From the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992 to the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the basic framework for the global response to climate change has been established. Recently, carbon neutrality was written into the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for the first time: On July 1, 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the "14th Five-Year Plan for Circular Economy Development" (Development and Reform Environmental Capital (2021) No. 969). During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China's macro economy has entered a new stage of development, "based on the new development stage, implementing the new development concept, and building a new development pattern" will become the main keynote of the new development stage. High-quality development will become the main theme of the new development stage, and scientific and technological innovation and low-carbon green development will become the main driving force in the new development stage.

Under the trend of global carbon emission reduction, China's dual-carbon target demonstrates its responsibility as a major country. As an important part of the recycling field, recycled plastics have also attracted a lot of attention under the drive of the dual-carbon goal. It is imperative and arduous for China's economy to achieve low-carbon development. Recycling of renewable resources is one of the important paths of carbon emission reduction. At the same time, it has the synergistic benefits of pollutant emission reduction, which is undoubtedly an indispensable way to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality. How to make full use of the Chinese market in the new pattern of "double cycle", how to reasonably build the industrial chain and supply chain through the market, and how to cultivate the new advantages of global market competition in the new development pattern, which is a major historic opportunity for China's recycled plastics industry to fully understand and firmly grasp.

China is the world's largest developing country, currently in the rapid development stage of industrialization and urbanization, rapid economic growth, large demand for energy, coal-based energy system and high-carbon industrial structure, resulting in China's total carbon emission and intensity at a high level. Looking at the progress of dual-carbon implementation in developed economies, China faces a daunting task. From carbon peaking to carbon neutrality and net zero emissions, it will take about 60 years for the EU economies and 45 years for the US economies, while China will reach its carbon peak by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This means that China has to do in 30 years what developed economies have done in 60 years. The scale of the task is obvious.

Relevant data show that in 2020, China's annual output of plastic products 76.032 million tons, a decrease of 7.1% year on year, China is still the world's largest plastic producer and consumer, plastic waste has also caused a huge environmental impact. The rapid development of the plastic industry has also brought many problems. Waste plastics due to non-standard disposal, lack of effective recycling technology, long-term accumulation, causing serious environmental pollution. Addressing plastic waste pollution has become a global challenge, and major countries are taking measures, researching and developing solutions." The 14th Five-Year Plan also clearly states that, "reduce carbon emission intensity, support places where conditions permit to take the lead in peaking carbon emissions, formulate an action plan for peaking carbon emissions before 2030", "promote the reduction of fertilizers and pesticides and soil pollution control, and strengthen the control of white pollution". This is an arduous and urgent strategic task, and the recycled plastics industry has the responsibility to take the lead in breaking through.

The key problems in the prevention and control of plastic pollution in China are mainly that the ideological understanding is not in place and the awareness of prevention and control is weak; Regulations, standards and policies and measures are not adapted and imperfect; Plastic products market confusion lack of effective supervision; The application of degradable alternative products faces difficulties and constraints; Waste plastic recycling and utilization system is not sound.

Then, for the recycled plastics industry, how to achieve a double carbon circular economy is worth our discussion.

In the work of realizing the "double carbon" goal, first of all, we must clarify the responsibility boundary of emission reduction work. The first step is to implement the work of carbon emissions in the production process, and to make measurement means, unified standards and measurement methods scientific. Only on the basis of solid basic work, can we scientifically calculate the index of "carbon peak". In the basic work, can not only shout concepts, can not only shout slogans. In the process of establishing the "carbon peak" target, we must take into account the current situation of CO2 emissions, but also leave room for future development. Secondly, we need to accelerate the development and promotion of green technologies for CO2 emission reduction. The recycling industry must rely on advanced green technology and advanced process technology to achieve CO2 emission reduction. Especially in the industrial production chain, how to reduce CO2 emissions through green advanced technology, how to separate and capture CO2 in the production process, how to do a good job of CO2 transportation and storage, these need process technology and process means to solve. Thirdly, the difficulty of CO2 emission reduction is very great, and the difficulty of CO2 neutralization is even greater.

