Not long ago, in order to increase the recycling rate of express packaging, the Cainiao Station on the Minhang campus of Shanghai Jiaotong University implemented the "Box Return Plan" on campus to recycle the express cartons and share them again, which was welcomed by teachers and students.

The picture shows on November 13, the sender (left) uses a recycling carton to help customers pack items that need express delivery.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fang Zhe

　　Wang Junling Sun Yajun                       

　　With the development of e-commerce and the upgrading of residents' consumption, the demand for commodity packaging continues to rise, and packaging styles are becoming more and more particular.

Many products have changed from unpackaged and bulk packaging in the past to exquisite packaging today, and to a certain extent, excessive packaging has also appeared.

　　Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the State Post Bureau jointly promoted the express packaging green product certification system, and jointly issued an announcement on the "Express Packaging Green Product Certification Catalog (First Batch)" and the "Express Packaging Green Product Certification Rules" to encourage merchants and consumers People use simplified packaging and green packaging.

Many consumers say that they care more about the product itself than the exquisite packaging.

Consumption upgrades should improve product quality, not packaging.

"Flashy" low cost performance

　　There is a good package for shopping, and the inside is decent.

However, over-packing may not necessarily make consumers feel good.

　　Liu Qian, a girl from Wuhan, once encountered "worries about packaging."

"A lot of express and takeaway packages are really exaggerated! I bought an electric toothbrush before. I thought it would be packed in a small box, but the courier sent a large box, which made me find it after looking for it for a long time. I opened it and saw that there was nothing more useful inside, it was all foam and other plastics, which pollutes the environment! Sometimes it’s the same with takeaways, and even a little bit of seasoning will be solemnly packed into a delicate one. In the box, it's really wasteful!" Liu Qian said with a sigh.

　　Liu Qian is not the only one who has encountered this kind of experience.

When Lin Nan, who works on the Internet in Beijing, orders fresh food, fruits and vegetables for takeaway, he often finds the packaging is “oversized”.

According to Lin Nan, many fresh food takeaways will be wrapped in plastic bags, ice packs, and silver thermal insulation bags, with a thicker plastic bag on the outer layer.

Fruit take-out packaging is even worse. A banana must be packed in a plastic bag first, and then covered with a sponge net cover.

　　“I pay more attention to environmental protection in my life. I have the habit of bringing my own bags when I go to the supermarket. I also like to reuse canvas bags and minimize the use of plastic bags. Whether it’s takeout or express delivery, I will give the store a copy of green packaging. Praise. Excessive packaging is not only low cost performance, but also makes me feel guilty of polluting the environment." Lin Nan said.

　　In addition to express delivery, excessive packaging is not uncommon in some offline supermarkets and shopping malls.

　　In a fresh food supermarket in Xizhimen, Beijing, the author saw that most of the fruits and vegetables are packaged, almost not in bulk, and there are even a lot of "luxury packaging": a bunch of raisins not only need to be packed in fresh-keeping bags, but wrapped Put on the sponge net cover and put it in a disposable plastic box; a 120g banana will be individually packaged in a special plastic bag; 60g corn kernels will be individually bagged; even a loofah and a cucumber They must be placed separately in a plastic preservation bag.

　　"The wool comes out of the sheep! We will not pay for the packaging costs in the end!" said Wang Lihua, a retired worker. When he went to the supermarket, he used to buy bulk fruits and vegetables. It was not only economical, but also a good choice.

Although "exquisite packaging" looks good, it is flashy, and the same things are a lot more expensive. Sometimes the packaging is too exquisite to cover up quality problems.

　　"Love Nest" made by JD Logistics using waste courier boxes.

These "love nests" can not only remind people to pay attention to the practicality of environmentally friendly packaging, but also reflect the care for stray animals.

Photo courtesy of Jingdong Group

Policy Guidance "Leave the End to the End"

　　Excessive packaging raises costs, and the resulting environmental problems cannot be ignored.

Relevant data show that China's express delivery business volume has ranked first in the world for 6 consecutive years. The express industry consumes more than 9 million tons of paper waste and 1.8 million tons of plastic waste each year, and it is showing a rapid growth trend.

　　In response to these problems, relevant departments have become more and more powerful in their policies and regulations.

　　According to Bo Yumin, deputy director of the Certification Supervision Department of the State Administration for Market Regulation, the first batch of green certification catalogs for express packaging prioritizes the selection of 10 products such as packaging boxes and tapes that are widely used in the express industry.

