Based on research, explore the pollution control path of take-away packaging plastics
At present, the environmental protection problems in the take-away industry mainly focus on disposable packaging wastes. Reducing the amount of packaging wastes from the source, reducing the amount of packaging wastes entering the terminal link and properly disposing of them are the key to solve the problem. How to implement these measures, on the one hand, we need to analyze the environmental impact of various packaging materials from the perspective of the whole life cycle, and find out the economic, reasonable, technically feasible and environmentally friendly solutions; On the other hand, it is necessary to deeply analyze the operation mode of the industrial chain, including the production, transportation, use and disposal of products, clarify the responsibilities and power points of each subject, accurately identify the business characteristics, and find the path with the highest efficiency. Since its establishment, Castle Peak Plan has adhered to a scientific and rigorous attitude, linked with industry institutions, experts and scholars to carry out a series of investigations and forward-looking studies, and initiated the establishment of the "Environmental Advisory Group for the Special Fund of the US Mission Takeaway Castle Peak Plan" in conjunction with the China Environmental Protection Foundation, and explored solutions.
—— Focus on the scientificity of the governance direction of life-cycle environmental impact assessment
In order to systematically assess the environmental impact of the whole process of take-away, Meituan and Tsinghua University Institute of Environment conducted a joint study on the environmental impact of the take-away industry, and based on the life-cycle theory, constructed an analysis framework of the whole industry chain of take-away. The overall research shows that the environmental impact of disposable packaging involves many subjects and links of production, transportation, use and disposal, and the environmental impact of packaging made of different materials is different in different links. It is not possible to solve the problem by simply replacing a certain material directly, so it is necessary to consider the scientific management path design from the perspective of the whole life cycle.
—— Feasibility of reducing plastic pollution path based on production and circulation links
Due to the particularity of Chinese food, there is no better substitute material for plastic lunch boxes at present, which is difficult to achieve overnight. It is necessary to combine the actual situation, promote the standardization and greening of the whole industry chain through multiple measures, such as source reduction, developing green packaging and large-scale recycling of lunch boxes, and gradually open up all links.
—— Promoting the construction of participation mechanism of all parties to effectively promote the green and low-carbon development of the take-away industry
It is inseparable from the fact that the participants in the whole industrial chain bear the same but different environmental responsibilities, establish a correct concept of environmental protection in cognition, support the research and development of new materials and technological breakthroughs, guide market participants to match the supply and demand of environmental protection, and promote the change of consumption behavior through reasonable mechanism design. In this process, as a platform for transaction performance, it can play an important role of convergence and extensive connection, prompting all parties to form a joint force on the basis of conforming to the laws of economic and market development, promoting the smooth operation of the industrial chain, coping with the plastic governance problems and promoting the green transformation of the industry.
Implement the "Castle Peak Plan" to promote the green and low-carbon development of the take-away industry
Castle Peak Plan focuses on the green and low-carbon development of the industry, drives all ecological parties to build a harmonious life between man and nature, and establishes four sections: green packaging, low-carbon ecology, Castle Peak technology and Castle Peak public welfare to accelerate the green development of the industry.
—— Green packaging, which promotes the "greening" of take-away catering packaging
and carries out green ecological design. Meituan and the Joint Working Group of Green Recycled Plastics Supply Chain jointly issued the Detailed Rules for the Evaluation of Plastic Products-Evaluation Criteria for Disposable Food and Beverage Plastic Packaging Containers, which is based on the General Rules for the Evaluation of Plastic Products' Recycled and Recycled Design and is the first completely independent design standard system for plastic products in China.
building green standards and specifications. Participate in the formulation of environmental protection packaging standards for take-away, promote the development of standardized environmental protection packaging, and participate in the formulation of General Technical Requirements for Disposable Degradable Tableware, General Technical Requirements for Paper Green Take-away Packaging, and Environmental Protection Handbag for Recycled Polypropylene Nonwovens, as well as the local standards of Shanghai, General Technical Requirements for Delivery Bags for Food Service (Network) and General Technical Requirements for Paper Bowls for Food Service (Network) Take-away.
increase the supply of green packaging. We will cooperate with China Pulp and Paper Research Institute, China Plastics Processing Industry Association and its special committee on degradable plastics, packaging manufacturers and catering businesses to carry out take-away packaging innovation and incubation, and constantly explore innovative and practical green packaging schemes that meet the practical needs of catering businesses. The recommended list of green packaging for Castle Peak Plan in 2121 was released. On the basis of the two categories of "degradable plastics" and "paper" in the first batch of recommended lists in 2121, the category of "easily recyclable and renewable plastic packaging containers" was added, and 161 innovative and environmentally-friendly packaging schemes from 111 product manufacturers were provided to all take-away merchants.
promote green products by matching supply and demand. Meituan selected and funded new innovative packaging for merchants to try out and promote. Twenty-eight innovative packaging products from seven suppliers were hatched and provided to 931,111 sets of free trials for catering enterprises nationwide, and the feedback was continuously optimized. Hold innovative exchange activities on food and beverage take-away packaging for different dishes. Such as focusing on "porridge, stew, dessert" scenes. In conjunction with Hainan Plastics Association, a biodegradable product distribution center was established and settled in the self-operated area of Meituan takeaway service market, and a trading platform for environmental protection packaging products in Hainan was established.
promote the large-scale recycling of lunch boxes. Cooperate with the government, communities, universities, NGOs, catering businesses, recycling and recycling enterprises, etc., and explore the model of classified recycling and recycling of plastic lunch boxes. More and more plastic lunch boxes are converted to recycling resources. More than 1,511 garbage sorting and lunch box recycling pilots have been carried out in Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and other places, covering seven types of scenes such as campuses, communities, office buildings, restaurants and scenic spots. Among them, the first city-level pilot project was launched in Xiamen in April 2121. The project covers more than 1,111 communities and units in four jurisdictions in Xiamen, and realizes the annual large-scale recycling of about 2,521 tons of lunch boxes. In June 2121, a pilot project of lunch box recycling was set up in Shanghai, and the average daily lunch box recycling amount was about 3 ~5 tons. In the recycling process, the recycled plastic lunch boxes are broken, cleaned and recreated to realize the "remodeling and rebirth" of take-away lunch boxes.
