How far is green express delivery? (Zhuanzhigai¡¤Frontline investigation)

Double 12 is approaching, and the consumption "feast" is re-enacted. However, in China's express delivery industry, the actual recycling rate of cardboard and plastic is less than 10%. The green packaging that various parties have "tested the waters" has once again attracted attention. The reporter launched an investigation.

E-commerce "tests the waters" of green packaging, but the scope of implementation is limited, accounting for only 1%

The "2017 China Express Green Packaging Development Status and Trend Report" released by the State Post Bureau shows that in 2016, China's express delivery consumed about 3.2 billion woven bags, 14.7 billion plastic bags, 3.7 billion packaging boxes and 330 million rolls of tape. The corrugated paper consumed in just one year reached 46 million tons, equivalent to 72 million trees.

Excessive packaging of express delivery, environmentally unfriendly materials of express delivery boxes, and unsmooth recycling channels are the direct causes of express delivery packaging waste. Shao Zhonglin, former deputy secretary-general of the China Express Association and founder of Yiyong Think Tank, believes that "we should actively change our thinking from the supply side and explore green express delivery models that are environmentally friendly and energy-saving."

For this reason, many e-commerce companies have begun to "test the waters" for green packaging. Suning launched the "Shared Express Box" campaign in April 2017, which uses recyclable packaging boxes instead of cartons in the final delivery link; JD Logistics launched the environmental protection action "Qingliu Plan", which is expected to reduce the use of disposable packaging cartons in the supply chain by 10 billion by 2020, and achieve 100% of logistics packaging using renewable or recyclable materials; this year's "Double 11", Cainiao opened 20 global green warehouses to biodegrade express packaging, and simultaneously launched a carton recycling plan in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other places.

Green packaging has not yet become mainstream. According to Cainiao Network's forecast, 99% of express packaging will become garbage, and still need to be handled by consumers, cleaners and waste recycling personnel, either incinerated or landfilled.

Focus on recycling process design, personnel layout and express box allocation

Ms. Qi, who lives in Xuanwu District, Nanjing, recently received Suning's "shared express box". "The express box is very beautiful, looks clean and tidy, and the delivery and pick-up are in one step. But when receiving the package, it must be delivered in person to the courier, which is more troublesome."

Ms. Qi's troubles are not an isolated case. Yang Shuang, the person in charge of Suning Logistics' shared express box project, said that the "shared express box" is Suning's new attempt at green packaging, but there are indeed many problems in the actual implementation process: some users reported that if the express is sent to the company, it is inconvenient to take the goods home after the express box is recycled; the "shared express box" requires face-to-face recycling, and sometimes the courier cannot be seen. "These problems have added difficulties to the recycling and circulation of express boxes."

The State Post Bureau and ten other departments recently jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Collaboratively Promoting Green Packaging in the Express Industry", proposing that in 2020, the use of transit boxes, cage trucks and other equipment will be promoted, the use of woven bags and tapes will be further reduced, and a special express packaging recycling system will be basically established.

"It is difficult to implement the recycling of express boxes, mainly because the recycling process design is not perfect." Shao Zhonglin believes that the logistics of e-commerce belongs to forward logistics, and the goods are delivered to consumers through e-commerce-express company-distribution center-delivery point-express brother in sequence. Reverse logistics is required to realize the recycling cycle of express boxes. Due to the complexity of designing reverse logistics processes, personnel layout and network deployment of express boxes increase the difficulty of enterprises' work, and implementation becomes difficult.

In response to the construction of recycling systems, some companies have stated that they have begun to try to explore reverse logistics. Duan Yanjian, the person in charge of the green packaging project of JD Logistics, said, "For self-operated businesses, JD Logistics has penetrated into the entire process of warehousing, sorting and distribution, which is convenient for establishing a reverse logistics system."

"In order to achieve the operability of express box recycling, it is also necessary to consider various aspects such as the material selection of the express box, the effective perception of the box body and the matching of the box body." Huang Weidong, dean of the School of Management of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, introduced that the selection of strong and light materials, the exploration of easy-to-clean and adjustable box management mode, and the design of diverse standard packaging can achieve the requirements of multiple cycles, cleanliness and safety, and delivery safety of express boxes.

The initial promotion cost is high, and it is necessary to take the market-oriented path and the whole industry will work together

The "Guiding Opinions on Collaboratively Promoting Green Packaging in the Express Industry" also proposed that the application ratio of degradable green packaging materials will reach 50% in 2020, and the packaging materials with excessive special substances such as heavy metals will be basically eliminated. The use rate of electronic waybills will reach more than 90%, and the average number of express packaging consumables per piece will be reduced by more than 10%.

In this regard, many express delivery companies said that cost is an issue that cannot be avoided. The 2017 China Express Green Packaging Development Status and Trend Report states that in the questionnaire survey of express delivery company headquarters and grassroots outlets, more than 95% of the respondents said that the cost pressure of environmentally friendly packaging is unbearable. Among the e-commerce sellers who accepted the questionnaire survey, more than 64% of the respondents also believed that the key to promoting green express packaging is to reduce costs. To solve the cost problem, Shao Zhonglin believes that the promotion of green express packaging can try to take the market-oriented path, introduce third-party companies to professionally recycle and share express boxes; or advertise on express boxes to attract social capital investment; or design standard shared express boxes suitable for the entire industry to give full play to the advantages of the entire industry to reduce the cost investment of individual logistics companies in promoting green packaging.

"The initial investment in degradable green packaging bags is costly, and many companies are unwilling to invest on a large scale. In fact, in the long run, as the number of courier boxes increases, the cost will decrease." Shi Pengfei, deputy general manager of the general office of Suning North China Beijing Logistics Company, said that, for example, Suning's courier boxes can be recycled more than 1,000 times, which can save about one 10-year-old tree. "If the e-commerce industry joins the shared courier box plan, nearly 46.3 trees in Xiaoxing'anling can be saved in a year."

Shao Zhonglin believes that China's green logistics development is currently in the exploratory stage, and the research and development of green packaging materials and the shared recycling model of courier boxes need further exploration. At the same time, this also requires the participation of all people and joint response. "Whether it is packaging waste recycling or green logistics promotion, policy guidance and support play an indispensable role." Clear industry norms should be established, environmental protection material rating requirements should be refined, and compulsory measures and restrictive measures should be taken when necessary to accelerate the arrival of the green express delivery industry.

In addition to improving social environmental awareness, consumers should also be encouraged to change their concepts. Duan Yanjian said that JD.com has currently put 5,000 green eco-friendly bags into trial use, and will put 1 million bags into use next year. "In order to encourage consumers who support green environmental protection, we will offer rewards. For example, if a certain number of green eco-friendly bags are selected when placing an order on JD.com, we will give consumers some small gifts."

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