焦点访谈｜让快递包装“瘦下去”“绿起来” 我们在行动

Core Insights - The express delivery industry in China has seen a significant increase in business volume, reaching 1750.8 billion packages last year, with the time to surpass 1 billion packages this year being 35 days earlier than last year [1] - The new revised "Express Delivery Interim Regulations" incorporates "green energy-saving" as a principle for the development of the express delivery industry, establishing goals for green, reduced, and recyclable packaging [1] Environmental Challenges - The rapid growth of the express delivery sector has led to substantial environmental challenges, particularly from packaging waste such as cardboard boxes, foam boxes, and plastic fillers [1][5] - China generates approximately 1.8 million tons of plastic waste annually, necessitating a transition to greener packaging solutions [5] Innovations in Packaging - New packaging technologies, such as the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) boxes, are being tested to maintain the freshness of perishable goods without the use of ice packs, thus addressing both cost and environmental concerns [3][5] - The new fresh-keeping boxes reduce volume by about 80% compared to traditional foam boxes and can be recycled after use [5] Cost and Adoption of Green Materials - The cost of biodegradable packaging materials is currently 2 to 3 times higher than traditional options, posing a challenge for widespread adoption [8] - The use of fully biodegradable adhesive tape has been implemented, achieving a 90% biodegradation rate, with over 100 million units used since 2021 [6] Recycling and Circular Economy - The utilization of reusable packaging is currently low, with daily usage rates below 1%, indicating significant potential for improvement [10] - Initiatives by China Post in cities like Haikou and Xuzhou are demonstrating successful closed-loop management of packaging through the use of reusable boxes for important documents [12] Regulatory Support and Industry Collaboration - The revised regulations encourage technological innovation and the use of new materials that meet environmental standards, promoting the development of green packaging solutions [5][14] - Companies are increasingly focusing on optimizing packaging design and processes to reduce material usage, with significant cost savings reported from these efforts [16] Future Outlook - The express delivery industry is expected to continue its shift towards greener practices, with a projected 95% of e-commerce packages avoiding secondary packaging by the end of 2024 [18] - A collaborative effort among government, enterprises, and consumers is essential to create a closed-loop system for packaging recycling and to foster a sustainable environment [18]