Don’t let the express delivery industry become a ＂big polluter＂ —— A summary of the proposal of Commissioner Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference on the green development of the express
Tearing off the long adhesive tape, peeling off the layers of packaging bags, opening the cartons, cutting off the bubble pads, taking out the goods, and then throwing a lot of packaging materials into the dustbin are common actions of many people after receiving the express delivery. However, a large number of abandoned express delivery packages are becoming the "big family" of environmental pollution in China.
According to the data released by the State Post Bureau, the total length of the tape used by the express delivery industry in China in 2015 was 16.985 billion meters, which can circle the equator of the earth for 425 times.
"E-commerce express packages multi-bubble bags, and the proportion of packaging waste in urban solid waste exceeds 30%." This was mentioned in the Proposal on Accelerating the Open Development of China’s Express Green Logistics submitted by Luo Shaming, a member of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, at this year’s National Conference. In the proposal, he called for the "background color" of green development to guide and promote the packaging and recycling of green logistics such as express delivery. Like Luo Shaming, Wen Simei, a member of the Standing Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, is also very concerned about the green development of the express delivery industry. At the National People’s Congress this year, Wen Simei submitted the Proposal on Promoting the Green Packaging of Express Delivery, suggesting that the packaging of the express delivery industry should be restricted from a legislative perspective.
Behind the two members’ proposals, there are concerns about the urgency of the green development of the express delivery industry, which is also the competent department of the express delivery industry — — Issues of concern to the State Post Bureau. When handling these two proposals, the State Post Bureau, in combination with the members’ proposals and the actual work of the industry, listed the construction of "green postal service", the introduction of green packaging work plan and the promotion of implementation as this year’s key work, which was led by a bureau leader. In August, the State Post Bureau formulated and promulgated the "Implementation Plan for Promoting Green Packaging in Express Delivery Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan") to plan the green packaging work in express delivery industry, improve the utilization efficiency of resources in the field of express packaging, reduce packaging consumption and reduce environmental pollution. In the reply to the proposal, the State Post Bureau introduced the contents of the plan to the two members in detail and replied to the suggestions of the members one by one.
Express delivery involves people’s livelihood, and the green development of the express delivery industry is related to the structural reform of the supply side. The Committee member’s proposal can be described as "the key", so it has received the attention of the organizer.
Bring grassroots appeals to the two sessions of the National People’s Congress
In fact, the two members made similar appeals in unison, not only from their personal feelings in life, but also on the basis of solid research.
Quanzhou, Fujian Province, where Luo Shaming lives, is a city with developed electronic commerce, and the express delivery industry accounts for a large proportion of social consumption. At the end of last year, Quanzhou became the second "China Express Demonstration City" after Hangzhou. "Quanzhou is the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, in ‘ Belt and Road ’ Under the background, there is much to be done in developing cross-border e-commerce. If the concept of green development cannot be implemented, it will be difficult for our express logistics industry to integrate into the global economy. " In an interview, Luo Shaming told reporters about his original intention of writing the proposal.
Luo Shaming did a lot of preparatory work before submitting the proposal. Last year, Luo Shaming investigated the postal departments and express delivery companies in Quanzhou and got a lot of first-hand information. Luo Shaming was also invited to put forward opinions and suggestions when Quanzhou formulated a special plan for the development of express delivery service during the "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan" period. In December last year, Luo Shaming participated in the relevant investigation on the legislation of the Express Delivery Regulations by the Social and Legal Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which was also a preparation for the biweekly consultation forum held in Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in January this year. In Beijing, the research team conducted intensive research on several representative express delivery workplaces, including relevant responsible comrades of the State Post Bureau.
Luo Shaming has gained a lot from his research in Beijing. Located in the core area of the capital, with a service area of 18 square kilometers and a population of more than 200,000, the research team learned about the process of terminal handling of express mail in detail. In a private express delivery enterprise, the research team also saw the fully automatic sorting line and dispatching central control room with international advanced level. This big data means can realize visual monitoring and standardized management of the whole process of express mail. "Using big data and other scientific and technological means to reduce costs and improve efficiency is also a measure for the express delivery industry to achieve low-carbon development." Luo Shaming said. Combined with the investigation, Luo Shaming made a speech on "Promoting the Green Development of Express Industry" at the biweekly consultation forum held in January. He suggested promoting the green packaging design of modern logistics products and incorporating it into laws and regulations. In March this year, he submitted a proposal in this regard.
Speeding up the improvement of packaging regulations is also one of the suggestions in Wen Simei’s proposal. Wen Simei is deeply touched by the pollution caused by packaging. "I often see some express parcels, and non-degradable plastic packaging products are wrapped layer after layer, which will have a serious impact on the environment."
Last year, Wen Simei, as the chairman of Guangdong Provincial Committee of NLD, saw the investigation report submitted by Shantou Municipal Committee of NLD on promoting green packaging in express delivery industry, which proposed to formulate legal provisions on the selection and application of express delivery packaging materials, packaging and filling specifications, the use of packaging materials and the recycling and reuse after waste, with a view to guiding and restraining the legalization, standardization and greening of express delivery industry. Therefore, Wen Simei formed a proposal based on this report and brought the appeal from the grassroots to the National People’s Congress.
