The hottest plastic pollution control has been str

More efforts will be made to control plastic pollution. Many disposable plastic products will be banned at the end of the year. Release date: Source: People's

by the end of this year -

● the production and sale of disposable foaming plastic tableware will be prohibited Disposable plastic cotton swabs

● prohibit the production of daily chemical products containing plastic beads

● prohibit the use of non degradable disposable plastic straws in the catering industry

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 further improve plastic pollution control, especially to complete the phased objectives and tasks by the end of 2020. By the end of August, all localities will launch special law enforcement inspections on the promotion of plastic ban and restriction in key areas such as shopping malls, supermarkets, market fairs, and the catering industry

what are the phased goals and tasks for plastic pollution control by the end of 2020? What opportunities and challenges will it bring to plastics, packaging and other industries? Interviewed relevant experts

many disposable plastic products were banned at the end of the year

in January this year, the "opinions on further strengthening plastic pollution control" was issued and implemented. Zhang De, an associate researcher at the Macroeconomic Research Institute of the national development and Reform Commission, believes that compared with the policy in 2007, the "new plastic restriction order" has established a policy system covering the whole life cycle of plastic products production, circulation, consumption and end-of-life disposal, opening a new process of plastic pollution control in China

first look at the supply side. According to the "new plastic restriction order", it is prohibited to produce and sell ultra-thin plastic shopping bags with a thickness of less than 0.025 mm and polyethylene agricultural mulch films with a thickness of less than 0.01 mm. It is forbidden to use medical waste as raw material 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 will be prohibited; It is forbidden to produce daily chemical products containing plastic beads

look at the consumer side. By the end of this year, shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores and other venues in the built-up areas of municipalities directly under the central government, provincial capitals and cities with separate planning, as well as catering packaging and takeout services and various exhibition activities, the use of non degradable plastic bags will be prohibited, and the use of non degradable plastic bags will be standardized and restricted in the market; The use of non degradable disposable plastic straw is prohibited in the catering industry nationwide; Non degradable disposable plastic tableware is forbidden to be used in catering services in built-up areas and scenic spots in cities above the prefecture level

in order to implement the "new version of plastic restriction order", nine departments recently issued the "notice" and announced the detailed standards for the prohibition and restriction management

on the one hand, the policy maintains continuity, and re emphasizes the varieties that have been explicitly prohibited by the previous policy. For example, ultra-thin plastic shopping bags with a thickness of less than 0.025 mm, agricultural mulching films with a thickness of less than 0.01 mm, and relevant national regulations and mandatory standards, important technical indicators of microcomputer controlled steel wire rope special testing machines: they have long been banned. Disposable foamed plastic tableware has also been listed in the "catalogue for the guidance of industrial restructuring" (2019 version) of the eliminated products

on the other hand, the policy has enhanced the operability, and has specifically defined the prohibition scope of some varieties. For example, it is clear that "daily chemical products containing plastic beads" mainly refer to some washing cosmetics such as bath agents, facial cleansers, scrub creams, shampoo, toothpaste, tooth powder, and stipulates the size of plastic beads. Resident cosmetics that do not meet the prohibition conditions have not been included in the prohibition scope. Another example is "non degradable plastic bags", which do not include plastic pre packaging bags, continuous roll bags, fresh-keeping bags, etc. for bulk fresh food, cooked food, pasta and other commodities; Moreover, the forbidden scenarios are limited to shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores, catering packaging and takeout services, exhibition activities, etc., and other usage scenarios are not covered temporarily

