On August 2, 2021, the "Administrative Measures for the Use and Reporting of Disposable Plastic Products (Draft for Solicitation of Comments)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft for Soliciting Comments") seminar led by the Political Research Office of the CBCGDF was held in Beijing. The meeting focused on sharing and engaging in interactive discussions on the use of disposable plastic products, practical cases and suggestions for report management, and suggestions and comments on the "Draft for Comments". The conference was broadcast live with videos and pictures and texts on platforms such as Baijiahao and Weibo. A total of 2,669 people participated online.

The following is the suggestion of Mr. Zhang Yi, president of China Environmental Protection Alliance for Strategic Emerging Industries:

First, we must treat plastic products dialectically. Plastic is both great and bad. Its greatness is that it greatly facilitates people's lives, and its badness is that it seriously pollutes the ocean and soil. It does bring a lot of convenience in our life and the pollution is made by human. For plastic products, proper use is a good friend, and abusive littering is a bad habit. We want to eliminate pollution, not plastic.

Second, we must standardize the management of disposable plastic products. "Reduce use, standardize use, actively recycle and recycle" should be the main tone of industry management. The purpose of management is to strive to achieve "two improvements, one reduction", that is, to increase the plastic recycling rate, increase the recycling rate, and reduce Usage rate of non-essential disposable plastic products.

Third, we must correctly understand the environmental protection alternative products. For environmental protection substitute products, cannot simply deplastic, plastic products can also do "recyclable, easy to recycle, degradable", some aspects can even do better. In addition to materials and products need continuous innovation, standardized management, strict management, if the whole process management can be implemented is more critical.

Fourth, we must scientifically look at the application of degradable plastics. Degradable plastics have advantages and disadvantages. While being "degradable," they also increase product costs, reduce user experience, and basically lose the characteristics of "recyclability". Moreover, once they enter the ocean or soil, they are more harmful to the ecological environment. Large amounts of plastic particles have the risk of entering the food chain.

In short, plastic products themselves are not our "enemy", but the environmental pollution caused by misuse of littering is our "enemy". What we want to eliminate is pollution, not plastic. "Reduce use, standardize use, actively recycle, oppose littering" is the main tone that we should advocate at this stage.

Author: Zishu

Translator: Estella

Original Chinese article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/VrPGGbqE0p3R-Sw8L-H60g

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