How to "slim down" and how to "green up"

- Survey on packaging recycling in the postal express delivery industry

Reporters Zhu Junbi and Feng Qiyu

On June 21, the State Post Bureau released the latest statistics. During this year's "618" event (June 1-20), China's postal express delivery industry collected more than 6.59 billion express parcels, a year-on-year increase of 24.24%. Data show that as of June 1 this year, China's express delivery business volume has exceeded 40 billion pieces.

Behind the rapid growth of express delivery business volume is the more urgent need to "slim down" express packaging and green transformation. As express packaging becomes more "green", how should express delivery companies and consumers deal with these things about packaging?

From the "Maban Mail Route" to drone delivery, from manual sorting to robot automatic sorting...In recent years, China's postal express delivery industry has increased in both quantity and quality, and has achieved the world's first place with an average annual industry growth rate of 50%. Real-time monitoring data from the State Post Bureau shows that China's express delivery business volume is expected to exceed 95 billion pieces in 2021. While growing rapidly, the industry's demand for green packaging has intensified. This year's "Government Work Report" pointed out that it is necessary to "promote the green transformation of express packaging."

Making express packaging "thinner" and "greener" and promoting packaging reduction, greening and recycling are becoming a common call from all walks of life. The "Measures for the Administration of Mail and Express Packaging" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures"), which was officially implemented not long ago, have made corresponding provisions in terms of packaging materials, usage, and punishment measures.

As packaging becomes more "green", how can the problem of express packaging recycling be solved? Will the packaging costs of express companies increase significantly? How should consumers cooperate? Economic Daily reporters will take you to find out.

Exploring "recyclable"

"Please inform the recipient in advance that this is a recyclable express box. Please assist the outlet in recycling when picking up the package." The courier at the Xibahe YTO Express outlet in Chaoyang District, Beijing, reminded Ms. Qian who was mailing the express while packing.

Today, this recyclable packaging box of different specifications has become the preferred packaging material for major express companies to promote green packaging. Its biggest feature is that it does not require glue, nails, tape and other materials during the packaging process, and it can be folded into a flat cardboard when the packaging box is recycled through a special buckle seal, which is very convenient.

"Compared with ordinary packaging boxes, this type of packaging box has a higher cost per box, but it can be recycled many times to prevent waste and pollution." Li Changxiang, head of the outlet service of the YTO Hainan Provincial Network Management Department, told reporters that this new type of packaging box has been promoted and used in Hainan in early 2019. Not only that, during the transit process, YTO's Hainan regional outlets also use recycled transit bags instead of woven bags, the sealing tape is getting thinner and thinner, and green recycling devices for recycling express packaging are installed. Among them, the Haidian Island outlet in Haikou City is a green outlet specially opened by YTO, hoping to promote the recycling of express packaging from point to surface.

The number of express orders has increased rapidly, and a large amount of "express garbage" has been born. The reporter visited many express company outlets in Beijing, and many couriers said that excessive packaging is the main cause of the generation of "express garbage". In addition to cartons and plastic bags, a large amount of plastic foam used to fill fragile objects, tapes used for fixing, and express documents are all the "masterminds" who have led to the excessive increase in packaging materials. Moreover, most of these excessive packaging materials are difficult to degrade, which seriously increases the environmental burden.

"At present, electronic waybills have been popularized in the express delivery industry. In addition, paper itself can be degraded, so the "pollution" is mostly directed at plastic bags and tapes - which are also the "culprits" that hinder the recycling of cartons." Zhu Lei, dean of the Qingdao Research Institute of Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication and head of the National Express Industry Green Development Industry-University-Research Collaborative Innovation Demonstration Base, told reporters, "Express delivery garbage" has increased the pressure on the environment. At present, the amount of garbage recycling in each city is basically close to saturation."

It can be seen that the use of environmentally friendly packaging materials has become an inevitable trend in the express delivery industry. "In the past year, we have continuously reduced the waste of express packaging and promoted the reduction and recycling of packaging." Zhang Jindong, chairman of Suning Holdings Group, said recently that at present, Suning Logistics China's electronic waybills have basically achieved full coverage, and the use of shared express boxes has accumulated more than 100 million times. Fresh recycling boxes have been used regularly in 45 cities, saving more than 50,000 foam boxes every day.

