Core Viewpoint - The rapid growth of e-commerce in China has led to a significant increase in express delivery volumes, reaching 1,750.8 billion packages in 2024, a year-on-year growth of 21.5%. However, this surge has resulted in substantial amounts of packaging waste, highlighting challenges in recycling efforts despite some progress driven by policy initiatives [1]. Group 1: Current Challenges - The existing recycling incentive mechanisms lack attractiveness for consumers, leading to low participation rates. For instance, a company offered a 10 yuan coupon for recycling, but the complex process deterred consumers [1]. - High costs associated with sorting, cleaning, and reprocessing packaging materials pose a significant barrier for companies. One express delivery company estimated that the cost of recycling a single cardboard box is as high as 1.2 yuan, resulting in some firms resorting to "fake recycling" to control expenses [1]. - There is a notable disparity in the availability of recycling points, with many being open only during weekdays, conflicting with the schedules of working individuals. Additionally, rural areas and older neighborhoods lack adequate recycling facilities compared to urban communities [1]. Group 2: Recommendations for Improvement - To enhance recycling participation, a dual incentive mechanism of "immediate rewards + social incentives" is proposed. This includes offering 0.5 yuan for each compliant cardboard box recycled and linking recycling actions to benefits in public transport and community services, thereby creating a social credit asset for environmentally friendly behavior [2]. - The establishment of "smart+" recycling networks is recommended, including the installation of intelligent recycling bins in community areas and subway stations to facilitate participation. Additionally, promoting a "reverse logistics" model where delivery personnel collect old packaging during new deliveries can improve recycling efficiency [3]. - Environmental education should be integrated into school curricula to foster ecological awareness among youth. Companies are encouraged to adopt practices similar to JD's "Green Flow Plan," embedding environmental prompts throughout the shopping process to subtly influence consumer behavior [3]. - A clear framework for corporate recycling responsibilities should be established, including annual recycling rate targets to enhance accountability. A comprehensive recycling responsibility-sharing mechanism across the entire supply chain is suggested, alongside increased policy support to encourage community and property involvement in recycling initiatives [3].

Core Viewpoint - The express delivery industry in the country is projected to handle 175 billion packages in 2024, marking a 21.5% year-on-year growth, maintaining its position as the world's largest market for 11 consecutive years. However, this increase in package volume raises concerns about environmental impact and the need for effective packaging governance [1]. Group 1: Current State of Express Delivery Packaging - The new revised "Interim Regulations on Express Delivery" has been implemented, specifically addressing express packaging in a dedicated chapter, initiating comprehensive governance of the packaging chain [1][11]. - Significant progress has been made in addressing packaging issues, including the use of environmentally friendly materials, reduction of packaging materials, and the establishment of a preliminary standard system [5][7]. Group 2: Challenges in Packaging Governance - Key challenges remain in defining responsibilities among stakeholders in the supply chain, including manufacturers, e-commerce platforms, delivery companies, and consumers, complicating the governance of green packaging [7]. - The cost of green packaging is currently higher, and there are concerns regarding the increased costs of recycling and potential efficiency losses [7]. Group 3: End-of-Chain Recycling Issues - The ideal closed-loop recycling system faces significant challenges, particularly in last-mile delivery scenarios where delivery personnel cannot wait for consumers to unpack and return packaging [9]. - Consumer privacy concerns and the lack of convenient recycling infrastructure further complicate the effective recovery of packaging materials [9]. Group 4: Regulatory Measures and Penalties - A series of national standards related to express packaging have been introduced, including mandatory standards to limit excessive packaging and recommendations for reusable packaging [11]. - In Zhejiang province, over 20 administrative penalties related to environmental packaging were issued last year, with violations primarily concerning failure to inform users about packaging requirements and inadequate training for staff [11][13]. - The revised regulations impose fines ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 yuan for non-compliance, emphasizing the need for express companies to enhance training and compliance efforts [13].

