Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. With over 400 million tonnes of plastic produced worldwide each year—and less than 10 percent recycled—the planet is grappling with a crisis that threatens ecosystems and wildlife.
Recognizing the urgency, the United Nations has declared “Ending Plastic Pollution” as the theme for World Environment Day on June 5, 2025. This global call to action emphasizes the need for systemic solutions that address production, consumption, and waste management.
China’s Pioneering Efforts
The Chinese mainland has taken significant strides in combating plastic pollution through policy guidance and technological innovation. In September 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment introduced a comprehensive plan to control plastic pollution during the 14th Five-Year Plan. The goal? By 2025, establish a fully operational governance mechanism with notable improvements in the entire lifecycle of plastic products.
Local governments have embraced waste sorting and built recycling stations to manage plastic waste at its source. By the end of 2024, e-commerce platforms achieved a 95 percent rate of parcels without secondary packaging. Smart packaging algorithms reduced material usage by 20 percent, and companies like Cainiao implemented green logistics, saving over 100,000 tonnes of packaging material by using recyclable plastic boxes up to 50 times.
Meanwhile, JD.com cut down its plastic-tape usage by reducing the width of its packing tape from 53 mm to 40 mm, resulting in a total reduction of 13,352 tonnes of plastic tape.
Innovation Leading the Way
Technological innovation is driving the green transition. Traditional polyethylene mulch films used in agriculture often leave behind fragments that pollute the soil for decades. To tackle this, Chinese research teams have developed biodegradable mulch films made from materials like PBAT, PLA, PPC, and PHAs. These films degrade naturally in the soil through microbial action, eliminating the need for manual collection.
By 2023, over 20 provinces, including Hainan and Shandong, have piloted the use of these biodegradable films on crops like potatoes and peanuts. There’s also promising research into biomass-based films, which use straw and animal manure combined with microbial polymers, potentially replacing conventional films entirely.
Global Actions for a Global Issue
Other nations are also stepping up. France’s 2020 Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Law banned plastic packaging for 30 types of fruits and vegetables starting January 2022. Spain enacted a law in 2022 aiming to reduce single-use plastics by 50 percent by 2026 and 70 percent by 2030, compared to 2022 levels. These measures include extended producer responsibility, requiring plastic producers to fund awareness campaigns and cleanup efforts.
The Road Ahead
Despite these advancements, ending plastic pollution requires sustained action from everyone. Consumers can make a difference by choosing reusable alternatives. Policymakers must continue to enforce and strengthen circular economy measures, and scientists should keep innovating biodegradable technologies.
Only through global cooperation and combined efforts can we envision a world free from plastic waste—a cleaner, healthier planet for current and future generations.
