With the formal implementation of the “plastic ban order”, “big consumers” of plastic use, such as supermarkets and takeaways, all over the country began to introduce plastic reduction measures and transitional measures. Experts said that plastic pollution control involves all aspects, and the recycling and disposal of degradable plastic bags should have corresponding supporting systems, which need a certain adaptation time. We should focus on key categories and key places first, and form a certain experience before gradually popularizing it, so as to promote plastic pollution control in an orderly manner.
At the beginning of 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the Opinions on Further Strengthening the Treatment of Plastic Pollution, which was divided into three periods: 2020, 2022 and 2025, and defined the task objectives of strengthening the treatment of plastic pollution by stages. By 2020, take the lead in banning and restricting the production, sale and use of some plastic products in some areas and fields. The newly revised solid waste law, which came into effect on September 1, 2020, has also strengthened the relevant requirements of plastic pollution control, and made clear the legal responsibilities of relevant illegal acts.
Since January 1 this year, the “plastic ban order” has come into effect. Are all parties ready?
Shangchao switched to degradable plastic bags
The reporter found that 31 provinces have issued implementation plans or action plans related to plastic pollution control. Taking Beijing as an example, Beijing Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2020-2025) focuses on six key industries, namely catering, take-out platform, wholesale and retail, e-commerce express delivery, accommodation exhibition and agricultural production, and strengthens plastic reduction efforts. Among them, for the catering industry, it is required that by the end of 2020, the whole city’s catering industry will prohibit the use of non-degradable disposable plastic straws, non-degradable plastic bags for take-out (including dining package) services in built-up areas, and non-degradable disposable plastic tableware for dining services in built-up areas and scenic spots.
“Since January 1, 2021, the shopping bags sold in our supermarket are all degradable shopping bags, one large bag in 1.2 yuan and one small bag in 6 corners. If necessary, please buy them at the cashier’s office.” On January 5th, the reporter came to Meilianmei Supermarket, Ande Road, Xicheng District, Beijing. The supermarket broadcast was rolling out the relevant prompt information. Degradable plastic bags are placed in supermarket checkout counter and self-service code scanning checkout area, and the prices are marked. Most of the more than 30 customers who settled accounts used their own non-woven shopping bags, and some customers pushed the goods to the supermarket exit and loaded them into shopping trailers.
“In recent years, many customers have got into the habit of using recyclable shopping bags.” The relevant person in charge of Wumart Group told the reporter that at present, all the stores and delivery of Wumart Group in Beijing and Tianjin have been replaced with degradable plastic bags. Judging from the implementation in recent days, the sales volume of paid plastic bags has decreased compared with the past, but it is not obvious.
The reporter saw in the Wal-Mart supermarket near Xuanwumen, Beijing that the cashier and the self-service cashier are also equipped with degradable shopping bags. There are also eye-catching slogans in front of the cashier, calling on customers to take green bags and act as “plastic reduction” activists.
It is worth noting that plastic restriction is also being promoted in the field of food and beverage take-out. The responsible person of Meituan Takeaway said that Meituan will give full play to the advantages of connecting merchants and users, integrate industry resources, and cooperate with upstream and downstream industries to jointly promote the environmental protection development of the industry. In terms of packaging reduction, in addition to the “no tableware required” option on the line, Meituan Takeaway has removed ordinary plastic packaging bags and straws from the merchant service market, set up an environmental protection zone, and introduced diversified environmental protection packaging suppliers to continuously expand the supply of environmental protection packaging products.
Orders for degradable straws have increased significantly
By the end of 2020, non-degradable disposable plastic straws will be banned in the catering industry nationwide. Will you be able to drink happily in the future?
Wang Jianhui, head of the public relations department of Beijing McDonald’s, told reporters that since June 30, 2020, consumers in nearly 1,000 McDonald’s restaurants in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen have been able to directly drink cold drinks without solids through new cup lids. At present, Beijing McDonald’s Restaurant has implemented relevant policy requirements, such as stopping all plastic straws, replacing beverage packaging bags with degradable plastic bags, and using wooden cutlery for disposable tableware.
In addition to the solution of direct drinking cup lid, there are two main types of degradable straws widely promoted in the market at present: one is paper straws; There is also a polylactic acid (PLA) straw, which is generally emulsified by starch-based materials and has good biodegradability. In addition, stainless steel straws, bamboo straws, etc. are also optional alternative products.
When visiting Luckin coffee, Starbucks, Little Milk Tea and other brand beverage stores, the reporter found that disposable plastic straws were no longer provided, but were replaced with paper straws or degradable plastic straws.
On the evening of January 4th, when the reporter interviewed Li Erqiao, general manager of Zhejiang Yiwu Shuangtong Daily Necessities Co., Ltd., he was busy coordinating the production capacity of straw products. As a leading enterprise in straw industry, Shuangtong Company can provide polylactic acid straws, paper straws, stainless steel straws and other products to customers at home and abroad.
“Recently, the number of orders received by the factory has exploded, and orders have been placed in April.” Li Erqiao said that before the “plastic ban” came into effect, although Shuangtong gave tips to customers, many customers were in a wait-and-see state, and they were short of stocking in advance, which led to the “crash” of orders now. “At present, most of the company’s production capacity has been put into the production of degradable straws, and some employees engaged in the production of ordinary plastic straws have been adjusted to the production line of degradable products, thus expanding the equipment startup.”
“At present, we can supply about 30 tons of degradable products every day, and we will continue to expand production capacity in the future.” Li Erqiao said that as the Spring Festival is approaching, many customers need to stock up in advance, and it is expected that orders will continue to increase in the future.
Promote plastic reduction consumption in an orderly manner
In the interview, the reporter learned that the cost and experience of alternative products have become important factors for enterprises to choose. Taking straws as an example, the price of ordinary plastic straws is about 8,000 yuan per ton, polylactic acid straws are nearly 40,000 yuan per ton, and paper straws are about 22,000 yuan per ton, which is equivalent to two to three times that of plastic straws.
In the use experience, the paper straw is not easy to penetrate into the sealing film, and it is not soaked; Some even have the smell of pulp or glue, which seriously affects the taste of the drink itself. Polylactic acid straw is easy to decompose, so its product life cycle is relatively short.
Li Erqiao said that from the perspective of customer demand, polylactic acid straws are more selected in the catering market, and the use experience is better. There are more paper straws in the channel market because the shelf life is longer.
“At this stage, the cost of degradable plastics will be more
Post time: Jun-30-2021
