These outrageous express deliveries received on Double Eleven are so ridiculous that I can’t even saw them open with a knife

Have the "good things" you bought on Double 11 arrived one after another? Have you ever received a package like this:

The package is so tightly tied that it is very difficult to open it.

@LegnaSilvia/Xiaohongshu

The type that goes to great lengths just to give you a fork;

The lonely little tube lived in the big house;

@Cross Country Totoro/Xiaohongshu

A pile of plastic filler that looks like a vomited courier box at first glance;

@Tangyuan is not sweet, no money/Xiaohongshu

Each grape lives in a "single room";

@日光倾城♣/Little Red Book

Each box only contains a 125ml bottle of milk. This is a "luxury villa"!

There are so many layers of packaging, like Russian dolls, wrapped tightly with tape; small products use huge boxes, and the fillers seem to be about to "spit out" after opening the box. The value of the exquisite packaging is almost greater than the product itself... They all have a common name - over-packaging .

What is excessive packaging and what is considered green packaging is not just a vague concept, but has clear regulations. Let's take a look at the express deliveries you have received recently to see which ones meet the requirements of green packaging.

I don't want to peel off my express delivery layer by layer

"Excessive packaging" means that the packaging exceeds the normal packaging function requirements of mail and express items, and exceeds the necessary level in terms of packaging material selection, number of packaging layers, packaging void ratio, filler or packaging tape use . The "Green Packaging Specifications for Mail and Express Items" and "Requirements for Limiting Excessive Packaging of Mail and Express Items" issued by the State Post Bureau have made clear provisions for express packaging.

Packaging selection

In terms of packaging selection, these two documents set requirements for packaging, packaging tape, and thermal insulation boxes. For example, the width of the tape should not exceed 45 mm, and the thermal insulation box should be shipped directly as the outer packaging .

White foam insulation boxes like this should be shipped directly as outer packaging, without putting express bags or boxes on the outside｜TuChong Creative

Packaging layers

In terms of the number of packaging layers, in addition to requiring that the original packaging of mail and express parcels should not be repackaged , a very detailed recommended table for the number of packaging layers is also provided.

If you buy soft items like clothes, and put them in two layers of express bags in addition to the packaging of the clothes themselves, or put them in an express box and then put them in another express bag, it is over-packaging.

Recommended number of packaging layers for mail and express items | YZ/T 0178-2021 "Requirements for limiting excessive packaging of mail and express items"

Packaging tape

In terms of the use of packaging tape, the document gives specific operating methods for different types of packaging boxes, such as "I"-shaped, "X"-shaped, "艹"-shaped, and "I"-shaped packaging methods; and requires that the tape should not be connected at the beginning and end and should not be wrapped repeatedly during the packaging and wrapping process .

Swipe right to see the specific packaging box model regulations | Figure 1: YZ/T 0171-2019 Basic requirements for mail and express packaging; Figure 2: GB/T 16606.2-2018 Express packaging supplies Part 2: Packaging boxes

If you buy a 3kg bottle of laundry detergent online, the tape on its package should be in the shape of a “straight line”. If you buy a similar product and the package you receive is “tightly tied up”, that’s also overpackaging!

Example of “I” shaped package｜Drawing by the author

Filling

In terms of the use of fillers, the document not only requires the selection of matching packaging materials according to the type of items and the rational use of fillers, but also clearly defines the packaging void ratio : the packaging void ratio of soft items shall not exceed 10%, and the packaging void ratio of hard items shall not exceed 20%.

Small items, big packaging, the void ratio of this packaging is more than 80% | Xiaohongshu user @明明喜欢

In addition, for irregularly shaped parts, we are also required to adhere to the principles of economy and environmental protection, ensure delivery safety, and avoid excessive packaging.

Have you ever received a courier with green packaging?

The standards mentioned above only clarify the "lower limit" to avoid excessive packaging. So what kind of packaging is green packaging? Is there any "excellent work" that is more comprehensive than the standards?

Original straight hair

In fact, waste express packaging is a mixture of product packaging, e-commerce packaging, and delivery service packaging . "Original direct delivery" integrates e-commerce product packaging with express packaging , reducing the "secondary packaging" of e-commerce products in the delivery process.

This has become one of the more common "green packaging" methods. As of the end of September this year, the proportion of e-commerce express parcels nationwide that no longer require secondary packaging has exceeded 90%.

Integrate product packaging and express packaging, and ship directly without additional packaging｜JD Logistics

Glue-free carton

In addition to plastic express packaging bags, packaging tape is also one of the main sources of express plastic waste. According to estimates, the average amount of tape used for each express delivery in China is 0.8 meters. In 2022, the postal industry will complete 139.1 billion pieces of delivery business, and the tape consumed in a year can wrap around the earth thousands of times .

In recent years, some businesses have launched "glue-free cartons" and "zero-glue cartons". Through the design of built-in buckles on the packaging boxes , there is no need to use tape for packaging. Compared with adjusting the width of tape and limiting the amount of tape used, this approach can achieve the goal of reducing plastic from the source.

