Accelerate the green transformation of express packaging! The State Council revised the regulations on express delivery

Recently, Premier Li Qiang of The State Council signed a State Council order to promulgate the "Decision of The State Council on Amending the Interim Regulations on Express Delivery" (hereinafter referred to as the "Decision"). The Decision shall come into effect as of June 1, 2025.

This revision of the "Interim Regulations on Express Delivery" focuses on the governance of express delivery packaging, promoting the greening, reduction and recyclability of express delivery packaging, and encouraging express delivery enterprises and senders to use degradable and reusable environmentally friendly packaging materials. A dedicated chapter on "Express Packaging" has been added, focusing on improving the system and measures for the design, production, use, recycling and disposal of express packaging, and clarifying the responsibilities of various entities such as enterprises, the government, industry organizations and express users.

Chapter Six Express Packaging

Article 37 The packaging of express delivery shall meet the requirements of the production and operation of express delivery, save the use of resources, avoid excessive packaging and prevent environmental pollution.

The administrative department for standardization under The State Council and the postal administration under The State Council and other departments shall, in accordance with their respective duties, organize the formulation of national and industry standards for express packaging. Express delivery packaging shall comply with mandatory national standards.

Article 38 The state encourages scientific and technological innovation and supports the research and development and production of express packaging that meets the requirements of green environmental protection by adopting new technologies, new materials and new processes.

Article 39 Enterprises engaged in express delivery business shall, on the premise of ensuring the safety of express delivery, optimize the packaging methods and packaging structure design of express delivery and save the use of packaging materials.

Encourage enterprises engaged in express delivery business to use packaging materials that have passed the green product certification.

Article 40 The state promotes the coordinated development of enterprises engaged in express delivery business with commodity manufacturing enterprises and e-commerce enterprises, promotes the direct delivery of goods in their original packaging, and reduces secondary packaging in the delivery process.

Article 41 Enterprises engaged in express delivery business shall formulate and implement express delivery packaging operation norms and strengthen the training of their employees in express delivery packaging operation skills.

Article 42 Enterprises engaged in express delivery business shall formulate and implement management systems for the recycling and utilization of packaging materials, optimize business processes, and increase the recycling and utilization rate of packaging materials.

Encourage the installation of packaging material recycling facilities and equipment in express delivery business premises, enterprises, public institutions, residential communities and other appropriate places.

Article 43 Enterprises engaged in express delivery business shall report to the postal administration department in accordance with relevant state regulations on the use and recycling of disposable plastic products in packaging materials.

Article 44 The relevant departments of The State Council, the people's governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments shall organize and carry out various forms of publicity and education activities. News media shall conduct public welfare publicity to enhance the public's awareness of environmental protection packaging.

Encourage enterprises engaged in express delivery business to guide users to reuse packaging materials through means such as point rewards and shipping discounts.

Article 45 A legally established express delivery industry organization shall incorporate the use and recycling of packaging materials by enterprises engaged in express delivery business into the scope of industry self-discipline and promptly disclose relevant information to the public.

Recently, when answering questions from reporters regarding the "Decision", the heads of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Transport and the State Post Bureau stated that to ensure the smooth implementation of the "Decision", the relevant parties will focus on carrying out three aspects of work:

The first is to continue to do a good job in publicity and implementation. Organize and carry out various forms of publicity and training to help relevant staff members of government departments, enterprises and other parties better understand the content of the "Decision", and ensure that they know and abide by the law. We will carry out in depth the "Five Enters" work of green packaging for express delivery into government agencies, enterprises, communities, schools and families, guide the public to use green packaging and cultivate the concept of green consumption.

The second is to promptly improve the supporting systems. The effective implementation of the "Decision" cannot be achieved without specific and operational provisions in supporting regulations, documents, standards, etc. The Ministry of Transport and the State Post Bureau will, in light of the actual situation and needs, actively promote the formulation and revision of relevant supporting regulations and documents, improve relevant standards, and provide strong support for the smooth implementation of the "Decision".

The third is to strengthen supervision and inspection. Taking the implementation of the "Decision" as an opportunity, the postal administration department will intensify law enforcement and supervision by organizing nationwide spot checks and conducting sampling tests on express packaging, etc., to investigate and deal with illegal acts in accordance with the law, promote the in-depth development of express packaging governance work, and continuously improve the governance effectiveness.

The express delivery industry is an important component of modern service industry. It is a modern leading industry that promotes the transformation of circulation methods and the upgrading of consumption. It plays a significant role in reducing circulation costs, supporting e-commerce, serving production and life, and expanding employment channels. In 2024, the cumulative volume of express delivery services across the country reached 175 billion pieces, representing a 245% increase from 50.7 billion pieces in 2018 and a 21% rise from 132 billion pieces in 2023. It is projected that the volume will exceed 200 billion pieces by 2025.