"the detailed standards fully consider the actual situation of the industry and the production and supply situation, increase the operability, and ensure the steady progress of the policy." Said Zhang Lijun, vice president of the China Federation of Commerce

set exemption scenarios and provide buffer. The latest

plastic pollution control should not only enhance the sense of urgency and sense, but also take into account practical feasibility to achieve scientific management

the notice requires that all localities issue provincial implementation plans by mid August, refine and decompose tasks, and compact layers by layers; Urge provincial capital cities, cities specifically designated in the state plan, and cities above the prefecture level to analyze and evaluate key and difficult problems in various fields based on the local actual conditions, focusing on the phased goals by the end of 2020, and study and propose operable and effective specific promotion measures to ensure that the goals and tasks are completed on schedule

taking full account of differences, the notice does not engage in "one size fits all". Wen zongguo, a professor at 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 adjusting measures to local conditions, and gradually implements comprehensive treatment measures

taking non degradable plastic bags as an example, by the end of 2020, shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores and other venues in the built-up areas of municipalities directly under the central government, provincial capital cities and cities with separate planning, as well as catering packaging and takeout services and various exhibition activities will be "prohibited", while the market will be "standardized and restricted". By the end of 2022, the implementation scope of the "ban" will be extended to all urban built-up areas above the prefecture level and county built-up areas in coastal areas

fully considering the feasibility, the notice also set an exemption scenario. For example, disposable plastic cotton swabs do not include related medical devices; During the response to major public emergencies, disposable plastic products used for emergency support, material distribution, catering services, etc. in specific areas can be exempted from prohibition. "Exempt the special needs of specific scenes and major public emergencies, and provide a buffer period for the transformation of enterprise production methods and consumer consumption habits." Wen zongguo said

the notice specifies five key areas, including strengthening the supervision and inspection of the prohibition of the production and sale of plastic products, strengthening the supervision and management of the prohibition and restriction of plastic in retail catering and other fields, promoting the treatment of agricultural film, standardizing the collection and disposal of plastic waste, and carrying out special cleaning of plastic waste, and requires that we should pay close attention to the implementation

"varieties with low reuse value or difficult to classify and utilize are the main source of plastic pollution and the key to plastic pollution control. It is impossible to grasp the varieties with high risks and promote them in the notice." According to Zhang De's analysis, the non degradable agricultural film with a thickness of less than 0.01 mm will be broken after use, which is very difficult to recycle, and will cause damage to the quality of cultivated land over the years

for another example, disposable non degradable plastic knives, forks, spoons and straws are easy to be mixed with food waste, which makes it difficult to dispose and utilize food waste in the subsequent resources such as anaerobic fermentation

the capacity of alternative products can meet consumer demand

Zhang Lijun introduced that retail enterprises have begun to take positive actions and formed a number of practical alternatives to the "new plastic restriction order". Many supermarkets can provide consumers with non-woven environmental protection shopping bags. Some bookstores have also received good results by using simple kraft paper packages to replace shopping bags. In order to reduce the use of disposable plastic straw, some catering enterprises have transformed the cold drink cup cover and replaced the combination of "straw + cup cover" with the cup cover with its own drinking nozzle

it is estimated that the annual consumption of three types of plastic products, disposable plastic shopping bags, disposable straw and disposable knives, forks and spoons, involved in the retail and catering fields in relevant regions by the end of 2020. The raw materials of non-woven fabrics, paper, bamboo and other substitutes are sufficient, and the annual supply of degradable plastics is about 400000 tons. "The capacity of alternative products can meet consumer demand." Zhang Lijun said. Recently, relevant industry associations have actively organized alternative product manufacturers and catering and retail enterprises to carry out supply and demand docking, and promote plastic reduction and substitution in key areas

recyclable packaging, tape free cartons, slimming tapes, fully biodegradable bags... E-commerce and express enterprises have come up with clever ideas for implementing the "new plastic restriction order". Zhao Kai, vice president and Secretary General of China Circular Economy Association, said that plastic pollution control also forces enterprises to constantly explore new products and new models. Enterprises are carrying out green construction from the aspects of warehousing, packaging, transportation, end of pipe distribution, etc., which are the world's largest political parties with strong Anti-corruption Governance

"with the implementation of relevant detailed requirements, it will strongly promote upstream and downstream partners to cooperate to build a green supply chain." Zhao Kai said

plastic pollution control is a systematic project. While doing a good job in source reduction, relevant departments and industry associations are simultaneously promoting the ecological design of plastic products, strengthening the recycling and disposal of plastic waste, strengthening comprehensive treatment, and promoting the construction of a long-term mechanism for plastic pollution control