China News Service, December 14, according to the Chinese government website, recently, the General Office of the State Council forwarded the "Opinions on Accelerating the Green Transformation of Express Packaging" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions") jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and other eight departments. The "Opinions" put forward the goal of green transformation of express packaging. By 2025, e-commerce express parcels will basically no longer be repackaged, and the scale of recyclable express packaging applications will reach 10 million.

The main goals proposed in the "Opinions" are as follows: By 2022, the legal and regulatory system in the field of express packaging will be further improved, and an incentive and constraint mechanism for express packaging governance will be basically formed; formulate and implement mandatory national standards for harmless express packaging materials, and comprehensively establish a unified, standardized and binding express green packaging standard system; e-commerce and express standardized management is generally promoted, the proportion of e-commerce express parcels no longer repackaged reaches 85%, the scale of recyclable express packaging applications reaches 7 million, and the level of standardization, greening and recycling of express packaging is significantly improved.

By 2025, a legal, standard and policy system that is compatible with the green concept will be fully established in the field of express packaging, forming a long-term governance mechanism that runs through the entire chain of express packaging production, use, recycling and disposal; e-commerce express parcels will basically no longer be repackaged, and the scale of recyclable express packaging applications will reach 10 million. New models and new formats of packaging reduction and green recycling have made significant progress, and express packaging has basically achieved green transformation.

The "Opinion" clearly states that the express packaging standards should be upgraded and improved. The mandatory national standards related to the harmlessness of express packaging materials should be formulated as soon as possible to enhance the binding force of the standards. Standards in key areas such as recyclable express packaging, integrated packaging of products and express delivery, qualified packaging procurement management, and green packaging certification should be established and improved. Research and formulate standards for the identification of degradable materials and packaging products, further improve the standards for degradable express packaging, and accelerate the implementation of express packaging green product certification and degradable packaging product identification system. Open up a green channel and improve the efficiency of standard formulation and revision.

The "Opinion" requires the promotion of source reduction of express packaging materials. Strengthen the control of plastic pollution in the express delivery sector, promote key areas to gradually stop using non-degradable plastic packaging bags and disposable plastic woven bags, and reduce the use of non-degradable plastic tapes. Promote the full coverage of electronic waybills in China's express delivery business, and significantly increase the application ratio of recyclable transit bags (boxes), standardized pallets, and container unit equipment. Promote the use of low-weight and high-strength express packaging cartons and glue-free cartons. Encourage the reduction of filler use through packaging structure optimization.

The "Opinion" proposes to improve the standardization level of express packaging products. Unify the specifications, dimensions, physical and safety and environmental protection performance of express envelopes, cartons, packaging bags, etc., promote the standardization, serialization and modularization of express packaging products, improve the matching degree with the delivery objects, prevent the use of large boxes for small ones, and reduce random packaging. E-commerce and express delivery companies are completely prohibited from using inferior packaging bags with excessive heavy metal content, solvent residues, etc., and the use of fillers made of toxic and harmful materials is prohibited; the people's governments of areas with prominent problems of illegal production and use should carry out special rectification of toxic and harmful inferior express packaging production companies, and e-commerce and express delivery companies that use them illegally.

The Opinions require that the secondary packaging of e-commerce express parcels be reduced. E-commerce and express delivery companies should strengthen the upstream and downstream collaboration with commodity production companies, and design and apply e-commerce commodity packaging that meets the needs of express logistics and distribution. A batch of commodity categories should be selected to promote the original direct delivery of e-commerce express parcels, promote the integration of products and express packaging, and reduce the secondary packaging of e-commerce commodities in the delivery link.

The Opinions propose to strictly regulate express delivery operations. Improve the sorting, delivery workflow and packaging operation specifications of the terminal outlets in the express delivery industry. Promote express delivery companies to improve internal rules and regulations, establish a work system and management ledger for express packaging governance, incorporate relevant express packaging specifications into the on-the-job training of practitioners, and improve the business skills of couriers. Support express delivery companies to promote intelligent and intensive operation methods. Include irregular sorting, delivery, packaging operations and other behaviors in the express delivery industry spot check list, promote the solution of passive excessive packaging problems, open up public complaint and reporting channels, and standardize the "last mile" of express delivery.

The Opinions clearly state that the management of express delivery collection and delivery should be improved. Promote express delivery companies to include requirements such as packaging reduction and greening in the collection service agreement, and strengthen guidance for e-commerce and other agreement users. Promote express delivery companies to further standardize the management of bulk collection and delivery, and guide users to use qualified packaging products. Encourage e-commerce and express delivery companies to provide consumers with green packaging products in online retail and express delivery, and guide consumers to use them through points incentives and other means.

The "Opinion" proposes to promote recyclable packaging products. In e-commerce and express delivery business, based on relevant application scenarios and product types, organize public solicitation, design competitions, etc. to select and promote a batch of new technologies and new products for express packaging reduction and recycling. Encourage the promotion and application of recyclable and foldable express packaging, recyclable delivery boxes, and reusable refrigerated express boxes in the same-city fresh food delivery and chain supermarket bulk logistics, and reduce the use of disposable plastic foam boxes.

The "Opinion" mentioned that a new model of recyclable express packaging should be cultivated. E-commerce platforms are encouraged to select certain types of goods and set up special areas for recyclable packaging goods; express delivery companies and third-party institutions are supported to expand the use of recyclable express packaging through various models such as credit pledge, overdue deductions, and reinvestment refunds. E-commerce and express delivery companies are encouraged to cooperate with commercial institutions, convenience stores, property service companies, etc. to set up agreement recycling points for recyclable express packaging, put in recycling facilities for recyclable express packaging, and enrich recycling methods and channels. Promote the unified coding and specification standardization of recyclable express packaging, establish and improve the transportation management system with upstream and downstream connections and mutual recognition between platforms, and effectively reduce operating costs. It is encouraged to carry out the joint construction and operation of recyclable express packaging and recycling facilities through equity cooperation, third-party operation, etc.

The "Opinions" require strengthening the construction of infrastructure for recyclable express packaging. The people's governments of all cities should plan and build a number of express delivery terminals and recyclable express packaging recycling facilities in communities, universities, business centers and other places in conjunction with the construction of smart cities and smart communities; support the construction of express delivery terminals and recyclable express packaging recycling facilities during urban renewal, renovation and upgrading of existing housing, and renovation of old urban communities; break the policy barriers to the entry of relevant facilities into communities and public places, and implement support policies such as guaranteeing land for facilities and reducing or exempting facility site occupation fees. Select a number of cities with conditions to carry out pilot demonstrations of large-scale application of recyclable express packaging.

The "Opinions" require strengthening the recycling of express packaging. Encourage express delivery outlets in campuses, communities and other places to carry out centralized recycling of express packaging cartons and moderately increase the reuse ratio. Promote green design of express packaging materials and products, encourage the use of single-material materials for packaging of products of the same category, reduce the use of materials and packaging designs that are difficult to classify and recycle, and improve the recyclability of express packaging. Encourage the development of new formats of "Internet + Recycling" and promote the standardized and clean recycling of recyclable materials in express packaging waste.

The "Opinions" clearly state that the classified placement and removal and disposal of express packaging waste should be standardized. Promote cities that have implemented household waste classification to reasonably set up classified collection facilities in residential areas, commercial and office places, standardize residents' classified disposal behavior, and ensure that express packaging waste is cleared and transported in time. Promote the classified disposal of express packaging waste, increase the proportion of resource and energy utilization, strengthen the operation and management of waste incineration power generation enterprises, and ensure that pollutants are stably discharged in compliance with standards. Reduce the landfill proportion of express packaging waste.

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