Investigation on recycling of express packaging: how to "slim down" and how to "green up"
On June 21st, the State Post Bureau released the latest statistics. During this year’s "June 18th" activities (June 1st — 20), the national postal express delivery industry collected more than 6.59 billion pieces of express mail, a year-on-year increase of 24.24%. According to statistics, as of June 1 this year, China’s express delivery business has exceeded 40 billion pieces.
Behind the rapid growth of express delivery business is the "slimming" and green transformation of express delivery packaging that has become more urgent. With the increasing green meaning of express packaging, how should express companies and consumers deal with these things about packaging?
From "Maban Post Road" to UAV Express Delivery, from manual sorting to robot automatic sorting … … In recent years, the quality and quantity of China’s postal express delivery industry have risen, ranking first in the world with an average annual growth rate of 50%. According to the real-time monitoring data of the State Post Bureau, it is estimated that the express delivery business in China will exceed 95 billion pieces in 2021. At the same time, the rapid growth has intensified the industry’s demand for green packaging. This year’s "Government Work Report" pointed out that it is necessary to "promote the green transformation of express packaging".
Making express packaging "thinner" and "greener" and promoting packaging reduction, greening and recycling are becoming the common voice of all walks of life — — The "Measures for the Administration of Mail Express Packaging" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures"), which was formally implemented not long ago, has made corresponding provisions in terms of packaging materials, usage and punishment measures.
With the more green packaging, how to solve the problem of express packaging recycling? Will the packaging cost of express delivery enterprises increase significantly? How should consumers cooperate? The Economic Daily reporter takes you to find out.
Exploring "Recyclable"
"Please inform the recipient in advance, this is a recyclable express box, please assist the outlets in recycling when picking up the pieces." The courier brother of the Xibahe Yuantong Express outlet in Chaoyang District, Beijing, while packing, reminded Ms. Qian who mailed the courier.
Nowadays, this kind of recyclable packing box with different specifications has become the first choice for major express delivery companies to promote green packaging. Its biggest feature is that the packaging link does not need glue, nails, adhesive tape and other materials, and the packaging box can be folded into flat cardboard through special buckle sealing, which is very convenient.
"Compared with ordinary packing boxes, this kind of packing box has higher single cost, but it can be recycled many times to prevent waste and pollution." Li Changxiang, the head of the network service of Yuantong Hainan Provincial Network Management Department, told the reporter that this new type of packaging box has been promoted and used in Hainan in early 2019. Moreover, in the process of transshipment, the outlets in Yuantong Hainan area also use circulating transfer bags instead of woven bags, and the sealing tape is becoming thinner and thinner, and a green recycling device for recycling express packaging is equipped. Among them, Haidian Island outlet in Haikou City is a green outlet specially opened by Yuantong, hoping to promote the recycling of express packaging.
The volume of express delivery has increased rapidly, and a large number of "express delivery garbage" has accompanied it. The reporter visited a number of express delivery company outlets in Beijing, and many couriers said that over-packaging was the main reason for the "express delivery garbage". In addition to cartons and plastic bags, a large number of plastic foams used to fill fragile objects, adhesive tapes used for fixing and express delivery documents are all "masterminds" that lead to excessive increase in packaging materials. Moreover, most of these over-packaged materials are difficult to degrade, which seriously increases the environmental burden.
"At present, the electronic waybill has been popularized in the express delivery industry, and the paper itself can be degraded, so ‘ Pollution ’ Most of them point to plastic bags and tape — — This is also an obstacle to the recycling of cartons ‘ The culprit ’ 。” Lei Zhu, dean of Qingdao Research Institute of Beijing Institute of Printing and head of Industry-University-Research Collaborative Innovation Demonstration Base for Green Development of National Express Industry, told the reporter, "‘ Express garbage ’ And the environmental bearing pressure is increased. At present, the amount of garbage collected in each city is basically close to saturation. "
It can be seen that the use of environmentally friendly packaging materials has become an inevitable trend in the express delivery industry. "In the past year, we have continuously reduced the waste of express packaging and promoted the reduction and recycling of packaging." Zhang Jindong, chairman of Suning Holding Group, said recently that at present, Suning Logistics has basically achieved full coverage of the national electronic waybill, and the shared express box has been put into use for more than 100 million times. Fresh-keeping recycling boxes have been used normally in 45 cities, saving more than 50,000 foam boxes every day.