The express packaging products that have obtained green certification mean that they meet the characteristics of resource conservation, environmentally sound, and consumer-friendly characteristics.

For example, the use of natural, degradable or recyclable raw materials, strict control of the heavy metal content of the product, no pungent odor, can be recycled multiple times, tape uses less, and can be recycled.

　　"Take the common paper express packaging box as an example. The packaging box that has passed the green product certification must use recycled paper or recycled plant fiber as the basic material, and strictly control the content of metals such as lead and mercury. The product packaging uses buckles and zippers. Such design, less or no use of tape packaging, product smell meets the requirements of national and industry standards, using environmentally friendly water-based ink printing and the printing area does not exceed the specified proportion." Bo Yumin said.

　　Hou Yanbo, spokesperson of the State Post Bureau, said that the green governance of express packaging is related to packaging production companies, e-commerce companies, senders, delivery companies, recipients, recycling companies and other multi-party entities, involving the entire industry of packaging production, use, and recycling. The related governance of the chain and upstream and downstream aspects is a complex system engineering.

As of the end of August, the proportion of “slim tape” packaging nationwide has reached 94.3%, e-commerce express mail no longer has a secondary packaging rate of 68.5%, the use rate of recyclable transit bags has reached 87.2%, and 35,000 postal services equipped with standard packaging recycling boxes have been added. Express outlets.

In the future, the State Post Bureau will promote the green development of the packaging sector by actively carrying out policy publicity, actively guiding delivery companies to increase the proportion and application scale of green packaging, and strengthening supporting construction.

　　"Support the country's policy! Packaging is to protect the goods from damage, but also to look more beautiful, but excessive packaging is similar to'buying caskets and returning beads to the last'. Not only wastes wood resources, but also pollutes the environment. "Li Junwen, who is engaged in marketing, said.

Say no to "molloidal" packaging

　　It is worth noting that despite the escalating consumer demand, fewer and fewer people are willing to "buy" for excessive packaging.

　　"As a girl, I admit that I value the'appearance' of products. For example, when buying gifts and hardcover books, I will pick and choose. There are also some more expensive cosmetics and skin care products that are not packaged and will be shipped. It was damaged on the way. But I also want to emphasize that what I need is the “just right” packaging, not those “moll-shaped” packaging, one layer on the left, one layer on the right, one layer after another, and the original ordinary The goods are packed in wooden boxes, gold leaf, and glass, which is a bit changeable.” said Ren Tong, who works at a publishing house in Chongqing.

　　In the packaging field, many companies have also explored green development.

　　During this year's "Double 11" period, JD Logistics jointly launched a charity event called "Box for Home" with the theme of caring for stray animals in conjunction with pet brands such as Royal, Mars, McForti, Guanneng, and Bernardino. Consumers recycle express boxes.

During the event, consumers only need to cut and fold along the dotted line according to the copy guidelines on the express box, and then the carton can be easily transformed into an animal nest, which can be placed in the downstairs of the community, the corner of the city and other places where stray pets gather.

　　Liu Xuesong, the founder of Baopu Recycling, told the author that the problem of excessive packaging is to a certain extent that the product provider is too simple and one-sided to understand consumers' requirements for quality improvement.

Appropriate and practical packaging is an improvement, and excessive packaging will have a counterproductive effect.

How to reduce the impact of packaging materials on the environment must be considered in the process of achieving green development.

　　"Baopu Recycling is a brand that produces trendy products through the recycling and regeneration of waste beverage bottles. We hope to reduce the white pollution in the inventory and give the waste a second life. Based on'packaging reduction, reuse, recycling' Three principles, our products only retain the most basic packaging. The materials are mainly recycled paper and recycled polyester fiber, but the appearance is also exquisite and beautiful. For example, Baopu Recycled provides some of the solutions for chain coffee companies The discarded ice cups and beverage bottles in the store are recycled into gift bags and gift box silk scarves, which takes into account the commercial value and social benefits." Liu Xuesong said.

　　In Liu Xuesong's view, as time goes by, the number of people who "buy" for excessive packaging will decrease rapidly, and the aesthetic concept of "less is more" and "simplicity is advanced" will become more popular.

In the future, the government and influential companies, industry organizations and media should be brave enough to assume social responsibilities and advocate green consumption, green packaging, and green development.