16 December 2025 | 4:11PM HKT Equity Research CHINA BASIC MATERIALS MONITOR December 2025: signs of bottoming in bulk, while high metal prices not destructive Summary: End-user orderbooks trend was mostly inline with past seasonality as of mid of December, with appliances, solar, selected construction and machinery on the weaker end. On commodities, demand for copper and paper packaging was weaker, while others mostly on track. Responses of end users to the rising copper and aluminum prices can be seen in t ...

Core Insights - The UK online fashion industry is lagging behind in reducing plastic usage, with 76% of consumers still receiving orders wrapped in plastic, despite the success of the plastic bag levy on high streets [1][2][4] - There is a significant consumer demand for change, with 38% of shoppers considering plastic packaging unnecessary and 69% supporting the replacement of plastic with paper packaging [2][10] - The rise in e-commerce has led to an increase in plastic bag usage, with projections indicating nearly 7 billion plastic bags will be used for UK deliveries by 2030 [3][4] Consumer Sentiment - A majority of consumers (64%) express concern over the increasing use of plastic bags, indicating a disconnect between shopping habits and existing legislation [11] - Only 4% of consumers believe that plastic packaging is always essential, highlighting a strong preference for alternatives [2][10] Environmental Impact - The UK is projected to see over 1 billion plastic bags ending up in landfills or being incinerated annually by 2030 due to the growth of e-commerce [4] - Less than 10% of e-commerce bags are reused or recycled, with over 90% ending up in landfills or incineration [3][4] Industry Response - Companies like DS Smith are actively working to replace plastic with recyclable alternatives, having replaced 1.7 billion pieces of plastic since 2020 [6] - There is a call for legislative changes to address the gap in regulations concerning online deliveries, which currently do not fall under the plastic bag levy [5][7] Future Directions - The industry is encouraged to innovate and explore alternative materials to reduce reliance on plastics, with a focus on sustainability [6][8] - Stakeholders, including consumers, researchers, and policymakers, are urged to collaborate in creating a more sustainable future free from excessive plastic use [9][10]