Major Changes to Express Delivery Cartons! The Interim Regulations on Express Delivery Will Take Effect in May, and the New National Standard Will Be Implemented in September.
Release Date:
2018-03-29
Recently, Premier Li Keqiang signed a State Council order promulgating the Interim Regulations on Express Delivery (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”), which will come into effect on May 1, 2018. The Regulations stipulate that enterprises engaged in express delivery services and senders are encouraged to use biodegradable and reusable environmentally friendly packaging materials, and that such enterprises are also encouraged to implement measures for the collection and recycling of express delivery packaging materials, so as to reduce the consumption of packaging materials and promote their reuse.
Recently, Premier Li Keqiang signed a State Council order promulgating the Interim Regulations on Express Delivery (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”), which will come into effect on May 1, 2018. The Regulations stipulate that enterprises engaged in express delivery services and senders are encouraged to use biodegradable and reusable environmentally friendly packaging materials, and that such enterprises are also encouraged to implement measures for the collection and recycling of express delivery packaging materials, so as to reduce the consumption of packaging materials and promote their reuse.
Earlier, on February 6, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the Standardization Administration of China officially released the series of national standards for express delivery packaging materials, which came into effect on September 1, 2018. The back-to-back issuance of these two measures signals that express delivery cardboard packaging will undergo new changes in just a few months, presenting the paper packaging industry with a new set of challenges.
1
Li Keqiang Signs State Council Order Promulgating the Interim Regulations on Express Delivery
The express delivery industry is a vital component of the service sector, serving as a bridge between the supply and consumption sides and acting as a leading force in transforming distribution models and driving consumption upgrading. In recent years, China’s express delivery industry has experienced rapid growth, with its parcel volume ranking first in the world for four consecutive years, playing a significant role in stabilizing growth, optimizing the economic structure, and improving people’s livelihoods.
However, during its rapid development, certain problems have also emerged. Therefore, in order to promote the healthy development of the express delivery industry, ensure the safety of express deliveries, protect the legitimate rights and interests of express delivery users, and strengthen the supervision and administration of the industry, the State Council has formulated these Regulations.
Specifically, Article 9 of Chapter 1 of the Regulations stipulates: The State encourages enterprises engaged in express delivery services and senders to use biodegradable and reusable environmentally friendly packaging materials, and further encourages such enterprises to implement measures for the collection and recycling of express delivery packaging materials, thereby achieving reduced consumption and reuse of these materials.
In fact, encouraging the eco-friendly design, recyclability, reduction, and reuse of express delivery packaging is not a new proposal. In November 2017, ten government departments jointly issued the “Guiding Opinions on Coordinating the Promotion of Green Packaging in the Express Delivery Industry,” which mandated a reduction of more than 10% in the average amount of packaging materials used per parcel and promoted the adoption of reusable packaging solutions such as transit boxes and cage carts.
At this year’s Two Sessions, National Committee members Ma Xulin, Director of the Universal Service Department of the State Post Bureau, National People’s Congress deputy Zhang Jindong, Chairman of Suning Holdings Group, and National Committee member Shu Yuhui, Chairman of Tianjin Quanjian Group, among others, also put forward their views and recommendations on “green packaging.”
2
New Changes in Express Packaging: New National Standard Takes Effect on September 1
However, in relative terms, the promulgation of the new national standard for express delivery packaging has made the requirements for express delivery cartons more specific. On February 6, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the Standardization Administration of China officially released the series of national standards titled “Express Delivery Packaging Materials,” which came into effect on September 1, 2018.
This national standard comprises three components: courier envelopes, packaging boxes, and packaging bags, with the primary revision criteria focusing on waste reduction, environmental friendliness, recyclability, and scientific rationality. Among these, the provisions most relevant to the paper packaging industry are as follows:
The specifications and dimensions of the envelope have been adjusted; the material basis weight requirement has been lowered (with cardboard material having a basis weight of no less than 200 g/m²); limits for heavy metals have been added; and the printing requirements have been revised.
The classification of packaging boxes has been revised to include Type 1 packaging boxes designed for containing articles with a net weight not exceeding 3 kg and overall internal dimensions not greater than 450 mm.
The basic modular dimensions for packaging boxes have been increased, with the proposed standard box size set at 600 mm × 400 mm.
The packaging box material requirements have been revised, with specific performance criteria—such as burst strength, edge crush resistance, and puncture resistance—now specified for different box models; no longer are there explicit stipulations regarding the selection of single- or double-wall corrugated board.
The content on reusable express delivery packaging boxes has been added; the newly revised materials stipulate that such reusable boxes shall comply with the relevant provisions of GB/T 32568, “General Technical Requirements for Heavy-Duty Reusable Packaging Boxes.”
A requirement has been added that “the sides of packaging boxes shall be printed with the reuse standard” to meet the need for the collection and reuse of express delivery packaging boxes.
Under these circumstances, developing green logistics has become a consensus across the industry. According to sources familiar with Cainiao’s “Green Initiative,” in 2018 the Cainiao Green Alliance Public Welfare Fund will allocate RMB 10 million to advance green packaging upgrades by focusing on areas such as lightweighting, recyclability, and innovative alternatives for logistics packaging, while increasing investment in the research and development of new materials and technologies.
However, genuine implementation will require overcoming high costs and significant challenges in execution. On the one hand, the new national standard is not a mandatory requirement but rather a recommended, guidance-oriented standard, which naturally makes enforcement more difficult. On the other hand, many persistent obstacles remain unresolved—for example, the recycling of express delivery cardboard boxes. Since a comprehensive end-to-end system has yet to be established, the cost of collection for courier companies remains relatively high.
However, judging from the actions of governments and enterprises over the past few years, the green and reduced-use of express delivery cardboard boxes has become a clear trend, and the challenges currently being faced are merely a matter of time.
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