaging still faces many difficulties.
'China has a huge total amount of packaging, a variety of types', Ma Xulin mentioned that the cost of environmental protection packaging is relatively high. Taking plastic bags as an example, the production cost of biodegradable packaging bags and adhesive tape is 4-5 times that of existing similar ordinary products.
Ma Xulin also pointed out that the current product packaging is too exquisite luxury, secondary packaging and other issues. According to Beijing Sanitation Group's statistics show that in the recycling of garbage, clearly with the express company logo and other labels only about 20% of the packaging. In addition, courier packaging recycling management, recycling system is not perfect, consumer awareness of environmental protection is not strong.
Zhao Mingzhi noticed that developed countries have already issued relevant laws and regulations, such as Germany's “Administrative Measures for Packaging Wastes,” and require that, in addition to packaging manufacturers, companies engaged in transportation, agency, wholesale, and retail sales should be responsible for the recovery of packaging and The plastic bag imposes a 1.27 euro/kg green point tax, but China has not yet established specific standards, and there are excessive packaging problems. The use of cartons accounts for about 50% of the total express delivery volume, and plastic bags account for about 40%.
The low recycling rate of express packaging is also a big problem. Zhao Mingzhi mentioned that, according to statistics, 55.6% of consumers discarded the package after receiving the shipment. In some developed countries, the recycling rate of cardboard packaging is about 45%. Plastic packaging recycling rate is about 25%.
Proposed the introduction of 'replacement with awards', tax refunds and other measures
Ma Xulin proposed in the proposal that the business and other departments should take the lead in formulating and implementing e-commerce green packaging, reducing packaging standards, promoting the use of green packaging technologies and materials, and encouraging and guiding consumers to use green packaging in the form of points feedback on the e-commerce platform. He also suggested that the use of environmentally friendly packaging e-commerce, express delivery companies to give appropriate subsidies.
'Survey found that e-commerce and express delivery companies generally have the desire to use environmentally friendly packaging materials, but due to fierce market competition and cost pressures, they are more sensitive to the prices of packaging materials'. Ma Xulin mentioned that the People's Government of Zhejiang Province has formulated express packaging recycling. The action plan has been supported through one-off 'remuneration subsidy' and tax refund measures, and has achieved very good results. It is recommended that such an approach be adopted. Development and finance, environmental protection and other departments and local governments promulgate policies to use green materials. The e-commerce companies and express delivery companies provide certain financial support, which is conducive to the scale effect of environmental protection packaging.
Zhao Mingzhi believes that it is necessary to establish a recycling chain from the aspects of legislation, supervision and market, clarify packaging technology standards, encourage and restrict sellers and express delivery companies to use environmentally friendly packaging, and also need the state to provide policy support in terms of taxation, funds, etc.
'If the courier industry's packaging is fundamentally reduced, resource-based, and harmless, it cannot rely entirely on self-discipline from businesses,' she suggested setting up and improving relevant laws and regulations in the express delivery industry, clarifying the environmental standards for transport packaging in the express delivery industry, and The number of non-degradable materials used in the packaging standards, etc., to strengthen the policy of mandatory and binding force, give enterprises subsidies to support.
Zhao Mingzhi pointed out that to curb over-packaging of express delivery, it is necessary to solve the problem of 'barbaric' handling and sorting. Second, companies should establish a recycling mechanism to promote the development of environmentally friendly packaging production enterprises. In addition, encourage the public to develop a good habit of carrying 'bags' with them.