China imposes regulations on excessive consumer packaging to combat domestic waste issues

11 Nov 2021 --- China has announced new restrictions on excessive packaging, requiring all food and cosmetics producers to adhere to specific guidelines determining the volume of packaging allowed in proportion to a product. 

The legislation aims to cut down on empty space and needless material usage in consumer packaging, thereby reducing industry’s environmental footprint. It will impact 31 F&B categories – including oils, meats, dairy, beverages, grains and confectionery – and 16 cosmetics categories.

In conjunction with the Ministry for Industry, the Chinese government’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) will impose the regulations in September 2023, allowing for an industry transition period. 

“According to the Standardization Law, products and services that do not meet mandatory standards shall not be manufactured, sold, imported or provided,” says SAMR’s deputy director Chen Hongjun, in a formal statement.

“After the transition period, the manufacture and sale on the market of foods and cosmetics that do not meet the new standard will be prohibited. Therefore, we call on enterprises to make rectifications as soon as possible during the transition period so as to meet the standard.” 

According to Innova Market Insights, 64% of Chinese consumers say they would be willing to pay more for more environmentally sustainable packaging. However, only 5% of Chinese consumers see limited packaging material as an important issue when shopping online.

Meeting the standard 
Meticulously detailed rules have been laid out specifying the number of packaging layers that will be allowed. Chinese regulators have assigned a value to each of the targeted 46 product categories, which can be used to calculate the volume of empty space permitted within packaging in proportion to the product itself.China is imposing a host of new measures to reduce its energy consumption and curb environmental pollution.

Grain products have a limit of three packaging layers. For example, oat-based snacks can have a wrapper on each product bar, followed by another layer joining all the bars together, and finished with a final layer displaying the producer’s logo. 

All other food categories are allowed a maximum of four packaging layers. A wrapper, stabilizing layer, third external layer and final product logo layer. 

In terms of empty space volume, the coefficients are determined by percentages of packaging per product, based on weight. Items that are 1 g or 1 mL or less are allowed a maximum of 85% empty space. 

For products between 1-5 g, this drops to 70%; for 5-15 g to 60%; for 15-30 g to 50%; for 30-50 g to 40%; and for 50 g and up a maximum of 30%. Producers can plug coefficient numbers into formulas given by the SAMR for each product category to calculate these percentages. 

Additionally, the law now stipulates that no packaging item can cost more than 20% of the product’s retail price. However, the first packaging layer for any item is excluded from this calculation. 

China’s fight to save resources 
The legislation comes as China imposes a host of measures to reduce its energy and resource output. With COP26 in progress, world leaders are discussing international strategies to lower carbon emissions and circularize the global economy.The new Chinese legislation aims to cut down on needless material usage in consumer packaging.

China, in particular, is under the spotlight as the world’s biggest emissions producer.

A recent report by US-based Rhodium Group shows the country emitted 27% of the world’s greenhouse gases in 2019 and emits more greenhouse gases than the entire developed world combined. The country’s emissions have more than tripled over the past three decades, according to the analysis. 

Hongjun says the Standardization Law is needed to curb the pollution and energy wasted on needless packaging, revealing packaging waste in China accounts for some 30-40% of local domestic waste. 

“This [waste] is caused by excessive packaging. Hence, it is important to solve this issue to reduce waste of resources, energy, consumer burden and impact on the environment.”

Last year, China’s National Development and Reform Commission announced the phasing in of a single-use plastics ban, targeting plastic straws and other popular throwaway items. The ban will be gradually implemented across the world’s most populous country by 2025.

By Louis Gore-Langton