Tape box | @傲骨净尘/zcool

Air capsule

In addition to packaging bags and tapes, plastic fillers such as inflatable columns and bubble wrap are another major source of express delivery plastic waste.

In 2021, P&G independently developed and launched a green and innovative e-commerce packaging - "Air Capsule". This packaging combines express packaging, inflatable columns, and tape into one . You only need to put the goods in and send them directly, without the need for filling materials, express cartons, and sealing with tape. Moreover, it is made of 100% single recyclable materials . Compared with traditional multi-layer composite materials, this single-material packaging is easier to sort and recycle.

In addition, the packaging is lighter than traditional cartons and can effectively reduce the weight of express packaging by more than 40% , effectively reducing express freight and fuel consumption, and reducing carbon emissions during transportation.

“Air Capsule” | Procter & Gamble

Circular Express Box

Compared with traditional express boxes that are used once or recycled for secondary use, recyclable express boxes have a longer lifespan and are an important means of reducing the amount of express packaging waste at the source. The national standard "Green Product Evaluation of Express Packaging Supplies" requires that products such as recyclable express boxes can be reused more than or equal to 20 times and have a reusable logo printed on them .

Many logistics companies have launched their own recyclable packaging, such as JD Logistics' "Qingliu Box" and SF Express's "Feng Duo Bao π-box", which was upgraded based on the first-generation express recycling box "Feng Box" independently developed by SF Express. In the corresponding introduction of the brand, these packaging boxes can be recycled for more than 50-70 times.

SF Express's "π-box" uses a single material, PP honeycomb sheet , which is easy to clean and not easy to break, and can well protect the goods in the box. The box is fastened with Velcro, and no tape is needed to seal it.

JD Logistics' "Qingliu Box" and SF Express's π-box｜JD Logistics (left), SF Express (right)

For recycled express boxes to be recycled, merchants or logistics companies must collect the boxes from users, which is also commonly referred to as "reverse logistics" in the industry. The trouble of recycling is the primary difficulty in promoting recycled express packaging to individual users . At present, the recycling of express boxes either relies on consumers signing for them in person for recycling, or requires delivery personnel to collect them at home a second time.

How do recyclable express boxes “circulate”? | SF Holding 2021 Annual Sustainability Report

In addition to the "excellent work" mentioned above, there are many other aspects of green express packaging, such as using environmentally friendly printing inks or unprinted cartons, choosing appropriate packaging sizes, reducing the use of fillers, etc.

In addition to recycling , we can also exercise the right to monitor and evaluate

For the express cartons we receive, we can leave them at the post station for secondary use; or try to keep the cartons clean and send them to waste recyclers for recycling. In fact, paper packaging waste such as envelopes and packaging boxes are now mostly recycled through outlets, post stations, and social recycling, and more than 90% can be recycled .

However, plastic waste packaging rarely enters the recycling channel. In fact, not only ordinary plastic bottles can be recycled, but also express packaging and filling plastics can be recycled. The technology of applying recycled plastics to express bags is also mature , and some express bags you receive may be made of recycled plastics.

However, the price of recycling these plastics is very low, and there is a lack of convenient recycling channels , so the current recycling volume of discarded express bags cannot meet market demand. For individuals, we can leave these plastic products at the post station for the sender to use again. This may be the easiest way for ordinary people to recycle plastic packaging.

In addition to recycling the courier bags and boxes we receive, we should also not forget to exercise our rights to supervise and evaluate when we consume on e-commerce platforms. Before purchasing, we can have a general understanding of the merchant's product packaging and choose a merchant with more reasonable packaging ; after purchasing, we can also communicate with the merchant or leave comments about the packaging in the product review area to encourage the merchant to reduce packaging waste.

At the end of last month, a total of 23 express delivery, e-commerce and packaging companies signed and issued the "Self-discipline Convention of the Express Industry to Limit Excessive Packaging of Express Delivery" under the leadership of the China Express Association. The convention mentioned that the member units of the convention should establish and improve the information disclosure mechanism of express packaging, actively disclose the express packaging situation to the society, and accept public supervision .

How was the package of the express you received on this year's "Double 11"? Was it the troublesome over-packaging or the excellent green packaging? Were you one of the lucky 1% who received recycled express packaging?

The Circular Economy Industry Research Center of the School of Environment at Tsinghua University is currently collecting images of express packaging, including photos of individual packages and photos of station shelves , and then using image recognition technology to identify the materials of the express packaging to promote the "reduction", "greening" and "circularization" of express packaging.

When you receive a parcel, you are welcome to take a picture of the courier packaging with just a few clicks . Let us work together to promote the greening of courier packaging!

References

[1] State Post Bureau holds regular press conference for the fourth quarter of 2023 https://www.spb.gov.cn/gjyzj/c100015/c100016/202310/71567a579713447d92163bdea2499fb9.shtml

[2] YZ/T 0178-2021 “Requirements for Limiting Excessive Packaging of Mail and Express Items”

Author: Li Zilin

Editor: Little Towel, Mai Mai

Title image source: @汤圆不甜不要钱/Xiaohongshu

Some of the images in this article that are not marked with their source have been authorized by the author. At the author's request, the source is not marked.