Core Viewpoint - The revised "Express Delivery Interim Regulations" effective from June 1 primarily address issues related to excessive packaging in express delivery, highlighting the need for improved packaging standards and practices in the industry [1][5][13]. Packaging Issues - Many e-commerce merchants excessively package products to avoid negative reviews, with up to 80% of complaints related to packaging issues [3][5]. - A survey indicates that 64.7% of consumers find excessive tape usage bothersome, and 45% complain about the number of packaging layers, likening it to "Russian nesting dolls" [3][5]. Regulatory Standards - New national standards aimed at limiting excessive packaging for food and cosmetics will be enforced starting in September 2023 and April 2024, respectively [5][14]. - These standards specify that certain products, such as mooncakes and zongzi, should not exceed three layers of packaging [5][14]. Industry Practices - Some merchants exploit loopholes in packaging regulations by using non-counted materials like ties and padding to create the illusion of fewer layers [6][8]. - The use of "functional packaging" that does not count towards the total packaging layers is also a common practice among merchants [8]. Environmental Impact - In major cities like Beijing, express delivery packaging contributes to 90% of the new household waste, with only 10% of packaging materials being recycled [11][12]. - The daily recyclable waste from express packaging in Beijing is around 50 tons, indicating a significant environmental burden [12]. Solutions and Innovations - The revised regulations aim to optimize packaging structures to reduce the use of fillers, with examples showing a potential 14% reduction in material usage while maintaining product safety [13][14]. - Companies like JD Logistics have reported substantial savings in raw materials and carbon emissions through innovative packaging designs [13][14]. Policy Framework - The revised regulations include requirements for express delivery companies to report the use and recycling of single-use plastic products, aligning with broader plastic pollution control measures [15].

Core Insights - The express delivery volume in China has exceeded 50 billion packages in the first four months of this year, reaching this milestone 18 days earlier than in 2024, with an expected total of 1.75 trillion packages for the year, maintaining its position as the world's largest express delivery market for 11 consecutive years [1] - The rapid growth of the express delivery industry has led to a significant increase in packaging usage and waste, raising environmental concerns that cannot be overlooked [1] - The revised "Express Delivery Interim Regulations," effective from June 1, introduces a dedicated chapter on "express packaging," emphasizing the need for green, reduced, and recyclable packaging, and clarifying the responsibilities of all stakeholders in the supply chain [1] Industry Developments - The express delivery sector is increasingly adopting green practices, with over 95% of e-commerce packages no longer requiring secondary packaging by the end of 2024, and smart packing technologies reducing packaging material usage by 20% [2] - Innovations in packaging materials, such as the use of recycled corrugated paper and narrower adhesive tape, contribute to a more environmentally friendly delivery process [2] - Despite these advancements, consumer perception of green packaging remains low, with few having encountered green packaging options, highlighting a gap between intention and actual implementation [2] Challenges and Solutions - Over-packaging is often used by merchants as a safeguard against product damage and return costs, while express companies face cost constraints related to the development and management of recyclable packaging [3] - A comprehensive transformation across the entire production, distribution, and consumption chain is necessary to achieve sustainable packaging solutions, requiring collaboration and breaking down existing barriers [3] - Recommendations include enhancing policies to incentivize green packaging through tax benefits, developing a robust recycling system, and implementing consumer engagement strategies to promote the use of recyclable packaging [3] Future Outlook - The implementation of the revised regulations is seen as a catalyst for fostering greater consensus and driving a green transformation in the express delivery industry, contributing to sustainable economic development [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the efforts of Zhejiang Province in promoting green packaging in the express delivery industry, showcasing initiatives like the recycling of cardboard boxes and the use of biodegradable materials to reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact [1][2][3][4] Group 1: Recycling Initiatives - Zhejiang University has implemented a "Box Return Plan," where 90% of the cardboard used for shipping by students comes from recycled materials [1] - In 2024, the express delivery industry in Zhejiang achieved the reuse of 92.13 million old cardboard boxes, marking a 12.59% increase from the previous year [1] Group 2: Green Packaging Strategies - The express delivery sector is shifting towards green packaging to address the significant carbon emissions associated with traditional packaging, which totaled 23.96 million tons of CO2 equivalent in 2020 [2] - The "Original Direct Shipping" method, which uses original factory packaging, is expected to help JD reduce over 1 billion secondary packages in 2024, with 95.83% of e-commerce packages in Zhejiang avoiding secondary packaging [2] Group 3: Material Reduction and Innovation - Companies are reducing the thickness of cardboard and the width of tape, with many now using tape that is 45mm or less and switching from 5-layer to 3-layer boxes, resulting in a significant reduction of 13,352 tons of plastic tape by JD in recent years [3] - In 2024, Zhejiang's delivery companies procured 420 million certified green packaging products and used 438 million biodegradable plastic bags [3] Group 4: Challenges and Future Directions - Despite progress, challenges remain, such as the high cost of green packaging and the need for greater consumer awareness and habit changes [4] - Future efforts will focus on enhancing inter-departmental collaboration, improving recycling systems, and increasing public education to further advance carbon reduction and environmental sustainability in packaging [4]