In addition, in the green transformation and development, plastic pollution control and plastic recycling should also make substantial breakthroughs. In the plastic pollution control and plastic recycling, we must earnestly grasp the four aspects of the work: first, research and development and search for plastic pollution control and plastic recycling advanced practical technology, from the plastic physical methods, chemical methods and degradable methods to screen out a number of advanced applicable, can be promoted and replicated technology; Second, in the selected technology, conscientiously organize a number of pilot and demonstration enterprises to promote; Third, on the basis of the pilot and demonstration, select some provinces and cities or large and medium-sized cities to carry out a wider range of promotion pilot; Fourth, it is necessary to work out a road map and policy measures and suggestions for nationwide promotion, and form effective ways and methods of plastic pollution control and plastic recycling with Chinese characteristics, technical levels and advanced management methods.

Finally, from the recycling end of the recycled plastics industry to the market demand end, we must do a good job of carbon reduction measures:

Recycling end: Accelerate the construction of recycled plastics recycling system, waste materials recycling network and household waste classification network "integration of the two networks", actively promote the "Internet + recycling" model, online and offline collaboration, and improve the integration ability of standardized recycling enterprises for individual operators. From the recycling port will expand the amount of recycling, in addition to the main body of recycling will be gradually standardized.

Supply side: improve the level of processing and utilization of renewable resources. Promote the large-scale, standardized and clean utilization of renewable resources, promote the cluster development of renewable resources industries, and build modern "urban mineral" bases at a high level. We will implement standardized management of waste plastics and other renewable resource recycling industries, improve industry standardization, and promote the concentration of resources to advantageous enterprises. We will accelerate the establishment of a system for promoting the use of recycled raw materials, expand the channels for the market application of recycled raw materials, and strengthen the ability of renewable resources to ensure the supply of strategic mineral resources. This also further clarified the recycled plastics industry to standardization, large-scale development ideas, in the processing and utilization of ports in the future is expected to tilt resources to high-quality enterprises, it can be foreseen that the future will gradually change the current recycled plastics industry "serious polarization, large-scale enterprises and small enterprises coexist, high-quality enterprises have a weak voice, lack of leading enterprises" status quo.

Demand side: Promote the high-quality development of the remanufacturing industry. Encourage enterprises to apply remanufactured products in the after-sales service system and fulfill the obligation of notification. Encourage further increasing the proportion of renewable resources replacing native resources. The proposal of this regulation for the use of recycled products is a major positive, will gradually reverse the past secretly add recycled materials, ashamed to admit that their products contain recycled materials. From being abandoned before to now being paid attention to, it is also attributed to the change in the purpose of use, which used to be the purpose of reducing costs, and now it is the goal of resource utilization and carbon reduction.

Special action for the control of the whole chain of plastic pollution: scientifically and reasonably promote the reduction of plastic and improve the recycling level of waste agricultural film. Strengthen the classification, recycling and recycling of plastic waste. We will strengthen policy interpretation, publicity and guidance to create a good social atmosphere. This is also a further emphasis on the 2020 Opinions on Further Strengthening the Control of Plastic Pollution.

To sum up, the development of circular economy is a broad and comprehensive systematic project, and the development of circular economy is a powerful starting point to achieve the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. To achieve the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality requires a fundamental change in the way products are produced and used. It is important to reduce the emissions from the production of products, also known as "process emissions". Waste plastics, as an indispensable part of the process, will be gradually guided by the "Plan" in all aspects of recycling, processing and utilization, and will be gradually guided by the "Plan" in all aspects of recycling, processing and utilization, which is an important guarantee for achieving the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. In the future, it will further make a non-negligible contribution to the development of circular economy, improve the use of resources, directly reduce the consumption of energy resources, and achieve the goal of double carbon.