Initiate law enforcement inspections in key areas such as shopping malls and supermarkets by the end of August
Increased efforts in plastic pollution control (policy interpretation)
By the end of this year--
●Prohibit the production and sale of disposable foamed plastic tableware and disposable plastic cotton swabs
●Prohibit the production of daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads
●The catering industry prohibits the use of non-degradable disposable plastic straws
The National Development and Reform Commission and other nine departments recently issued the "Notice on Solidly Promoting Plastic Pollution Control" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice") to make arrangements for further improving plastic pollution control, especially the completion of the phased goals and tasks at the end of 2020. Before the end of August, various localities initiated special law enforcement inspections on the promotion of plastic bans and restrictions in key areas such as shopping malls, supermarkets, bazaars, and catering industries.
To do a good job in plastic pollution control, what are the phased goals and tasks at the end of 2020? What opportunities and challenges will it bring to plastics, packaging and other industries? The reporter interviewed relevant experts.
Many disposable plastic products are banned at the end of the year
In January this year, the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Treatment of Plastic Pollution" was issued and implemented. Zhang Deyuan, an associate researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission’s Macroeconomic Research Institute, believes that compared with the 2007 policy, the “new plastic restriction order” has established a policy system covering the entire life cycle of plastic product production, circulation, consumption and end-of-life disposal, opening up China’s plastic pollution A new journey of governance.
Looking at the supply side first, according to the "New Plastic Restriction Order", the production and sale of ultra-thin plastic shopping bags with a thickness of less than 0.025 mm and polyethylene agricultural mulch film with a thickness of less than 0.01 mm are prohibited. It is forbidden to use medical waste as raw materials to manufacture plastic products. The import of waste plastics is completely prohibited. By the end of this year, the production and sale of disposable foamed plastic tableware and disposable plastic cotton swabs are prohibited; the production of daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads is prohibited.
Looking at the consumer side, by the end of this year, shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores and other places in urban built-up areas in municipalities, provincial capitals, and cities under separate planning, as well as food and beverage delivery services and various exhibition activities, are prohibited from using non-degradable plastic bags. The market regulates and restricts the use of non-degradable plastic bags; the catering industry nationwide prohibits the use of non-degradable disposable plastic straws; catering services in built-up areas and scenic spots in cities above the prefecture level prohibit the use of non-degradable disposable plastic tableware.
In order to implement the "new version of the plastic restriction order", nine departments have issued the "Notice" and announced the detailed standards for the restriction management.
On the one hand, the policy has maintained its continuity, re-emphasizing varieties that have been explicitly prohibited by previous policies. For example, ultra-thin plastic shopping bags with a thickness of less than 0.025 mm and agricultural mulch films with a thickness of less than 0.01 mm have long been banned by relevant national regulations and mandatory standards. Disposable foamed plastic tableware has also been included in the "Industrial Structure Adjustment Guidance Catalogue" (2019 edition) to eliminate products.
On the other hand, the policy has strengthened the operability and specifically defined the restricted scope of some varieties. For example, it is clear that "daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads" mainly refers to some shower gels, cleansers, scrubs, shampoos and other rinse-off cosmetics, toothpaste, tooth powder, and specifies the size of plastic microbeads. Resident cosmetics with prohibited conditions have not been included in the scope of prohibition. Another example is "non-degradable plastic bags", which do not include plastic pre-packaged bags, roll bags, fresh-keeping bags, etc. for bulk fresh food, cooked food, pasta, etc.; and prohibited scenarios are restricted to shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores, and restaurants Packaged take-out services, exhibition activities, etc., do not cover other usage scenarios for the time being.
"The detailed standards fully take into account the actual industry and production and supply conditions, increase operability, and ensure the steady progress of policies." said Zhang Lijun, vice president of the China Federation of Commerce.
Set up exemption scenarios and provide a buffer period
Plastic pollution control must not only enhance the sense of urgency and responsibility, but also consider practical feasibility and achieve scientific management.
The "Notice" requires that all localities issue provincial-level implementation plans before mid-August, detailed and decomposed tasks, and layered responsibilities; supervise provincial capital cities, cities separately listed in the plan, cities above the prefecture level, etc., in combination with local reality, focusing on the phased end of 2020 Goals, analyze and evaluate key and difficult issues in various fields, study and put forward concrete measures that are feasible and effective, and ensure that the goals and tasks are completed on schedule.