The Specification for the Use and Evaluation of Express Green Packaging (Draft for Comment) issued by Beijing Municipal Market Supervision Bureau proposes that Beijing will promote the use of recyclable express packaging such as recycling boxes in express delivery in the same city, and the use ratio will not be lower than 10% of the express delivery business in the same city by 2025; In particular, the size of express packaging is clearly defined, requiring that the empty container rate of express packaging should not exceed 20%.
Using environmental protection packaging material is an effective way to realize green packaging, but compared with ordinary packaging material, its price is obviously higher. The reporter learned that the cost of tape-free express cartons is two or three times or more higher than that of ordinary express cartons; The market price of degradable plastic packaging products is usually about 1.5 times that of ordinary plastic packaging products.
Although the "green" packaging has raised the cost, the reporter learned from some enterprises and consumers that at present, the express delivery costs of most express delivery companies have not fluctuated. Some courier company outlets staff also said that customers can choose express packaging bags or recyclable packaging boxes for mailing express delivery, and there will be corresponding discounts on prices.
Recycling is a difficult problem
"Some customers will tell us when sending the mail, and put more fillers in the outer packaging box to prevent the goods from being damaged." Jin Guohua, the courier brother of Yunda Express Service Department of Fulicheng, Chaoyang District, told the reporter that when packing, he would not use the packaging materials excessively according to the company’s regulations, but when the user took out the goods, the boxes and other packaging materials could not be recycled basically and could only be discarded.
At present, most express packages are thrown away by users as recyclable garbage. Xiao Zhao, a SF Express courier, found that "high-value" packages such as cartons are easy to enter the cycle, but "low-value" packages such as foam and film that are difficult to handle are difficult to recycle.
In the future, can express packaging be recycled by express delivery companies? The Code for the Use and Evaluation of Express Green Packaging (Draft for Comment) proposes that delivery enterprises should take measures to recycle express packaging. Among them, the delivery enterprise should classify and store the scrapped recyclable packaging according to the types of paper, plastic, textile, metal and others, and sign a disposal agreement with a qualified recycling agency according to different types.
In addition, the delivery enterprise should inform the end consumers of the recycling channels of express packaging through official website, WeChat WeChat official account, outlets or printing on the packaging, and configure the packaging waste recycling device according to the actual demand and recycling effect; Consumers should also be guided to return the packaging to the recycling point through incentive mechanisms such as sending discounts, integral feedback and green credit.
In this regard, some express delivery companies said that because the express packaging recycling system is not perfect, it is difficult to rely solely on the strength of enterprises to promote the establishment of the recycling system. First of all, there are many kinds of recycled express packaging boxes with different specifications, and classified recycling will consume a lot of manpower and material resources, which will affect the recycling efficiency of express packaging. Secondly, at present, there are still few packaging boxes that are recycled to the storage point of express delivery enterprises, and the packaging is seriously damaged when consumers disassemble the parts, so it is difficult to reuse them at express delivery points.
Zhang Jindong suggested that laws and regulations and public handling system should be linked to ensure the construction of green logistics and maximize economic and social benefits. On the one hand, the construction of green logistics system is forced by laws and regulations, so as to build a circular system and reduce the operating cost of green logistics; On the other hand, we should learn from the experience in the construction of waste sorting, recycling and treatment system to promote the formation of public packaging waste recycling and treatment system, so as to reduce the packaging cost of enterprises and accelerate the pace of green logistics construction.
"Green logistics is a systematic and long-term work. It cannot be done by individuals and enterprises alone, and it requires the full participation of the whole society." Zhang Jindong said.
Wan Yuyang, deputy general manager of Yuantong Hainan Provincial Network Management, also admitted that there are still some problems in promoting the actual work of green packaging. For example, it is difficult to purchase green packaging such as full biodegradation; The lack of understanding and support of end users for related work makes it difficult to recycle recyclable packaging boxes. "Next, we hope to solve the problem of difficult recycling through technology, such as setting chips in the box to achieve traceability and recycling." Wan Yuyang said.
Technology to empower
If express packaging has a "brain" of wisdom, it can be artificially controlled from application to circulation and loss, which is believed to be very helpful for promoting green packaging. Today, this technology is no longer an "armchair strategist". According to Tian Minya, vice president of Debon Express Group, Debon Express set up a packaging R&D department as early as 2018, combining modern technologies such as big data, cloud computing, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence to carry out technical research and development on packaging reduction and recyclable products, and put "green" clothes on express delivery with the help of scientific and technological strength.
