Past and present from plastic restriction to plastic ban

——The second report in the series of "Prohibition of plastics, we are in action, don't let this bag ruin the next generation"

On November 29, 2020, we reported that "We are in action to ban plastics, don’t let this bag ruin the next generation", which caused a strong response from the society and achieved the effect of propagating the ban on plastics. The ban on plastics in Hainan is only the whole country. A pioneer in the ban on plastics, an experimental field. Therefore, we must continue to carry out a series of reports to continue to support the ban on plastics throughout the country, and continue to cheer for China's environmental protection cause and the health of the people! Shout!

　　 For a long time, "white garbage" has caused incalculable damage to our country's ecological environment. The production of "white garbage" that is difficult to degrade can be said to be contrary to the original intention of building a green China. On January 8, 2008, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Notice on Restricting the Production and Sales of Plastic Shopping Bags". From June 1, the production and sales of ultra-thin plastic bags will be prohibited nationwide, and plastic bags will be paid for. Use the system.

 As time goes by, the ban on plastics is imperative. A charming province is using actual actions to prove that plastic bans are not just talking. On the first day of December in 2020, Hainan Province officially implemented the "Provisions on the Prohibition of Plastics in Hainan." In fact, as early as April last year, the Hainan Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment issued the "Notice on Prohibiting the Production and Sale of One-Time Non-degradable Plastic Products Pilot Work", clarifying that Hainan will be divided into steps and phases from April to November. Organize key industries and places to take the lead in carrying out the "plastic ban" pilot work, laying a solid foundation for the formal and comprehensive implementation of the "plastic ban" from December.

　　 After the ban on plastics was implemented, we had the honor to interview Zhou Hongxun, secretary general of the Hainan Plastics Association. He undoubtedly has a deeper understanding and understanding of the promulgation of the ban on plastics.

　　1. Hainan began to limit plastics in 2008. Hainan Plastics Association has many restricted member units. As a bridge between the government and enterprises, your association is a bridge between the government and enterprises. Would you please recall the past and present history of plastic limited in the past?

　　 Zhou Hongxun: Okay. Hainan Province has always had a firm "no" attitude towards "white garbage". Hainan Province is very beautiful, surrounded by the sea, with a coastline of 1823 kilometers and 68 large and small harbors. At the same time, the pollution caused by "white garbage" is also very serious. As early as 2008, according to the unified national regulations, the whole island of Hainan entered the stage of "plastic limit", stipulating that the thickness of plastic bags must exceed 0.03 mm from the production and sales of disposable plastic. The use of tableware is prohibited; the system of paid use of plastic shopping bags is implemented; the supervision and inspection of plastic shopping bags with restricted production and sales are strengthened; the recycling level of waste plastics is improved, etc.

　　 2. What is the timeline from plastic restriction to plastic ban, and what specific measures have been taken during the transition period?

　　 Zhou Hongxun: In fact, "plastic limit" mainly relies on charging consumers for plastic bags to regulate the market and restrict use. Now, the "ban on plastics" means to prohibit the production and use of non-degradable plastic products on the island from the source. Nothing can be said to be in place in one step. The ban on plastics does not mean that all plastic products will be "banned" immediately. It is easy and difficult. First, it prohibits the production, sale and use of disposable non-degradable plastic bags and plastics listed in the list. Tableware, etc., gradually transition.

　　 3. What problems and difficulties have appeared in the process of plastic restriction, and what results have been achieved in the past ten years of plastic restriction?

　　 Zhou Hongxun: In 2008, according to the unified national regulations, the whole island of Hainan entered the "plastic limit" stage. However, due to consumption habits and production costs, the use of traditional plastic bags is still huge. Plastic restriction has obvious effects on large supermarkets. The use of plastic bags in these places has been significantly reduced, but it has little effect on the farmers' market. However, after more than ten years of implementation of plastic restrictions, people’s awareness of environmental protection has increased significantly, and they have a clearer understanding of the dangers of white waste, and their ideological support for plastic restrictions and bans is also more obvious. These are very beneficial to our next work.

　　 4. If plastics are banned, there will be benefits in the long run, but what impact will it bring to life in the short term?

　　 Zhou Hongxun: People may find it difficult to get used to the shopping environment without plastic bags for a while, and feel a little inconvenience. They may also have some concerns about plastic alternative products, such as whether the price will increase, whether it actually meets environmental protection requirements, etc.

　　 5. Will there be alternative products after the ban on plastics is implemented? Can it be promoted on a large scale? Is it economical and durable, forming a virtuous circle?