Fully consider the differences, the "Notice" does not implement "one size fits all". Professor Wen Zongguo of the School of Environment of Tsinghua University believes that the "Notice" fully takes into account the differences between regions and industries, provides differentiated control routes, conforms to the basic national conditions and the principle of adapting measures to local conditions, and gradually implements comprehensive governance measures.
Taking non-degradable plastic bags as an example, by the end of 2020, shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores and other places in urban built-up areas in municipalities, provincial capitals, and cities under separate planning, as well as food and beverage take-out services and various exhibition activities are "prohibited." The bazaar is "regulated and restricted use." By the end of 2022, the scope of the "ban" will be expanded to all built-up areas in cities above the prefecture level and built-up areas in coastal counties.
Fully considering the feasibility, the "Notice" also set exemption scenarios. For example, disposable plastic swabs do not include related medical devices; during the response to major public emergencies, disposable plastic products used for emergency protection, material distribution, and catering services in specific areas can be exempted from banned use. "Exemption of special needs for specific scenarios and major public emergencies will provide a buffer period for changes in the production methods of enterprises and consumer consumption habits," said Wen Zongguo.
The "Notice" clarified that the supervision and inspection of the prohibition of the production and sale of plastic products should be strengthened, the supervision and management of the prohibition and restriction of plastics in retail and catering and other fields should be strengthened, the management of agricultural films should be promoted, the collection and disposal of plastic waste should be regulated, and the special cleaning of plastic waste should be carried out. The key areas require vigorous implementation.
"Variety with low reuse value or difficult to be classified and used is the main source of plastic pollution and the key to plastic pollution control. The "Notice" firmly grasps the risky varieties and focuses on promotion." Zhang Deyuan analysis, thickness Non-degradable agricultural mulch film of less than 0.01 mm is torn apart after use, which is very difficult to recycle. Accumulation over the years will bring harm to the quality of cultivated land.
Another example is the disposable non-degradable plastic knives, forks, spoons and straws, which are easily mixed into the kitchen waste, which brings difficulties to the subsequent resource disposal and utilization of the kitchen waste anaerobic fermentation.
Alternative product capacity can meet consumer demand
Zhang Lijun introduced that retail companies have begun to take positive actions for the "new plastic restriction order" and have formed a number of practical alternatives. Many supermarkets can provide consumers with non-woven eco-friendly shopping bags, and some bookstores have used simple kraft paper packages instead of shopping bags and have received good results. In order to reduce the use of disposable plastic straws, some catering companies have transformed the lids of cold drink cups and replaced the "straw + cup lid" combination with a cup lid with a drinking spout.
According to estimates, the annual consumption of three types of plastic products, including disposable plastic shopping bags, disposable straws, and disposable cutlery, is about 300,000 tons. The raw materials for alternatives such as bamboo and wood are sufficient, and the annual supply of biodegradable plastics is about 400,000 tons. "Alternative product capacity can meet consumer demand." Zhang Lijun said. Recently, relevant industry associations have been actively organizing alternative product manufacturers and catering and retail companies to carry out supply and demand docking, and promote plastic reduction and substitution in key areas.
Recyclable packaging, tape-free cartons, slimming tape, fully biodegradable bags... e-commerce and express companies have implemented the "new version of the plastic restriction order" and come up with a coup. Zhao Kai, vice chairman and secretary-general of the China Circular Economy Association, introduced that plastic pollution control also forces companies to continuously explore new products and new models. Companies are starting green construction from warehousing, packaging, transportation, and terminal distribution.
"With the implementation of relevant detailed requirements, it will force upstream and downstream partners to collaborate to build a green supply chain." Zhao Kai said.
Plastic pollution control is a systematic project. While doing a good job in reducing the amount at the source, relevant departments and industry associations are simultaneously promoting the ecological design of plastic products, strengthening the recycling and disposal of plastic waste, strengthening comprehensive management, and promoting the construction of plastic pollution control. Long-term mechanism.
Our reporter Lu Yanan