With the official implementation of the "plastic ban", supermarkets, takeaways and other "big plastic users" across China have begun to introduce plastic reduction measures and transitional measures. Experts said that plastic pollution control involves all aspects. The recycling and disposal of degradable plastic bags must have corresponding supporting systems, which requires a certain amount of adaptation time. We should first focus on key categories and key places, form certain experience and then gradually promote them, so as to promote plastic pollution control in an orderly manner.

At the beginning of 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control", which divided the three time periods of 2020, 2022 and 2025, and clarified the phased task objectives for strengthening plastic pollution control. By 2020, the production, sale and use of some plastic products will be banned and restricted in some regions and fields. The newly revised Solid Waste Law, which came into effect on September 1, 2020, also strengthened the relevant requirements for plastic pollution control and clarified the legal liability for related illegal acts.

Starting from January 1 this year, the "plastic ban" was implemented. Are all parties ready?

Supermarkets switch to degradable plastic bags

The reporter found that 31 provinces have issued relevant implementation plans or action plans for plastic pollution control. Taking Beijing as an example, the "Beijing Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2020-2025)" focuses on six key industries: catering, takeaway platforms, wholesale and retail, e-commerce express delivery, accommodation and exhibition, and agricultural production, and strengthens plastic reduction efforts. Among them, for the catering industry, it is required that by the end of 2020, the city's catering industry will be prohibited from using non-degradable disposable plastic straws, takeaway (including dine-in packaging) services in built-up areas will be prohibited from using non-degradable plastic bags, and dine-in services in built-up areas and scenic spots will be prohibited from using non-degradable disposable plastic tableware.

"From January 1, 2021, all shopping bags sold in our supermarket are degradable shopping bags, large bags are 1.2 yuan each, and small bags are 6 cents each. If you need them, please buy them at the cashier." On January 5, the reporter came to the Meilimei Supermarket on Ande Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, and the supermarket radio was rolling relevant prompts. Degradable plastic bags are placed at the supermarket cashier counter and self-service scan code checkout area, and the prices are marked. Among the more than 30 customers who checked out, most used their own non-woven shopping bags, and some customers pushed the goods to the supermarket exit and then loaded them into a small shopping trailer.

"In recent years, many customers have developed the habit of using recyclable shopping bags." A relevant person in charge of Wumart Group told reporters that all Wumart Group's stores and delivery services in Beijing and Tianjin have been replaced with degradable plastic bags. Judging from the implementation in recent days, the sales volume of charged plastic bags has decreased compared with the past, but it is not obvious yet.

The reporter saw that the cashier counter and self-service checkout counter at the Walmart supermarket near Xuanwumen in Beijing were also equipped with degradable shopping bags. There is also a striking slogan in front of the cashier counter, calling on customers to take environmentally friendly bags and be "plastic reduction" activists.

It is worth noting that the catering takeaway field is also promoting plastic restrictions. A relevant person in charge of Meituan Waimai said that Meituan will play the advantages of connecting merchants and users, integrate industry resources, and coordinate upstream and downstream industries to jointly promote the environmental protection development of the industry. In terms of packaging reduction, in addition to launching the "no tableware required" option, Meituan Waimai has removed ordinary plastic packaging bags and straws from the merchant-side service market, set up an environmental protection zone, introduced diversified environmental protection packaging suppliers, and continued to expand the supply of environmental protection packaging products.

Degradable straw orders have increased significantly

At the end of 2020, the catering industry in China banned the use of non-degradable disposable plastic straws. Can I still drink beverages happily in the future?

Wang Jianhui, head of the public relations department of McDonald's Beijing, told reporters that since June 30, 2020, in nearly 1,000 McDonald's restaurants in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, consumers have been able to directly drink cold drinks without solids through new cup lids. At present, McDonald's restaurants in Beijing have implemented relevant policy requirements, discontinued all plastic straws, replaced beverage packaging bags with degradable plastic bags, and used wooden knives, forks and spoons for dine-in disposable tableware.

In addition to the solution of direct drinking cup lids, there are two main types of degradable straws currently promoted on the market: one is paper straws; the other is polylactic acid (PLA) straws, which are generally emulsified from starch-based materials and have good biodegradability. In addition, stainless steel straws, bamboo straws, etc. are also optional alternative products.

When visiting branded beverage stores such as Luckin Coffee, Starbucks, and Yidiandian Milk Tea, the reporter found that disposable plastic straws are no longer available, but have been replaced with paper straws or degradable plastic straws.

On the evening of January 4, when the reporter interviewed Li Erqiao, general manager of Zhejiang Yiwu Shuangtong Daily Necessities Co., Ltd., he was busy coordinating the production capacity of straw products. As a leading company in the straw industry, Shuangtong can currently provide customers outside China with a variety of products such as polylactic acid straws, paper straws, and stainless steel straws.

"Recently, the factory has received explosive growth in orders, and orders have been scheduled until April." Li Erqiao said that before the "plastic ban" was implemented, although Shuangtong reminded customers, many customers were in a wait-and-see state and did not prepare enough stocks in advance, resulting in the current order "collision". "At present, most of the company's production capacity has been invested in the production of degradable straws, and some employees engaged in the production of ordinary plastic straws have been transferred to the degradable product production line to expand the equipment startup volume."

"At present, we can supply about 30 tons of degradable products every day, and we will continue to expand production capacity in the future." Li Erqiao said that with the Spring Festival approaching, many customers have to prepare stocks in advance, and it is expected that orders will continue to increase in the future.

Orderly promotion of plastic reduction consumption

The reporter learned in the interview that the cost and user experience of alternative products have become important considerations for companies to choose. Taking straws as an example, the price of raw materials for ordinary plastic straws is about 8,000 yuan per ton, the raw materials for polylactic acid straws are nearly 40,000 yuan per ton, and the raw materials for paper straws are about 22,000 yuan per ton, which is equivalent to two to three times the price of plastic straws.

In terms of user experience, paper straws are not easy to pierce into the sealing film and are not soaked; some even have a pulp or glue taste, which seriously affects the taste of the beverage itself. Polylactic acid straws are easy to decompose and have a relatively short product life cycle.

Li Erqiao said that from the perspective of customer demand, the catering market chooses more polylactic acid straws, which have a better user experience. The channel market chooses more paper straws because they have a longer shelf life.

"At this stage, the cost of degradable plastics will be higher, but it is still within an acceptable range." Liu Jianguo, a professor at the School of Environment at Tsinghua University, said that with the expansion of production capacity and improvement of technical level of degradable plastic products, the production cost will decrease in the future after large-scale production.

It is worth noting that this "plastic ban" highlights the characteristics of systematicity, coordination and orderliness, and is promoted in steps and fields. For example, the use of non-degradable plastic bags in collective markets is regulated and restricted, rather than banned. During the visit, the reporter learned that some vegetable markets, street breakfast shops, small supermarkets, etc. still use ordinary plastic bags.

The roll bags commonly seen in the fresh vegetable area of supermarkets are also not included in this ban. "With the ban on ordinary plastic bags, we are continuing to observe whether the waste of roll bags will increase significantly compared to before, and will make corresponding adjustments in the future." A relevant person in charge of Wumart Group said that the roll bags are still open for use and no obvious waste has been found.

Liu Jianguo said that plastic pollution control involves all aspects, and the recycling and disposal of degradable plastic bags must have corresponding supporting systems, which requires a certain amount of adaptation time. Therefore, we must first focus on key categories and key places, form certain experience, and then gradually promote them, so as to promote plastic pollution control in an orderly manner. (Economic Daily-China Economic Network reporter Xiong Li)

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