Gorgeous moon cakes, excessively "dressed" tea leaves, elaborately decorated zongzi... In recent years, some businesses have over packaged their products to improve the "face value" of their products, resulting in a series of problems such as high commodity prices and waste of resources.
Recently, the General Office of the State Council issued the Notice on Further Strengthening the Control of Excessive Commodity Packaging (hereinafter referred to as the Notice), which requires strengthening the whole chain control of excessive commodity packaging. By 2025, a whole chain governance system for excessive packaging of goods will be basically formed. Relevant laws and regulations will be more sound, the standard system will be more perfect, the industry management level will be significantly improved, the online and offline integrated law enforcement and supervision mechanism will operate effectively, and the governance capacity for excessive packaging of goods will be significantly strengthened.
Packaging is for normal function only
Excessive packaging of commodities refers to the packaging that exceeds the normal functional requirements of commodity protection, display, storage, transportation, etc., mainly manifested in excessive packaging layers, excessive packaging gaps, excessive packaging costs, improper material selection and use, etc.
"Over packaging exceeds the normal functional requirements of packaging. It not only increases the burden on consumers, but also causes waste of resources and environmental pollution, and also encourages extravagant social practices." Wang Li, vice president of the China Packaging Federation, said that commodity producers should be guided to "reduce weight" for packaging, and avoid selling over packaged goods.
For the production side, the Notice clearly urges and guides commodity producers to produce commodities in strict accordance with the mandatory standard of restricting excessive packaging of commodities; Guide commodity producers to use simple packaging, optimize commodity packaging design, and reduce the number of commodity packaging layers, materials, and costs.
For the sales side, the Notice proposes to urge and guide the commodity sellers to refine the requirements related to the purchase and sales links to restrict the excessive packaging of commodities, and specifies not to sell commodities that violate the mandatory standards for restricting the excessive packaging of commodities; Strengthen supervision and guidance on e-commerce enterprises; Encourage commodity sellers to put forward requirements for green packaging and simple packaging of commodities to suppliers.
"The Notice proposes to prevent excessive packaging in commodity production, pointing out the direction for light industry enterprises to implement excessive packaging governance requirements." Zhang Chonghe, president of the China Light Industry Federation, said that the Notice focused on moon cakes, zongzi, tea, health food, cosmetics and other key commodities, and made it clear that illegal acts such as the production and sale of over packaged goods should be strictly investigated according to law. At the same time, the excessive packaging of hotels, restaurants and other high-end customized gifts, as well as the excessive packaging of goods in the name of cultural creativity, should also be strictly investigated and punished according to law. "Light industry enterprises should strictly implement mandatory national standards and consciously accept supervision and inspection." Zhang Chonghe said.
Improve relevant standard system
With the rapid development of new forms of consumption, the phenomenon of over packaging of goods has the tendency of "making a comeback". It is urgent to further improve the relevant standard system.
For edible agricultural products, food and cosmetics, and express delivery, the Notice specifies the formulation or timely revision of mandatory standards limiting excessive packaging. For toys, baby and child products, electronic products and other fields, it is required to formulate recommended national standards to promote simple packaging and limit excessive packaging. In addition, the Notice also requires the formulation of industry standards on green packaging technology and management of e-commerce logistics.
Lin Ling, president of the Zihuan Branch of the Chinese Academy of Standardization, said: "Mandatory standards are an important basis for judging excessive packaging violations in law enforcement and supervision, and the recommended standards for green packaging and simple packaging play an important role in guiding manufacturers and operators to reduce packaging."
It is reported that, in terms of mandatory standards, the National Standardization Administration has issued the Food and Cosmetics Requirements for Restricting Excessive Packaging of Commodities and Amendment No. 1; In terms of recommendatory standards, the General Rules for Restricting Excessive Packaging of Commodities was issued. The General Rules for the evaluation of Green Products provides guidance for the evaluation standards of green products related to series of packaging and packaging materials.
"The Notice requires the improvement of mandatory standards and recommended national standards, and the establishment of a statistical analysis and reporting system for the implementation of mandatory standards. It clarifies the timetable, roadmap and construction drawings for the improvement of standards limiting excessive packaging of goods, which is of great guiding significance for curbing excessive packaging of goods." Lin Ling said that with the implementation of the Notice, key indicators will be revised in time, key standardization work will be effectively carried out, and the standard basis for law enforcement and supervision of excessive packaging of goods will be further consolidated.
Green transformation adds power
The "slimming" of commodity packaging has also added an important impetus to the green transformation of related enterprises.
The Notice requires strengthening technological innovation in the packaging field. Promote packaging enterprises to provide overall packaging solutions with reasonable design, material saving, convenient recycling, and economic applicability, independently develop low gram weight, high strength, functional packaging materials and their production equipment, and innovate and develop integrated packaging products for goods and express delivery. This points out the direction for packaging enterprises to innovate in science and technology.
"Packaging enterprises should increase investment in scientific and technological innovation, speed up the research and transformation of green technologies, actively develop and use new packaging materials that are conducive to resource conservation, promote new technologies, new processes and new equipment that meet the requirements of energy conservation and environmental protection, and apply the green and low-carbon concept throughout the whole process of product research and development design, raw material procurement, production and manufacturing, logistics and warehousing, after-sales service, and recycling, so as to enhance the endogenous innovation power of enterprises, thus supporting the economy Social green transformation and development. " Wang Li said.
Zhang Chonghe said that the China Light Industry Federation will aim to promote the green and low-carbon circular development of the industry and drive upgrading with green. "We will promote the industry to attach importance to the improvement of commodity quality, improve product quality and brand added value; guide the industry to increase collaborative innovation in product green design, packaging recycling and comprehensive utilization, promote simple packaging, optimize commodity packaging design, promote the quality transformation of consumer goods, and accelerate the realization of high-quality development." Zhang Chonghe said.
