Promoting the "green revolution" in express packaging

In recent years, China's express delivery business volume ranked first in the world, express packaging problems also bring some pressure on environmental protection. In 2020, the total amount of express packaging waste in China exceeded 10 million tonnes. In 2021, China's express delivery annual business volume for the first time exceeded 100 billion pieces, and express packaging waste will continue to increase. Further, promoting the greening of express packaging has become more urgent.

　　In the face of this situation, China's green governance of express packaging is also deepening. From the electronic express waybill to packaging reduction, from the promotion of recyclable packaging products to strengthen the recyclable express packaging infrastructure construction, etc., China's express packaging standardization, greening, and recycling level significantly improved, is actively exploring the scale to replace the traditional packaging path. 2020, the State Council General Office forwarded the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Postal Bureau, and other eight departments "on accelerating the promotion of express packaging green Opinions on Accelerating the Green Transformation of Express Packaging", put forward to promote the "green revolution" of express packaging, clear quantitative targets for the application of recyclable express packaging in 2022 and 2025. Not long ago, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, and the State Postal Bureau jointly issued a notice deciding to organize and carry out a pilot project from January 2022 to December 2023 for the application of recyclable express packaging on a large scale.

　　Achieving the large-scale application of recyclable express packaging is indeed a top priority. Reduced to the consumer scene will find that a huge number of courier recyclable packaging is difficult to find the figure, the active use of the business is still a minority. A survey report shows that 67.1% of consumers said they have not contacted the recyclable courier packaging, do not understand, and have not seen special recycling outlets, and some recyclable packaging or even discarded directly as domestic waste.

　　Around the packaging and how to "green up", the express delivery industry has explored a set of technical path. Only, whether it is recycling, or the use of environmentally friendly materials instead, there are cost issues that are not easy to overcome. According to statistics, if all switch to biodegradable plastic bags, and environmental tape, according to the 2020 business volume, the industry will increase the cost by 18.79 billion yuan, accounting for the national express delivery service enterprises' business income of about 2.1%. Some analysts believe that the use of courier recycling boxes for the time being, there is no cost advantage, but there are additional social costs: courier boys come and go in a hurry, the lack of time and willingness to undertake recycling tasks, the level of consumer awareness is different, the degree of cooperation is uneven.

　　Promote the green transformation of express packaging, the need for the whole chain of force, from all aspects of cost reduction and efficiency. For example, to guide the mail delivery enterprises around green packaging and other key areas to strengthen scientific and technological innovation, from the source to reduce costs; can also reduce the difficulty of recycling efforts, for example, the State Post Bureau is exploring the construction of mail express packaging recycling "reverse logistics" model. Should also strengthen policy guidance, green packaging production, green express logistics and distribution system construction, specialized intelligent recycling facilities construction, and other projects, in the funding, credit, bonds, and other aspects of support, to promote the reduction of packaging and green recycling of new models, new business development.

　　In addition, it is important to focus on stimulating public awareness of environmental protection, so that green consumption becomes a habit of life. Sometimes incentives are needed. A postal courier enterprise joint e-commerce platform to lay 13,000 new green recycling boxes, 2021 "double 11" period every day to prepare 500,000 fresh eggs, to participate in the courier box recycling consumers. It may also be worthwhile to awaken the value of recognition, for example, in the online shopping order, you can increase the option to pay for the use of green packaging, I believe that many consumers are willing to contribute to environmental protection.

　　We advocate a green lifestyle, which sometimes does not necessarily mean that the social cost of life is lower, but certainly more worthy of the pursuit of lifestyle. The green transformation of express packaging, the need to do a good job in the production, use, recycling, and disposal of the whole chain of governance, but also need a number of links between the business, industry, and even different cities, regions, coordination, and cooperation. This is not something that can be achieved easily and needs to be widely coalesced in social consensus. Every effort we make is not only to achieve a more responsible life but also to shape a better environment and build a beautiful China.