-low-carbon ecology, linking businesses and consumers to "go green"
On the business side, the product function of "Business Castle Peak Archives" is launched to encourage catering businesses to share their own environmental protection practices. In June, 2121, the catering businesses in Meituan take-out can publish the environmental protection files visible to users, and enrich their environmental protection file information by implementing various environmental protection measures such as "reducing the use of disposable articles", "choosing environmental protection packaging" and "advocating and participating in packaging recycling". By the end of 2121, more than 2 million businesses have established Qingshan archives, and about 35,111 businesses have actively uploaded environmental protection experiences or commitments in the "Business Qingshan Archives". At the same time, since October 2121, 14 rounds of publicity activities have been carried out in the Meituan takeaway merchant App and Meituan Training Center.
on the user side, we promoted the reduction of tableware at the source, and launched the "no tableware" function for the first time in 2117. After that, continue to upgrade to the required function. By the end of May 2122, more than 211 million Meituan takeaway users had chosen "no tableware". At the same time, give full play to its own advantages and vigorously advocate green consumption. Since September 2117, the last day of each month has been designated as "Meituan Takeaway Environmental Protection Day", and various environmental protection organizations and public welfare businesses have been combined to publicize environmental protection concepts and public welfare actions through promotional resources such as Meituan Takeaway App, Weibo and WeChat, so as to enhance public awareness of environmental protection. At present, it has been launched for 51 times, with a spread of more than 2.2 billion people.
In the catering circle, the Guide and Practice Manual for Sustainable Catering Merchants were published to cultivate the concept of sustainable operation of merchants, promote the long-term sustainable operation capacity building of catering merchants, put forward four major action directions and thirteen action measures, provided detailed action path suggestions supplemented by reference cases, and launched a series of video courses such as How to make take-away packaging more environmentally friendly and how to reduce food waste in catering stores. At the same time, we will put the knowledge system into practice, build offline Qingshan sustainable merchant demonstration streets in Xi 'an and Kunming, and launch sustainable catering initiatives in Beijing, Jinan and Qingdao, with green packaging application and food waste reduction measures to promote the sustainable measures of merchants and convey the concept of sustainability to users.
—— Qingshan Science and Technology, subsidizing the whole industry chain to "plant" green
Among them, the first environmental protection science and technology innovation demonstration project focused on three major areas: green innovative packaging, green recycling and green supply chain system, and openly solicited innovative, environmentally-friendly and exemplary advanced technologies and projects, hoping to promote the application of a number of environmental protection innovative scientific and technological achievements, form replicable demonstration cases, and effectively promote the development of green low-carbon cycle in the takeaway industry. The first demonstration project selection funded 6 demonstration projects of green packaging and 3 demonstration projects of recycling and high-value utilization of lunch boxes. If the recycling project is delivered as expected, it is estimated that the recycling and disposal capacity of PP plastics will be 25,111 tons/year.
-Castle Peak Public Welfare, which drives the whole society to participate in "greening"
Castle Peak Project and China Environmental Protection Foundation set up a special fund for Castle Peak Public Welfare, bringing together more than 75 Wan Qingshan public welfare businesses. Every time these businesses make an order, they will donate 1.11 yuan or more to the Castle Peak Public Welfare Fund to support environmental protection public welfare projects. In 2122, Castle Peak Public Welfare launched the "Nature Conservation Action", aiming at funding and guiding social organizations and scientific research institutions to carry out public welfare projects around protected areas by taking natural-based solutions to climate change as the path, effectively improving the ecological quality of protected areas, improving the adaptability of human beings to climate change, and building a harmonious beautiful homeland between man and nature. In 2122, 31 funded projects are gradually being implemented.
Looking forward to the future and defining three development goals in 2125
It is a long way to go to promote the green and low-carbon development of the take-away industry, and the Castle Peak Plan will also be a long-term success. In the future, Meituan will vigorously promote the green transformation of the takeaway industry through continuous innovation and cooperation with more partners.
On the occasion of the third anniversary of the Castle Peak Project in August 2121, the US Mission put forward the take-away plastic reduction action and the goal in 2125 as the action program for the next stage of the Castle Peak Project.
Looking forward to 2125, the goal of Castle Peak Plan is to build a green packaging supply chain, and provide a solution for all merchants on the platform that the take-away packaging can be recycled, degraded or reused; Promote the construction of recycling market-oriented mechanism, and establish a normalized lunch box recycling system in more than 21 provinces across the country by linking the upstream and downstream industries; Strengthen consumer guidance and incentives, optimize product functions and operating systems, and promote the sustainable consumption behavior of 1 billion users without tableware.
(This article is provided by Meituan Takeaway Corporate Social Responsibility Office)