The "Specifications for the Use and Evaluation of Green Packaging for Express Delivery (Draft for Comments)" issued by the Beijing Municipal Market Supervision Bureau proposes that Beijing will promote the use of recyclable express packaging such as recycling boxes in intra-city express delivery, and the proportion of use by 2025 will not be less than 10% of the intra-city express delivery business volume; and specifically stipulates the size of express packaging, requiring that the empty box rate of express packaging should not exceed 20%.

The use of environmentally friendly packaging materials is an effective way to achieve green packaging, but compared with ordinary packaging materials, its price is obviously higher. The reporter learned that the cost of tape-free express cartons is two to three times or even more than that of ordinary express cartons; the market price of degradable plastic packaging products is usually about 1.5 times that of ordinary plastic packaging products.

Although the "green" packaging has increased the cost, the reporter learned from some companies and consumers that at present, the express delivery fees of most express delivery companies have not fluctuated. Some express company outlets staff also said that customers can choose express packaging bags or recyclable packaging boxes when mailing express, and there will be corresponding discounts on prices.

Recycling is a problem

"Some customers will remind us to put more fillers in the outer packaging box to prevent the goods from being damaged." Jin Guohua, a courier from the Fulicheng Service Department in Chaoyang District, Beijing, Yunda Express, told reporters that when packing, he would follow the company's regulations not to overuse packaging materials, but when the user takes out the goods, the boxes and other packaging materials are basically not recyclable and can only be thrown away.

At present, most express packaging is thrown away by users as recyclable garbage. SF Express courier Xiao Zhao found that "high-value" packaging such as cartons is easier to recycle, but "low-value" packaging such as foam and film that are difficult to handle is in a dilemma of no one recycling.

In the future, can express delivery companies be responsible for recycling express packaging? The "Specifications for the Use and Evaluation of Express Green Packaging (Draft for Comments)" proposes that delivery companies should take measures to recycle and dispose of express packaging. Among them, express delivery companies should classify and store scrapped recyclable packaging according to types such as paper, plastic, textiles, metal, and others, and sign disposal agreements with qualified recycling agencies according to different types.

In addition, express delivery companies should inform end consumers of the recycling channels for express packaging through official websites, WeChat public accounts, outlets, or printing on packaging, and configure packaging waste recycling devices according to actual needs and recycling effects; they should also guide consumers to return packaging to recycling points through incentive mechanisms such as mailing discounts, point feedback, and green credit.

In this regard, some express delivery companies stated that due to the imperfect express packaging recycling system, it is difficult to promote the establishment of a recycling system solely relying on corporate strength. First, there are many types and specifications of recycled express packaging boxes. Classification and recycling will consume a lot of manpower and material resources, affecting the recycling efficiency of express packaging. Secondly, there are still few packaging boxes that are collected and stored at express delivery companies. In addition, the packaging is severely damaged when consumers disassemble the items, making it difficult to reuse them at express delivery points.

Zhang Jindong suggested that the construction of green logistics should be guaranteed from the two levels of laws and regulations and the public processing system to maximize economic and social benefits. On the one hand, the construction of the green logistics system should be promoted through the mandatory laws and regulations, so as to build a recycling system and reduce the operating costs of green logistics; on the other hand, the experience of the construction of the garbage classification and recycling system should be learned to promote the formation of a public packaging waste recycling and treatment system, so as to reduce the packaging costs of enterprises and accelerate the pace of green logistics construction.

"Green logistics is a systematic and long-term work. It cannot rely on individuals and enterprises alone, and requires the full participation of the whole society." Zhang Jindong said.

Wan Yuyang, deputy general manager of network management of YTO Hainan Province, also admitted that there are still some difficulties in promoting the actual work of green packaging. For example, it is difficult to purchase green packaging such as fully biodegradable; the end users' lack of understanding and support for related work has led to difficulties in recycling recyclable packaging boxes. "In the next step, we hope to solve the problem of recycling difficulties in recyclable packaging through technology, such as setting up chips in the box to achieve traceability and recycling." Wan Yuyang said.

Technology empowers

If express packaging has an intelligent "brain", it can be manually controlled from application to circulation and loss, which is believed to be very helpful for promoting green packaging. Today, this technology is no longer "paper talk". According to Tian Minya, vice president of Deppon Express Group, Deppon Express established a packaging research and development department as early as 2018. Combining modern technologies such as big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, it carried out technical research and development on packaging reduction and recyclable products, and used the power of science and technology to put on "green" clothes for express delivery.

