How to find the balance of green packaging from circular economy (3)

Green consumption often depends on the green sign to guide. The green mark is called the “Environmental Protection Mark” in international standards. WTO rules show that any product that obtains the “Environmental Protection Mark” can enter the international market. The European Union has recently reiterated the principle that product packaging must have the environmental protection mark. Driven by the trend of green consumption, people will no longer only pay attention to whether the quality of the goods is qualified or whether the packaging is exquisite when they purchase merchandise. Instead, they are more concerned about whether the products meet the requirements of environmental protection and whether there is a “green packaging mark” on the packaging. Consumers are privileged to make a contribution to the environmental protection business by buying products with the “green packaging logo”. As consumer demand for green packaging is relatively strong, manufacturers of goods will, from their own interests, also have to take into account the environmental factors of product packaging, adopt green packaging, and implement green marketing to cater to consumers. The psychology promotes the sale of goods.

Through the role of the media, efforts can be made to increase education in green consumption and guide the public to actively participate in the green consumption movement, so that the concept of circular economy will be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. In addition to green shopping, green consumption also requires consumers to develop consumption habits that are conducive to the recycling of packaging waste. The environmental protection department shall set up classified bins in parks, streets, and residential quarters to guide people to consciously sort and recycle the packaging wastes. Promote and support the community to initiate “green shopping” activities, go out to purchase goods, try to bring their own shopping bags, and reduce the use of “use or throw” packaging products, such as disposable plastic lunch boxes, plastic bags, paper cups, etc., to encourage people to use repeatable Used and recycled packaging containers.

Third, to strengthen recycling and reuse, to achieve ecological recycling of packaging waste

"Garbage is misplaced resources." In today's growing circular economy, this phrase has become more and more people's consensus. In many countries, the recycling of renewable resources has become a very important industry. According to statistics, the total value of renewable resource recovery in major developed countries in the world has reached 250 billion U.S. dollars a year, and it is growing at a rate of 15-20% per year. 45% of steel production worldwide, 62% of copper production, 22% of aluminum production, 40% of lead production, 30% of zinc production, and 35% of paper products come from the recycling of renewable resources. The use of renewable resources for production not only saves natural resources, curbs the proliferation of waste, but also consumes less energy and produces fewer pollutants than using natural materials. Taking back two aluminum cans as an example, remelting one ton of aluminum saves 95% of energy compared to producing aluminum from bauxite, recovers one ton of aluminum, or saves four tons of aluminum ore, and 400 kilograms of oil and coke; recycled steel and glass Waste can save up to 50% of the energy needed to produce this kind of material; using plastic waste to make parts or packaging containers can save 85-90% of the energy needed to produce plastics.

At present, China still pays insufficient attention to the recycling and reuse of packaging waste. The recovery technology is backward, the system is not perfect, and the recycling rate is very low. According to statistics, the recycling rate of waste packaging paper in China is only 30%. The packaging of medicines, cans, and cosmetics is almost completely abandoned, and the plastic recycling rate is only 30%. We should learn from the successful experiences of developed countries and actively carry out the recycling and reuse of packaging waste.

(I) Compulsory recycling of packaging waste by legal means

Legislation is the responsibility and power of the country. It is also the most effective means for the country to achieve macroeconomic control over economic and social development. The packaging legislation of developed countries is worth learning from. German law clearly stipulates that since July 1, 1995, the recycling rate of packaging materials such as glass, tinplate, aluminum, cardboard, and plastic must reach 80%. The goal of the Dutch government is to reduce the national "production" of waste by 70 to 90 percent within 10 years. France stipulates that in 2000, manufacturers and importers must complete 70% of the recycling rate of used packaging, and 85% of 2003 packaging materials should be recycled. The United Kingdom stipulates that in 2000, 60% of industrial product packaging and 35% of household product packaging will be recycled. In order to promote the use of reusable and recycled packaging products, the European Union has stipulated that from 2000 onwards, packaging materials that cannot be reused or recycled cannot be excluded from the market.

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