China Plastics Processing Industry Association senior said that the current product will not destroy the atmospheric ozone layer, will develop market access.

From an industry point of view, "lifting the ban" will increase the production of disposable foam plastic tableware, the demand for upstream raw materials will undoubtedly bring pull, is a great good for styrene production enterprises

Banned 14 years disposable foam plastic tableware in May 1 officially ushered in the "lifting day". According to the National Development and Reform Commission previously revised the "Industrial structure adjustment guidance directory (2011)" the relevant provisions of the decision, disposable foam tableware will be removed from the "eliminated product catalog", and from May 1 began to implement, which means that it will be allowed to produce and use again. Disposable foam tableware was previously regarded as "white pollution", but after the "re-emergence of rivers and lakes", China Plastics Processing Industry Association senior officials believe that due to the improvement of raw materials, the current production of disposable foam plastic tableware has no "pollution" problem, the future will also develop market access.

Qian Guijing, chairman of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association, said that at present, China's disposable foam plastic tableware in the production process, has long used butane instead of freon (CFCs) as a blowing agent, so there is no problem of disposable foam plastic tableware production process damage to the atmospheric ozone layer.

"Disposable foamed plastic tableware is still in use in many countries and regions. Disposable foamed plastic tableware produced in China is exported to more than 20 countries and regions such as the United States and Canada. In Zhuhai, Shenzhen and other places, the annual export of disposable foam plastic tableware about 6,000 tons -- about more than 1 billion pieces. And the test results of research institutions in various countries have also confirmed that polystyrene does not have the environmental hormones that some media say." Qian Guijing said.

But he also pointed out that the association will still have to help formulate market access conditions after the ban is lifted to prevent a stampede. We should pay close attention to revising and improving product-related standards, quality management methods and implementation rules, and promote the standardized development of disposable foamed plastic tableware industry. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the construction of the recycling system and promote its recycling and reuse.

On the other hand, from the perspective of industry, "lifting the ban" will increase the production of disposable foamed plastic tableware, and the demand for upstream raw materials will undoubtedly bring about a pull.

Business analyst Luo Xiuman pointed out that because the foamed plastic tableware is made of polystyrene resin, and the latter is the downstream of styrene, so the National Development and Reform Commission lifted the ban on foamed plastic tableware for styrene production enterprises is a great good.

"At present, downstream demand is indeed picking up, from styrene this year to get rid of the drag of pure benzene market decline and then bottoming out, it is enough to explain the impact of downstream pull." Luo Xiuman said.

Among the listed companies, Shuangliang Energy Saving has a production capacity of 420,000 tons of styrene and 360,000 tons of expanded polystyrene, which is more resilient to the news.

"disposable foamed plastic tableware" is made of polystyrene resin raw material and foaming agent heated foam, often used to make lunch boxes, but also partly used to make cups, bowls, plates and so on. Because such plastic products are mostly white in the past, it is difficult to degrade naturally after being abandoned, and the environmental pollution caused by such products is called "white pollution".

On February 16 this year, the National Development and Reform Commission issued Order No. 21 (hereinafter referred to as Order No. 21), published the "Decision of the National Development and Reform Commission on amending the relevant provisions", requiring the implementation to begin on May 1. It is in this document that the original catalogue of eliminated products "disposable foamed plastic tableware" was deleted.

Some experts also pointed out that a series of risks brought by the lifting of the ban must be carefully assessed. At the same time, should be introduced as soon as possible new foamed tableware production industry standards, clear industry access conditions, standardize a series of links from raw material production to final molding should be applicable standards, raw and auxiliary materials, additives use and production environmental health to make clear provisions, and establish a sound recovery system.

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