A recycling transit bag and recycling express box can realize the effective sharing of recycling packaging and give full play to the value of each express packaging by implanting a chip and establishing a tracking system. With this system, Deppon Express can manage the application, circulation, allocation, maintenance and loss of transit bags and express boxes, thereby converting disposable consumables into recycled assets.

Industry insiders believe that popularizing recyclable products or reducing repeated packaging through technological means and improving the efficiency of packaging materials will become the main way for express delivery companies to cope with the rising cost of packaging materials.

"Using technological means, we have reduced the thickness of general packaging bags from 7 microns to 5 microns. As of the end of 2020, nearly 200,000 bags have been put into use, directly reducing plastic consumption by 1,324 tons." Tian Minya said that while the company is working hard to promote green packaging and taking measures such as packaging reduction, recycling, and degradable materials, it continues to inject scientific and technological power to improve resource utilization.

In addition, Deppon Express also invests 1.5% to 2% of its total operating income in scientific and technological research and development each year to accelerate the construction of a smart logistics system, achieve energy conservation and emission reduction in the process of corporate operations, and empower the green development of express delivery.

High-tech empowerment of the postal express industry is not only reflected in express delivery companies, but also upstream suppliers need technological innovation. Mao Ruilong, head of Qinghai Hengnaite Packaging Technology Co., Ltd., told reporters that with the continuous advancement of green packaging for express delivery, paper packaging has been widely recognized by the public, not only for its use value, but also for its recycling and reuse value. "As a paper packaging manufacturer, we are actively developing new products in both outer packaging and transport packaging. For example, micro-fine corrugated paper boxes, honeycomb paperboard, etc., try to manufacture reusable and recyclable packaging materials to help the green development of the express delivery industry." Mao Ruilong said.

Mechanism promotes synergy

A product will have a package when it leaves the factory, and the seller may also package it when shipping it to the buyer. Each entity usually only focuses on its own needs and ignores the impact of express packaging on the environment. "Express packaging looks simple, but it actually involves multiple market entities and requires cooperation from all ends of the industrial chain." Wen Xiangcai, researcher and deputy chief engineer of the China National Environmental Monitoring Center, told reporters.

Sellers are concerned about how to reduce costs, users hope that items can be delivered safely, and couriers are concerned about delivering as many items as possible in one go... "We hope to find a balance between different entities and different demands, which is not only conducive to the conservation of the whole society, but also practical." Wen Xiangcai said, "To truly achieve the green development of express packaging, it requires the coordination of various means such as policies, technologies, and social management."

To this end, relevant experts suggested that green policies and regulations that are both mandatory and encouraging should be introduced, mandatory standards for the quality and use of packaging materials should be formulated, an express revolving fund system should be established, and public green awareness should be improved through various supervision channels.

"From a policy perspective, it is not easy to issue an industry standard, but only by formulating a relevant standard system to regulate express packaging materials and their use as soon as possible can we establish a good market environment and allow businesses to find their way in the market competition." Wen Xiangcai believes that many express delivery companies want to take the path of green development, but lack financial support. "Affected by the epidemic, online shopping is increasing, and the express packaging industry is developing faster and faster. It is recommended to establish an express recycling fund system to provide support for the research and development and promotion of green packaging technology."

At present, many express delivery companies have launched initiatives such as recyclable express boxes and shared recycling boxes, which have achieved initial results, but have little impact on the management of express waste. The reason is that some experts believe that the problem of express waste cannot be seen only from express logistics companies, but should be combined with the "three-in-one" of packaging production companies, e-commerce platforms and merchants to work together to truly achieve the optimization, upgrading, reduction and recycling of express packaging.

For example, express packaging suppliers should use their creativity to produce recyclable and more environmentally friendly packaging materials; e-commerce platforms and merchants with the largest express business volume should avoid secondary packaging as much as possible while ensuring the safety of goods.

Duan Huabo, a circular economy expert at the Chinese Society of Environmental Sciences, also believes that the environmental protection of express packaging cannot only focus on express companies, but e-commerce companies must also join the "green ranks".

"It is understood that more than 80% of express parcels come from e-commerce. The packaging materials for such mail are generally provided by e-commerce companies themselves, and express delivery companies only provide delivery services. However, there is currently a lack of green packaging requirements for e-commerce sales of goods, which also limits the promotion and use of green packaging."

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