China issues new rules to reduce use of single-use plastics

According to news from the Ministry of Commerce of China on the 16th, China will reduce the use of disposable plastic products in the fields of commodity retail, e-commerce, catering, accommodation, and exhibitions. According to the "Administrative Measures for Business Operators Using and Reporting Disposable Plastic Products" jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform Commission recently, in the future, we will encourage the reduction of the use of disposable plastic products, scientifically and steadily promote the application of alternative products, and guide the public to actively participate in plastic pollution. governance. The official clarifies that operators in commercial fields such as commodity retail, e-commerce, catering, accommodation, and exhibitions should abide by the state's regulations on prohibiting and restricting the use of non-degradable plastic bags and other disposable plastic products. For example, commodity retail operators should provide consumers with paid plastic shopping bags, and reduce the use of disposable plastic products by setting up alternative product sales devices, providing shopping baskets, and renting shopping carts. E-commerce operators should give priority to the use of reusable and easy-to-recycle packaging, and promote the direct delivery of e-commerce express mail. E-commerce platforms should formulate platform rules to encourage operators on the platform to reduce the use of disposable plastic products in express packaging and take-out links. Catering operators, when providing take-out or take-out services, should reasonably choose alternative products or compliant disposable plastic products. The above-mentioned measures also require that the operators of commodity retail establishments, e-commerce platform companies, and takeaway companies report to the local county-level commercial authorities every six months about the use of disposable plastic products such as plastic shopping bags, express delivery plastic packaging, and disposable plastic tableware. Recycling situation. The person in charge of the Circulation Industry Development Department of the Ministry of Commerce of China stated that if plastic products are not properly disposed of during use, they will cause "white pollution" and have a serious impact on natural resources and the ecological environment. The new regulation is a specific action to reduce the use of traditional plastics and jointly promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, and green expansion. It is of great significance for enhancing the green alternative supply of plastic products and cultivating the concept of green consumption.