Thoughts on China's Green Packaging (2)

5. Insufficient certification of ISO14000 environmental management system by Chinese enterprises, resulting in new non-tariff trade barriers - green barriers

For a long time, the foreign trade competition of bulk commodities in China relied mainly on the advantages generated by cheap labor. Many countries also used tariff barriers to limit and crack down on Chinese products. After joining the World Trade Organization, the gradual removal of trade barriers has once made many domestic industries and companies very optimistic. However, the emergence and continued expansion of green barriers may lead to greater restrictions on our product exports. Once the "soft ribs" of environmental protection were hit, the original advantages of China's products were greatly hindered. Even if it is known that some practices are purely malicious, it is only the case that "the front door is swallowed up".

At present, according to incomplete statistics, about 8 billion U.S. dollars of export products are affected by the foreign green mark system each year. The export products of 24 billion U.S. dollars do not meet the environmental protection packaging requirements of developed countries and are indirectly affected.

III. Measures and Countermeasures for Developing Green Packaging in China

Protecting the environment and developing green packaging have become the consensus of the packaging industry in many industrialized countries in the world. The rapid development of the national economy requires the accompanying packaging industry to accelerate development at a faster rate, and accelerating development has brought about environmental problems. Environmental issues have also hampered the development level of the packaging industry. Therefore, how to meet the requirements of the development of the national economy for the packaging industry, and not to exceed the burden on the environment, that is, the regenerative ability and purification capacity of natural resources is a major issue. We must theoretically conduct multi-faceted research, actively explore in practice, and combine the problems in China's green packaging to rationalize relationships and adopt various measures.

(I) Accelerate the construction of packaging legislation and increase the publicity of packaging and environmental protection

1. Speed ​​up the construction of packaging legislation

In order to reduce the impact of packaging waste on environmental protection, it is necessary to expedite the formulation of corresponding laws and regulations, to regulate the production, circulation and use of packaging products through legislation, and to reduce the pollution to the environment. At present, many countries use mandatory methods to manage packaging resources in the form of legislation. The regulations implemented by countries can be divided into two types: one is the monotonous packaging legislation and regulations, such as the prohibition of the use of certain materials. This is also the case of the ban imposed by the Chinese government on the prohibition of the production and use of disposable tableware made of polystyrene foam. The other is a comprehensive packaging legislation and regulations, such as the "Packaging Waste Disposal Act" formulated by Germany, France and other countries. The basis of legislation is "polluter pays" and "promotes advances in packaging technology." Its content generally includes three aspects: First, it proposes an index to reduce the recycling rate of packaging waste and packaging waste; and second, it is to manufacturers and sellers. The obligation of packaging recycling and reuse shall be stipulated clearly; the third is to establish a recycling system and mechanism for recycling the packaging materials and their operation methods, and to provide a green mark for the recyclable packaging.

At present, governments in many countries are guiding enterprises to strengthen related work through policies, regulations, and other forms, and have achieved significant social and economic benefits. For example, the tinplate recovery rate in Germany reaches 50%, the corrugated paperboard (box) recovery rate reaches 55%, and the waste paper recovery rate reaches 15%. In the United States, the recycling rate in 2000 reached 48%, of which the recovery rate of used corrugated boxes reached 75%. In the United States in the past 10 years, it has created 4 billion US dollars in wealth through the recycling of packaging waste. 6

However, as far as our country is concerned, so far there has not been a special packaging regulation, resulting in many issues related to packaging and environmental protection can not be followed, no rules to follow. In view of the practices of industrial countries in the world, and in light of the actual situation in China, packaging legislation is imperative.

The establishment of a sound law on packaging is an important part of governing the country according to law and building a socialist legal system. Only by further strengthening the legislative work and continuing to improve various laws and regulations can the construction and development of the packaging industry be coordinated with the development of resources and the environment.

2. Increase the publicity of packaging and environmental protection

We must strengthen publicity and education to raise people’s awareness of environmental protection, resource, energy, and labor protection, and recognize the importance of green packaging for society, enterprises, and individuals, and standardize the “green” behavior of individuals. At the same time, in conjunction with the study of the "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" and the "Decision of the State Council on Several Issues Concerning Environmental Protection," we strive for various forms, extensively carry out propaganda and education activities related to the relationship between packaging and the environment, and cultivate and establish the awareness of environmental protection and participation of the whole society. To make the green packaging thinker Yu Yu deeply rooted in the hearts of people, in accordance with the requirements of environmental protection and consciously deal with packaging waste.

The development of green packaging is a technological revolution in the packaging industry. It is an inevitable trend for the world's packaging industry to adapt to the tide of environmental protection. Whoever first realizes this is the one who will take the initiative in the future competition in the world packaging market. For this reason, the packaging industry must change its concepts, strengthen its awareness of pollution-free, and adapt to the new competition caused by new standards and new regulations put forward by countries on packaging materials and wastes, and vigorously develop the use of materials, waste, easiness of recovery, or self-improvement. Degraded green packaging.