　　 Zhou Hongxun: After the comprehensive "plastic ban", fully biodegradable plastic products will become the main substitute for traditional plastic products. The main raw material of this product is starch and other degradable raw materials, and its performance is the same as that of plastic products on the market. Prohibiting the use of traditional plastic bags, ensuring the supply of alternatives is the key. Hainan is planning to establish a demonstration base for the fully biodegradable plastics industry, organize the formulation of industrial development plans, and introduce advanced enterprises to cooperate with local enterprises to form the island's production capacity for fully biodegradable plastic products.

　　6. ​​The Secretary-General has participated from the restriction to the ban on plastics. What are your good suggestions for the ban on plastics?

　　 Zhou Hongxun: As a specific participant in the plastic restriction, I hope that the existing traditional plastic production enterprises in the province will transform and upgrade as soon as possible, and initially form the production capacity of substitutes. The existing projects should be accelerated to implement the new production capacity as soon as possible.

　　From plastic restriction to plastic ban, what is needed is a general mobilization of the people. Only in this way can "white pollution" be expected to be contained. Please start with yourself, practice the concept that green water and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains, widely publicize the ban on plastics to family members, neighbors and friends, and advocate scientific, environmentally friendly, civilized and healthy production and lifestyle.

 On December 2, 2020, the reporter went to major supermarkets in Haikou to learn about the actual situation of alternatives. In Haikou International Trade and RT-Mart Supermarket, it was found that all the prohibited varieties have been removed from the shelves. There are only a dozen varieties of tableware, garbage bags, shopping bags, straws and other substitutes. Most of the tableware types are only a few varieties of aluminum platinum boxes and only two papers. Plates, several eco-friendly food bags. Later, I went to the Jinlong Road Carrefour store and learned from the Haikou headquarters manager that all three Carrefour stores in Haikou are out of stock, and currently there are only a dozen alternative varieties on the shelves. It’s not that I don’t want to sell, but there is no source of goods. Some orders are for ten days. The goods have not arrived yet, and some of them cannot be put on the shelves without their certificates. In the afternoon, I went to Haiken Ke Runjia Supermarket on Haixiu Road in Haikou and learned that all the unqualified products in their store had been taken off the shelves, and the substitutes had been ordered for more than ten days, but none of them arrived, and the shelves were empty. The three types of eco-bags they bought, the large and medium octagonal and hexagonal coins, are twice as expensive as the original four-corners and three-corners, especially the smallest ones that only cost a few cents, but now they have one more triangle. It is ten times more expensive than the original one. Moreover, any supermarkets of this variety are provided free of charge. The supermarkets suffer huge losses. They all hope that the government will provide a little subsidy. Otherwise, they can only raise prices and transfer crops to consumers. By. Wanghao Supermarket in Sunshine City, Haikou is just a little substitute. Before the ban on plastics, there were 80 varieties of drinking utensils. Now there are only two alternatives. The daily sales volume was about 50 packs. Now, except for the food store, other people buy very few. There used to be more than 100 varieties of garbage bags, but now there are no more. There are more than 30 varieties of paper cups, but now they are just a substitute, and sales are three times less. From the perspective of several large and representative supermarkets in Haikou, the impact is huge. Through more than ten years of plastic-limiting experiments, we let everyone understand the harmfulness of some non-degradable plastics to the body, and the importance of plastic-limiting and banning plastics. That's why we have gained public attention and support. Restricted plastic products are still common for more than ten years. In fact, the main reason is that they have not cultivated corresponding substitutes in the market and formed a complete environmental protection product industrial chain. The price cost is much higher than that of the original products. There is no market. The competitive advantage has led to the problem of limited plastics for more than ten years. Nowadays, the people's awareness of environmental protection has greatly increased. The leaders of the Party Central Committee and the government are determined to ban plastics. Everything has a long-lasting substitute. These problems are also expected.

Therefore, we recommend: 1. With the help of the preferential policies for the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, step up to attract leading national enterprises in the industrialization of environmental protection, and even world-class outstanding enterprises to invest in the construction of relevant industrial chains in Hainan. The relevant government departments should pay attention to policies and funds. Increase support, let them invest in construction immediately, put into production as soon as possible, and produce qualified environmentally friendly products to fill the market space.

　　Second, the government must provide a certain percentage of support funds to transform and upgrade the original plastic product companies so that they can produce new products that meet environmental protection requirements as soon as possible, minimize the impact of plastic bans on them, and reduce the probability of corporate failure.

　　 Third, the relevant government departments and industry associations must cooperate closely to find qualified ready-made substitutes throughout the country to come to Hainan, guarantee the variety and quantity of substitutes, and stabilize prices and markets. This is the major issue of protecting people's livelihood.