China is preparing to issue a new packaging legislation which takes a life-cycle cradle-to-cradle approach. The suggested legislation will not only ban packaging which is neither reusable, recyclable nor biodegradable, it will also ban PVC and the use of certain materials, ink and dye solvents. The new legislation will also require postconsumer household waste sorting, establish waste collection systems, and the nationwide construction of Eco-Zones, Special Industrial Zones for recycling and reprocessing plants. To be imposed nationwide this packaging legislation is more comprehensive than that of the EU, Germany and Japan. They also plan on stiff penalties for those who do not comply.

As China is the world’s largest packaging producing market and the packaging sector in China is growing by 36% annually, let us all hope it goes as planned. The implications for all players in the Global Packaging Supply Chain are tremendous.