What do we know about the “plastic ban”?

How much do we really know about the “Plastic Restriction Order”? What alternatives should we use after the order is implemented? And why is there now a push to promote fully biodegradable and completely degradable food containers? Sichuan editors have compiled these key points—read on, and you’ll find out.

Hainan Declares War on “White Pollution”

In April 2018, the “Guiding Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Supporting Hainan’s Comprehensive Deepening of Reform and Opening-up” explicitly stated that the production, sale, and use of single-use non-degradable plastic bags and plastic tableware are to be comprehensively banned in Hainan, and that the promotion of green packaging in the railway transport sector is to be accelerated.

On March 19, 2020, Hainan Province issued the “Catalogue of Single-Use Non-Degradable Plastic Products Prohibited from Production, Sale, and Use in Hainan Province (First Batch),” which covers two categories: single-use non-degradable plastic film bags and plastic tableware. By the end of 2025, the province will impose a comprehensive ban on the production, sale, and use of all plastic products listed in the catalogue, and will fully transition to the use of biodegradable tableware.

Which plastic products are primarily prohibited?

Hainan Province’s first “Plastic Ban Catalog” covers two major categories—single-use non-degradable plastic bags and plastic tableware—as well as 10 subcategories of single-use non-degradable plastic products. These primarily include single-use films, bags, and tableware made from non-biodegradable polymer materials such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Violations of the regulations will be punished by:

Violations of the regulations shall be subject to the following penalties:

Article 20: Any entity that, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, manufactures single-use non-degradable plastic products listed on the prohibition list shall be ordered by the market supervision and administration department of the people’s government at or above the county level to cease production, have the illegally manufactured single-use non-degradable plastic products confiscated, and be imposed a fine of no less than RMB 50,000 but no more than RMB 200,000; if the value of the goods exceeds RMB 200,000, a fine equal to the value of the goods shall be imposed; any illegal gains shall be confiscated; and in cases of serious violations, the business license shall be revoked in accordance with the law.

Article 21: Any violation of the provisions of these Regulations involving the sale of single-use, non-degradable plastic products listed on the prohibition list shall be subject to an order for rectification issued by the market supervision and administration department of the people’s government at or above the county level, confiscation of the said single-use, non-degradable plastic products, and a fine ranging from RMB 30,000 to RMB 200,000; where the value of the goods exceeds RMB 200,000, a fine equal to the value of the goods shall be imposed; any illegal gains shall be confiscated; and in cases of serious circumstances, the business license shall be revoked in accordance with the law. In particular, retailers and vendors who sell single-use, non-degradable plastic products listed on the prohibition list shall be ordered to rectify by the market supervision and administration department of the people’s government at or above the county level, have such products confiscated, and be fined no more than RMB 1,000.

Article 22: Any entity that, in violation of the provisions of these Measures, transports or stores single-use non-degradable plastic products listed on the prohibition list shall have such products confiscated by the market supervision and administration authorities under the people’s governments at or above the county level, and shall be subject to a fine of RMB 10,000. For violations involving an amount of goods exceeding RMB 100,000, a fine equal to the value of the goods shall be imposed; where illegal gains are obtained, such gains shall be confiscated.

Units and individuals other than those specified in the preceding paragraph that use single-use, non-degradable plastic products listed on the prohibition list shall be subject to criticism and education by the people’s government of the township or the subdistrict office; if they refuse to make corrections, the township people’s government or the subdistrict office shall report the matter to the local market supervision and administration department, which shall order them to make corrections, confiscate the single-use, non-degradable plastic products, and may impose a fine of no more than RMB 1,000; in addition, a supplementary fine of no more than RMB 50 may also be imposed. Takeout food containers must be fully biodegradable.

Disposable cornstarch tableware is of great significance in conserving timber, protecting forest resources, and safeguarding the natural environment, and can build on the established production base of the existing plastics industry to guide the development of new products.