Xu Zongling, Chairman of Shantou Municipal Committee of NLD, is the lead author of this research report. She is also a member of Shantou CPPCC and dean of Shantou University Business School. In an interview, Xu Zongling told the reporter that students of Shantou University had conducted research on the related scientific and technological projects of "Intelligent Express Cabinet in University Campus", and she was the head of the project team. In the survey, students interviewed more than 300 students and teachers in the form of questionnaires, many of which involved express packaging. "The recycling of packaging really deserves attention," said Xu Zongling. According to her understanding, the recycling of express packaging can be completely solved technically, but there is no unified standard, which requires top-level design from the regulatory and policy levels. To this end, in her report, she suggested improving legislation and establishing a packaging recycling system, and these suggestions were finally absorbed into Wen Simei’s proposal.
Realize greening from the source
With the introduction of "Ten Articles of Atmosphere", "Ten Articles of Water" and "Ten Articles of Soil", environmental protection is becoming the consensus of more and more people. For the leading logistics industry of express delivery, it is the general trend to realize green development.
In addition to promoting the green packaging design of modern logistics products by means of rule of law, Luo Shaming also suggested encouraging the application of science and technology in the industry and promoting the promotion of traditional product packaging design concepts. He believes that the government should encourage e-commerce to adopt new environmentally-friendly packaging materials and recycle them, and the fiscal and taxation departments should give tax incentives and financial support to the implementation of the "green packaging project". In addition, "green finance" products can be tailored to support the comprehensive utilization of express solid waste in China through government procurement, interest subsidies and green industry funds.
At present, China is vigorously promoting the supply-side structural reform. Luo Shaming believes that the express delivery industry also needs the supply-side reform, and should speed up the construction of an intelligent and efficient express logistics system based on "internet plus", including formulating an electronic face sheet with uniform bar code standards for express delivery goods, building an automatic code recognition platform for unmanned logistics warehouses, building intelligent express cabinets and express comprehensive convenience stations in shared communities, and reducing redundant construction.
In the proposal, Luo Shaming also suggested to carry out simple packaging and packaging recycling activities, improve the recycling rate of packaging consumables, and promote the use of starch-based plastic packaging with corn starch as the main material. In addition to creating a packaging recycling system, all localities should support the urban and rural logistics distribution of compliant express electric vehicles, and governments at all levels should formulate policies to encourage express delivery enterprises to use new energy vehicles.
At present, the relevant laws concerning packaging materials include the Law of People’s Republic of China (PRC) on Environmental Protection by Solid Wastes and the Law of People’s Republic of China (PRC) on Cleaner Production Promotion, but Wen Simei believes that there are still many parts to be improved and enriched. The national legislative department should seek the opinions of relevant industry experts, environmentalists and logistics enterprises, and jointly formulate legal provisions for express packaging materials. Like Luo Shaming, Wen Simei also advocates that the government should give preferential encouragement in terms of tax relief and financial subsidies, and support express delivery companies to use environmentally friendly materials. In terms of creating a packaging recycling system, Wen Simei suggested in the proposal that recycling should be realized through regular and fixed-point recycling, collection and transit, unified transportation to a special recycling center for processing, and then sold to a courier company for reuse.
The answer to the proposal is "very satisfied"
After receiving the proposal, the State Post Bureau attached great importance to it, communicated with Luo Shaming and Wen Simei many times, and sent the first draft of the reply to them for comments. In fact, when he participated in the survey organized by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Social Law Committee in December last year, Luo Shaming had an exchange discussion with the relevant person in charge of the State Post Bureau. Luo Shaming said that he was "very satisfied" with the final reply to the proposal. "The proposal reply has a total of 5,156 words, which is longer than the proposal I wrote."
In the reply to the two members’ proposals, the State Post Bureau said that the "Proposal" will promote the green packaging of express delivery from five aspects, including promoting the legal management of express delivery packaging, accelerating the green development of express delivery packaging, encouraging the reduction of express delivery packaging, exploring the recycling of express delivery packaging, and implementing the pilot demonstration project of green packaging in express delivery industry. Members’ suggestions on improving relevant laws, establishing industry standards, promoting packaging recycling and giving play to the role of big data are all reflected in it.
It is reported that the "Proposal" clarifies the overall goal of the packaging work in the express delivery industry, and proposes that during the "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan" period, we will strive to make breakthroughs in the green development of the packaging in key enterprises and key regions. By 2020, packaging materials with excessive toxic and harmful substances will be basically eliminated, and a socialized recycling system for express packaging will be basically established. For the above five key tasks, the "Program" also refines them into 12 specific tasks, such as strengthening the daily supervision of packaging in the express delivery industry, and making and revising the national standards and industry standards for packaging in the express delivery industry.
In addition, the State Post Bureau stated in the reply to the proposal that all departments have taken active measures for the green development of express delivery. At present, the National Development and Reform Commission is working with relevant departments to formulate the "Leading Action for Circular Development" to make overall arrangements for the next circular economy work, and choose the express delivery industry as the starting point to carry out the pilot project of packaging standardization and classified recycling in the logistics industry and actively promote the green development of the express delivery industry.
Last October, the State Council issued "Several Opinions on Promoting the Development of Express Industry" (hereinafter referred to as "Opinions"), taking "green energy saving" as one of the development goals of express industry. The "Proposal" issued by the State Post Bureau not only absorbed the suggestions of members, but also was one of the measures to implement the "Opinions". The Committee members’ proposal provides a useful reference for functional departments to improve relevant policies, and at the same time, it forms a supervision for their work, which is of positive significance for saving resources, protecting the environment and promoting the sustainable development of the express delivery industry.
This year’s double "11" is approaching, and the express delivery industry is the key link of the "shopping festival". Is the "Plan" effective? Can the Opinions be "energy-saving and green"? We will wait and see!