Packaging / Advertising & Office

In recent years, with the rapid development of e-commerce, the issue of express packaging recycling has brought certain pressure to environmental protection. Some countries are actively exploring the "green transformation" of express packaging, and have achieved results in multiple links such as policies and regulations, technology research and development, and supporting facilities.

A recent report released by the international consulting firm McKinsey shows that the global awareness of the development of recyclable packaging is increasing, and 29 of the 30 countries and regions it studied have begun to discuss and implement recyclable packaging regulations. On a global scale, from the government, enterprises to the public, accelerating the "green transformation" of express packaging is becoming a consensus and turning into action.

  Germany--

Continue to refine the legal provisions

Open the seal simply sealed by the single-layer tape, and then tear off the easy-to-open express form on the express box - in the reporter's daily observation and experience, the German express packaging is relatively simple. Put the return slip on the location, seal the box and send it.

In Germany, many courier companies provide reusable courier envelopes or bags with easy-to-open labels and reusable adhesive strips. According to a recent survey by statistics website Statista, 77% of Germans believe that the use of reusable express packaging is very important for environmental protection.

In order to reduce the waste of packaging materials, the German government continues to improve legal regulations. As early as 1991, Germany began to implement the "Packaging Regulations", requiring all companies selling goods to the German market to be responsible for the recycling and disposal of their outer packaging, and took the lead in establishing the extended responsibility system for packaging producers. To this end, Germany has established a company called "Green Dot", which specializes in recycling packaging waste. In 2019, Germany officially implemented the new "Packaging Law" and established a special regulatory agency, the German Central Packaging Registration Office, which stipulates that all relevant companies must register and declare the total quality of packaging and specific material information every year. Businesses can be fined up to €200,000 and banned from sales if they fail to register.

Under strict legal supervision, enterprises continue to strengthen the green treatment of express packaging. Take Amazon's German branch as an example. In 2019, the company began to promote the use of 100% recyclable packaging materials, and adopted environmental protection measures such as reducing packaging volume and reducing void fillers. In 2021, the company said it would phase out the use of single-use plastic materials, using paper bags or cardboard boxes for shipping wherever possible.

The new "Packaging Law" also stipulates that since July this year, online stores linked to Amazon and other platforms, in addition to the unified registration of the platform, also need to register separately in the German Central Packaging Registration Office for the registration of the relevant product transportation packaging license, otherwise. Sales will be prohibited. German media analysis pointed out that the continuous refinement of legal regulations and the strengthening of the packaging recycling responsibilities of commodity manufacturers, importers and retailers are important measures to promote the sustainable development of e-commerce.

  South Korea--

Promote the use of recycled packaging

In the past two years, Ms. Park, who lives in Seoul, South Korea, basically buys daily necessities online, and the number of express boxes has also greatly increased. "The government has stricter requirements on garbage classification. Before, it took a certain amount of time to process and discard these packaging boxes and filling materials every day." Ms. Park told reporters that since the e-commerce platform launched reusable packaging boxes, she began to choose this option. Recyclable packaging, "Now that we have reduced the use of disposable packaging items, I am very happy to be able to contribute to the environment through the little things in our daily life."

In order to reduce garbage pollution, various green packaging has been emerging in the Korean market in recent years. Reusable packaging boxes, environmentally friendly ice packs, and paper buffer materials are increasingly welcomed by enterprises and the public. The government is also actively promoting the improvement of recycling measures. The Ministry of Environment of South Korea has invited the public to tender for projects of reusable packaging materials, including the development and application of different links such as design, production, recycling, cleaning, and popularization.

Ice packs are often used when expressing fresh products. General ice pack packaging is a super absorbent resin, which is difficult to decompose naturally and is not easy to incinerate. The survey shows that the production of environmentally friendly ice packs in South Korea in 2020 will increase by 2.24 times compared with 2019, but the use of superabsorbent resin ice packs still accounts for 40%. In order to promote the production and utilization of environmentally friendly ice packs, South Korea's Ministry of Environment has imposed garbage disposal fees on manufacturers and importers of superabsorbent resin ice packs this year.

South Korea promotes ice bag recycling activities in many places, and sets up special recycling facilities in living areas to reward people who recycle ice bags. The recovered ice packs are professionally cleaned, disinfected and dried, and then distributed to residents, small and medium-sized businesses, etc. free of charge. Some companies are also actively developing environmentally friendly ice packs. For example, some companies have launched ice packs with biodegradable resin packaging and water-filled inside, which can be reused and degraded naturally.

The Suwon Municipal Government signed a packaging recycling agreement with some supermarkets, and set up a special distribution center in the pilot community. After residents buy goods, supermarkets use recyclable packaging materials to wrap the goods and distribute them through the distribution center. After consumers receive the goods, they put the packaging at their doorsteps, and the distribution center then recycles, cleans and reuses the packaging. Relevant companies said that through this initiative, about 130,000 disposable express boxes and 66 tons of garbage can be reduced each year. Currently, Suwon City plans to add distribution centers and pilot communities. The move is expected to be rolled out to other parts of South Korea.

  Spain--

Increase investment in green packaging

Various styles of paper or cloth shopping bags made of recyclable materials, degradable material packaging boxes and bags that can meet the needs of food take-out... On the website of Bolsalea, the largest recyclable packaging e-commerce platform in Spain, Recyclable packaging products that meet the needs of various scenarios are readily available. The company, founded in 2009, provides customers with customized services in the design and manufacture of recyclable packaging products, and currently has customers all over Spain.

Recyclable packaging is becoming a new outlet for the green investment industry. According to data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute, the proportion of online shoppers in Spain rose to 63% in 2020 from 58% in 2019. At the same time, people's awareness of environmental protection is also increasing. According to a survey by the Spanish Producers and Distributors Association, at least 30% of Spanish consumers are willing to pay more for recyclable packaging when shopping online.

A Spanish fund management company focusing on green investment said that the current major trend in the packaging industry is to use recyclable or easy-to-dispose materials such as recyclable cardboard, biodegradable materials and glass, especially some large enterprises are accelerating the recycling of product packaging. Use the road to go faster. A well-known clothing company launched a green packaging project. Since 2019, the use of disposable plastic shopping bags has been gradually stopped, and the express carton packaging is required to be reused up to 6 times. If it cannot be reused due to damage and other factors, it will also be Recycle it.

Some businesses also offer incentives to promote the use of recyclable packaging. For example, the Spanish Post has partnered with organizations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature to launch a "Forest Conservation Plan". For every purchase of a recyclable express carton or envelope, consumers will donate 5 cents for reforestation, forest fire prevention and biodiversity conservation. At present, more than 100,000 trees have been planted through this program, achieving afforestation area of 270 hectares.

The Spanish government announced in November last year that it would invest 42 million euros in the construction of a national packaging technology center in La Rioja, where the packaging industry is relatively dense. The center is expected to be completed next year.