Biodegradable plastic bag national standard implemented for 5 years, reducing traditional plastic bags by 20 billion annually

People's Daily, Beijing, July 19 (Reporter Sun Boyang) - The reporter learned from the State Administration for Market Regulation (National Standardization Administration) that since the implementation of the national standard for "Biodegradable Plastic Shopping Bags" more than five years ago, in conjunction with the related policies of the national "Plastic Restriction Order," China has reduced approximately 20 billion traditional plastic bags each year, effectively addressing the issue of "white pollution" caused by improper disposal of traditional plastic waste.

According to reports, national standards stipulate that the raw materials for biodegradable plastic shopping bags must come from biomass resources or synthetic polymers with biodegradable properties, providing technical support for "carbon reduction." Taking polylactic acid (PLA) as an example, biodegradable plastic shopping bags can reduce overall carbon emissions by 70% compared to traditional PE bags. The cumulative reduction in the use of traditional plastic bags over five years is equivalent to saving 1.2 million tons of petroleum resources and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 840,000 tons.

The use of 20 billion traditional plastic bags each year has significantly reduced the proportion of traditional plastics in urban household waste. A relevant official from the National Standardization Administration stated that the national standards classify biodegradable plastic shopping bags into two categories: those for direct contact with food and those for non-food direct contact. It requires clear labeling on shopping bags indicating the corresponding category, specifications, environmental protection, and safety declarations, aligning with consumers' psychological expectations for green consumption. This promotes the transformation of public environmental awareness from "cognition" to "action," with consumer recognition of "degradable bags" increasing by over 50%, and the willingness to pay for their use rising concurrently.

As "degradable bags" become a habitual behavior for citizens shopping in malls, supermarkets, and vegetable markets, the production costs of biodegradable plastic shopping bags have decreased, further promoting the widespread use of "degradable bags." Data from the State Administration for Market Regulation (National Standards Committee) shows that national standards have facilitated the integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation in biodegradable materials. With breakthroughs in biodegradable material technology, the raw material costs of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) have dropped by more than 30% compared to traditional biodegradable plastics, further stimulating production motivation among enterprises. Led by more than 20 leading companies, corresponding industrial clusters have formed in regions such as Zhejiang and Guangdong.

From 2020 to 2024, the annual compound growth rate of biodegradable plastic shopping bag production capacity in China has continuously exceeded 20%. By 2024, the total market output will reach nearly 500,000 tons, with a total output value exceeding 10 billion yuan. It is predicted that by 2030, the production of biodegradable plastic bags in China could reach 2 million tons, with the market capacity exceeding 60 billion yuan.