The United Nations University recently released the world’s first “Regional Electronic Waste Detection” research report, which indicates that 12 countries and regions in Asia constitute the largest consumer group for electronic waste, accounting for nearly half of the market. The amount of discarded electronic products in East Asia and Southeast Asia, including the mainland, has grown by 63% from 2010 to 2015, and the total amount of electronic waste and per capita production have grown rapidly, exceeding population growth and causing pressure on the environment.
The report points out that technological innovation is accelerating the frequency of new product launches, especially the rapid upgrading of portable electronic products, leading to a continuous increase in electronic waste in Asia. UN researchers point out that for countries with inadequate environmental management infrastructure for handling electronic waste, the sharp increase in the amount of electronic waste is worrying.
Mainland China becomes the world’s largest electronic waste dumping site
Researchers warn that improper and illegal dumping of electronic waste is common in most Asian countries and regions, but there is no legislation on electronic waste. It is worth noting that in 2015, the amount of electronic waste generated in mainland China ranked first, at 6.68 million tons.
The report believes that the lack of awareness, disposal sites, and recycling mechanisms for handling electronic waste has led to consumers, dismantling companies, and recyclers becoming illegal dumping entities. Once legislation or management is improper, it can lead to the proliferation of electronic waste.
There is also research data indicating that the mainland is the world’s largest dumping ground for electronic waste, with 30% to 40% of the world’s electronic waste being transported to Asia, of which 70% to 80% is sent to the mainland, causing serious pollution to the local environment.
To this end, since 2016, the mainland authorities have made improvements to address the insufficient regulations and weak recycling technologies for electronic waste, as well as the lack of a sound recycling system. This includes clarifying the responsibilities of management units, implementing the recycling responsibilities of electrical and electronic distributor and wholesaler, and introducing relevant policies and regulations for resource reuse and electronic waste treatment enterprises to improve the recycling rate and harmless treatment of electronic waste.
The report states that electronic waste generally refers to discarded electrical and electronic equipment. Electronic waste contains a large amount of harmful chemical elements, such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, mercury, and heavy metals. If not properly recycled, pollutants will be exposed, posing a threat to environmental pollution and residents’ health. The digital age exacerbates the problem of electronic waste, and countries around the world are paying more attention to the treatment of electronic waste, and regard the recycling and dismantling technology of electronic waste as an emerging industry.
The rampant waste and pollution caused by express delivery in mainland China cannot be ignored
According to data released by the State Post Bureau, the express delivery volume in 2016 was 31.35 billion pieces, an increase of over 50% compared to 20.6 billion pieces in 2015, and has been growing at an annual rate of over 50% for six consecutive years. Behind the impressive statistics, there is a hidden concern about the massive amount of garbage caused by express packaging. How to reduce packaging waste pollution and effectively recycle and reuse it has become an urgent environmental issue to be solved.
The amount of consumables used for express packaging is even more astonishing. Based on an average of 0.2 kilograms per packaging box, at least 627000 tons of packaging boxes were added in 2017, which could fill 310000 football fields. In 2015 alone, with only the total length of tape used for packaging, it could circle the earth 425 times. However, in mainland China, there are no regulations or requirements for express packaging, except for the express waybill, which is entirely handled by enterprises or consumers themselves.
The increase in the total volume of express delivery is the main cause of the surge in packaging waste. For e-commerce, reducing packaging materials is a consensus. However, in order to avoid disputes and return troubles caused by damage to goods during transportation, even if the “inner three layers, outer three layers” increase protection will raise costs, most still hold a “more than less” mentality, resulting in the weight of many packaging materials even exceeding the product itself.
Reducing express delivery waste is clearly the key to e-commerce’s sense of social responsibility. However, the high cost of environmentally friendly packaging and the lack of standards for the production and use of express packaging indirectly affect the proliferation of express packaging waste. In terms of plastic bags, the non decomposable price is 0.08 yuan, but the decomposable price is 4 to 5 times higher, which often makes it difficult for enterprises to purchase.
The low environmental awareness of consumers is also a problem. Some e-commerce and express delivery companies have initiated the idea of recycling packaging for points and exchanging points for gifts to increase consumers’ willingness to recycle. Some local governments have also launched apps that provide online appointment for recycling waste, and people come to collect it. But besides cardboard boxes, the recycling and reuse of packaging materials such as tape, packaging boxes, and woven bags are not ideal.
In order to solve the problem of packaging waste in express delivery, multiple express delivery companies have responded by strengthening the promotion of recycling packaging and garbage classification; Replace traditional woven bags with reusable canvas bags or plastic transit boxes; Using biodegradable materials for cardboard boxes, seals, waybills, and stickers to reduce waste generation.
Industry insiders believe that in order to solve the problem of packaging waste, it is necessary to first address the issue of increased costs. Different entities need to share the cost of environmental improvement, including national policy support, subsidies for enterprises and logistics, and consumers should also bear some of the expenses.
November 11, 2021
