State Post Bureau: Phasing Out Non-Degradable Plastic Packaging Bags in Key Regions

"Since the reform of the postal system, the express delivery business has developed rapidly, and daily business volume has already broken through the 300 million item mark." On October 22, answering a question from Tan Lin, a member of the Environment and Resources Protection Committee of the National People's Congress, about express delivery and food delivery packaging waste, Ma Junsheng, Director of the State Post Bureau, said that the express delivery industry has played a positive role in reducing circulation costs, serving production and life, supporting e-commerce and expanding employment. At the same time, its development approach is still rather extensive, and in particular express packaging waste keeps increasing, drawing strong public reaction, with a considerable gap remaining versus the requirements of the Party Central Committee and the expectations of the people.

Ma Junsheng said the State Post Bureau will earnestly implement the provisions of laws such as the Solid Waste Law and the E-Commerce Law, adhere to a people-centred approach, implement the new development philosophy, and step up efforts in five areas to further strengthen the green governance of express packaging:

First, focus on summarizing effective practices and step up efforts in "consolidation." In response to the main problems in express packaging, over the past three years the State Post Bureau has adopted targeted governance measures and achieved phased results in promoting electronic waybills, slimmer packing tape, recyclable transit bags and standardized packaging operations. Next it will summarize effective practices, achieve full coverage of electronic waybills, recyclable transit bags and slimmer tape as soon as possible, strengthen the treatment of plastic pollution in the industry, and gradually stop using non-degradable plastic packaging bags and disposable plastic woven bags in key areas.

Second, focus on optimizing express packaging and step up efforts in "reduction." Strengthen coordination with upstream industries such as manufacturing and e-commerce, advance the integration of product packaging, sales packaging and express packaging, and substantially reduce secondary packaging. Promote the use of low-grammage, high-strength packaging and tape-free cartons, and reduce fillers through optimized packaging structures. Keep advancing reduction and strengthen the treatment of excessive and arbitrary packaging.

Third, focus on innovating application models and step up efforts in "recycling." Vigorously advance the construction of terminal recycling facilities for express packaging and continuously raise the reuse ratio of intact discarded cartons. Actively promote recyclable packaging, giving priority to easy-to-fold, easy-to-collect, reusable cartons in same-city, fresh produce and warehouse distribution business areas. Together with relevant departments, carry out pilot programmes for the large-scale application of recyclable packaging, cultivate circular models and increase application scale.

Fourth, focus on fulfilling statutory duties and step up efforts in "supervision." Supervision and law enforcement must be intensified, a "double random, one public" supervision approach implemented, regular fact-finding surveys conducted, and all kinds of illegal and non-compliant acts involving express packaging seriously investigated and punished. Promote green certification, carry out assessments and evaluations, incorporate express packaging violations into industry credit management, and push delivery enterprises to fulfil their primary responsibility for pollution prevention and control.

Fifth, focus on building a co-governance system and step up efforts in "coordination." Improve the system of laws, standards and policies compatible with green concepts, strengthen coordination with relevant departments and localities, and form a joint force of concerted management. Advance the organic connection of industry, academia, research and application, and promote innovation in express packaging products, technologies and models. Strengthen publicity and guidance and build a social governance system for express packaging in which everyone has responsibility and everyone fulfils it.

——This article is reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-378511.html