Shanghai plans to reduce packaging waste

Shanghai will guide the e-commerce, express delivery and online food industries to develop plans for recycling packaging, according to a regulation passed by the city's legislative body on Wednesday.

The Shanghai Regulation on the Construction of a Zero-Waste City, to come into effect on June 5, said such materials account for a large proportion of domestic waste.

A megacity of more than 24.8 million permanent residents, Shanghai has a particularly urgent need to build a zero-waste city due to its high density and limited environmental capacity.

A zero-waste city does not refer to one with zero solid waste discharge, but one adopting an urban development model that minimizes the amount of waste disposal and reduces the environmental impact of waste by promoting the reduction and utilization of waste to achieve green and low-carbon development.

The regulation said that e-commerce and delivery businesses can cooperate with convenience stores, residential neighborhoods and schools to set up sites and facilities for recyclable packaging. They will also be supported to use their sales and distribution networks to carry out recycling services.

"Parcels sent from e-commerce platforms are encouraged to be delivered in their original packaging — without any additional bags, boxes and sealing tapes — throughout the transport process. Products sold online and their packages for delivery are encouraged to be integrated," the regulation said.

"Logistics providers are encouraged to use low-weight, high-strength express packaging cartons, adhesive-free cartons and recyclable distribution boxes to reduce the amount of filler."

The regulation also called for higher standards in the production, consumption and circulation of packaging materials.

For example, it required promoting green product design, controlling the generation of total industrial solid waste, a recycling face-lift for industrial parks, developing ecological recycling agriculture, developing green consumption, encouraging zero food waste at home and restaurants, and facilitating the recycling of secondhand items.

The regulation also restricted the production, sale and use of disposable plastic products, such as nondegradable plastic bags, advocated beverage operators offer discounts to customers using their own cups, and stipulated that hotel operators should provide refillable toiletries.