A circulating transfer bag and a circulating express box can realize the effective sharing of circulating packages and give full play to the value of each express package by implanting chips and establishing a tracking system. With this system, Debon Express can manage the application, circulation, allocation, maintenance and loss of transit bags and express boxes, thus transforming disposable consumables into recycled assets.
The insiders believe that popularizing recyclable products or reducing repeated packaging and improving the efficiency of packaging materials through scientific and technological means will become the main ways for express delivery companies to cope with the rising cost of packaging materials.
"Using scientific and technological means, we have reduced the thickness of general packaging bags from 7 microns to 5 microns. By the end of 2020, nearly 200,000 bags have been put into use, directly reducing the plastic consumption by 1,324 tons." Tian Minya said that while the company is striving to promote green packaging and taking measures such as packaging reduction, recycling and degradable materials, it is constantly injecting scientific and technological strength to improve resource utilization.
In addition, Debon Express also invests 1.5% to 2% of the total operating income in scientific research and development every year, accelerating the improvement of the smart logistics system, realizing energy conservation and emission reduction in the operation process of enterprises, and empowering the green development of express delivery.
High-tech empowerment of postal express delivery industry is not only reflected in express delivery enterprises, but also upstream suppliers need technological innovation. Mao Ruilong, the person in charge of Qinghai Hengnaite Packaging Technology Co., Ltd. told the reporter that with the continuous promotion of express green packaging, paper packaging is widely recognized by the public, which not only has use value, but also recycling value. "As a paper packing manufacturer, we are actively developing new products in outer packaging and transportation packaging. For example, micro-corrugated boxes, honeycomb cardboard, etc., make reusable and easy-to-recycle packaging as much as possible to help the green development of the express delivery industry. " Mao Ruilong said.
Mechanism promoting force
A product will be packaged when it leaves the factory, and the seller may also package it when it is delivered to the buyer. Each subject usually only pays attention to his own needs, ignoring the impact of express packaging on the environment. "Express packaging looks simple and actually involves multiple market players, which requires cooperation from all ends of the industrial chain." Wen Xiangcai, researcher and deputy chief engineer of China National Environmental Monitoring Center, told the reporter.
Sellers pay attention to how to reduce costs, users want things to be delivered safely, and courier brother pays attention to delivering as much as possible at a time … … "We hope to find a balance between different subjects and different demands, which is not only beneficial to the saving of the whole society, but also operable." Wen Xiangcai said, "To truly realize the green development of express packaging, we need a variety of means such as policy, technology and social management to cooperate."
Therefore, relevant experts suggest that green policies and regulations should be introduced, mandatory standards for packaging material quality and usage norms should be formulated, and a revolving fund system for express delivery should be established to raise public awareness of green through various supervision channels.
"From a policy point of view, it is not easy to introduce an industry standard, but only by formulating the relevant standard system for regulating express packaging materials and use as soon as possible can we establish a good market environment and let merchants find their way in market competition." Wen Xiangcai believes that many express delivery companies want to take a green development path, but they lack financial support. "Affected by the epidemic, online shopping is increasing, and the express packaging industry is developing faster and faster. It is recommended to establish a courier revolving fund system to support the research and development and promotion of green packaging technology. "
At present, a number of express delivery companies have launched recycling express boxes and shared recycling boxes, which have achieved initial results, but still have little impact on the treatment of express waste. The reason is that some experts believe that the problem of express garbage can’t only depend on express logistics enterprises, but also should be combined with the "trinity" of packaging production enterprises, e-commerce platforms and merchants to truly realize the optimization, upgrading, reduction and recycling of express packaging.
For example, express packaging suppliers should be creative and produce recyclable and more environmentally friendly packaging materials; E-commerce platforms and merchants with the largest express delivery business should avoid secondary packaging as much as possible on the premise of ensuring the safety of goods.
Duan Huabo, an expert on circular economy of the Chinese Society of Environmental Sciences, also believes that the environmental protection of express packaging should not only focus on express companies, but also e-commerce should join the "green ranks".
"It is understood that more than 80% of express parcels come from e-commerce. The packaging materials of such mails are generally provided by e-commerce, and express delivery companies only provide delivery services. However, there is currently a lack of green packaging requirements for goods sold by e-commerce, which also limits the promotion and use of green packaging. " (Economic Daily-China Economic Net reporter Zhu Junbi Feng Qiyu)