In recent years, after every consumption node, the explosive increase of express packaging waste brings heavy pressure to the environment. After Shanghai, as one of the 46 pilot cities of waste classification in China, Beijing has started to establish waste classification demonstration areas with streets as units since 2017. The “green” of express logistics industry has attracted social attention. At present, there are some measures worthy of reference in packaging, distribution, recycling and other links, but the challenge is still arduous.
From “double 11” to “double 12”, the consumption node formed by the network promotion period continues to prove the strong purchasing power of Chinese consumers and refresh the business volume of express delivery. According to the statistics of the State Post Office, from November 11 to 16, a total of 2.31 billion mail (fast) pieces were processed during the “double 11” period, with a year-on-year growth of 22.7%. It is estimated that the volume of express business will reach 63.2 billion pieces in 2019. However, when the online shopping industry is immersed in a consumption feast, we need to pay attention to the environment along with it.
Data shows that when the National Express business volume was only 40.06 billion in 2017, the express waste had reached 8 million tons. With the growth of express business volume in recent two years, express waste also rises with the tide. In real life, the garbage bins of office buildings and communities are full of express packaging, and even the surrounding area is also full of express garbage. Many people see this scene, all of them lament the waste of resources.
Before the “double 11”, many express companies announced the green recycling measures. Jingdong Logistics carton recycling activities have previously covered 12 key cities, including beishangguangshen, and expanded to the whole country. Yuantong has placed more than 7500 recycling boxes in some key cities. However, the promotion effect of green express delivery is not so ideal. In the “double 11” express delivery, green packaging can be seen sporadically, and many online shoppers said they never received it.
It is reported that the main reason why green packaging recycling is cold is the increase of enterprise cost, unreasonable setting of some recycling sites, and low consumer cooperation. In addition, recyclable packaging is not popular with couriers because of its relatively troublesome delivery, which reduces the efficiency of distribution.
The head of SF express said that to establish the distribution, recycling and scrapping system of circular packaging, more research and development, especially management costs, should be invested, and at the same time, the delivery habits of couriers need to be changed.
Needless to say, the task of “green” express packaging is quite arduous. If the express industry can not be standardized and orderly, it is difficult for businesses to say no to excessive packaging. It is gratifying that consensus has been formed and actions are being carried out to break the barriers of interest and build a green express delivery system.
According to Beijing post administration, 1453 express outlets in Beijing have set up packaging waste recycling devices. Relevant departments and enterprises will also explore the establishment of a multi-party collaborative recycling system for packaging producers, users and consumers, promote the improvement of e-mail express packaging waste into the social resource classification and recycling system, form a closed-loop management of the whole life cycle of packaging, and explore the promotion of a shared use platform for packaging materials.
In addition, according to the implementation opinions on promoting the green development of Beijing Post Industry issued by Beijing post administration, in order to promote the green transportation, Beijing will promote the application of new energy, clean energy vehicles and fuel vehicles that meet the national VI emission standard, promote the elimination of old and high emission vehicles, and complete the elimination and update of heavy diesel trucks according to the national III emission standard this year. By 2020, post and urban express vehicles (less than 4.5 tons) will be electric vehicles.
In order to speed up the “green” of express packaging, more corresponding mandatory or incentive policies are needed. Ni Yao, deputy director of International Cooperation Department of China Environmental Protection Federation, believes that environmental protection standards for packaging in the express industry need to be formulated and implemented urgently. We can refer to the experience of the construction industry, make clear the quality standards that concrete recycling needs to reach and the proportion used in the project, and force relevant aspects to put into practice.
In addition, to enable platforms and enterprises to fulfill their environmental responsibility in express packaging, it is necessary to clearly define how much responsibility they should take, which may need to be promoted through legislation and other ways. On this issue, there is another kind of advanced international experience that can be used for reference.
“Let the enterprise speak for itself, the effect is better.” According to experts in the industry, the U.S. legislation requires relevant enterprises to disclose information and refine it to the specific types and amounts of harmful and toxic chemicals used in the production and processing process. This has a strong restraining effect. Many enterprises are worried about the loss of consumers after the release of “formula”, so they have to adopt safer and environmentally friendly raw materials and processes. Similar experience can also be applied to the field of express packaging, so that they can regularly disclose the number of packages consumed and the suppliers, raw materials, quality, safety, environmental impact and other evaluation reports of these packages for a period of time, so that the whole society can know their “contribution” in energy consumption, waste increment and other aspects, and let public opinion force enterprises to take the initiative.
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