China's actions to control plastic pollution are of great significance

In the history of science, completely synthetic plastics have been invented for more than 120 years, and plastics have been produced on a large scale in the history of industry for more than 60 years.

The use of plastics today is 20 times that of half a century ago, and it is expected that the production and use of plastics will double in the next 20 years.

While people enjoy the convenience of plastic, they are also suffering from the negative impact of plastic pollution on the natural environment and human health.

Since the discovery of plastic bags was first reported on American beaches in the 1960s, the problem of plastic pollution has been fermenting step by step.

At the beginning of this year, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Treatment of Plastic Pollution" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions")

Focus on the treatment of disposable plastic products that are easy to leak to the environment

The "Opinions" select some disposable plastic products that are currently used in large quantities, relatively prominent problems, and strong social reactions, and take the lead in prohibiting or restricting production, sales and use in some areas and regions.

For example, disposable plastic products such as ultra-thin plastic shopping bags and agricultural mulch are convenient and inexpensive to use.

Looking at the world, disposable plastic products such as ultra-thin plastic bags have always been the focus of the world's plastic pollution control actions because of their easy wear, difficult to recycle, and easy to leak.

Applying the concept of circular economy to carry out the overall comprehensive treatment of plastic pollution

Source reduction is only one link in the policy governance logic.

From the perspective of circular economy concept and macroeconomic and social system material resource management, the existing "social metabolism" model, related resource efficiency and environmental effects still have significant room for improvement.

For example, the "Opinions" require the promotion and application of alternative products, cultivating and optimizing new business forms and new models, and increasing the supply of plastic green products.

From a global perspective, China can be said to be a "top student" in waste plastic recycling, not a troublemaker.

At the same time, China’s policy of banning the import of foreign waste has also accelerated the process of re-examining and strengthening plastic governance from the perspective of circular economy in the EU and Japan.

In 2018, Japan listed plastic as the first of the five resources that need to be recycled in its fourth "Basic Plan for Promoting the Formation of a Recycling Society" for the first time, and issued the "Plastic Resource Recycling Strategy" in 2019.

Strengthen scientific and technological support to promote plastic pollution control to a higher level

Science and technology play an important supporting role in the treatment of plastic pollution.

The "Opinions" also proposed to carry out research and evaluation of the environmental risks of different types of plastic products throughout the life cycle, strengthen the research on the pollution mechanism, monitoring, prevention and control technologies and policies of plastic waste and microplastics in rivers, lakes and seas, and increase the key core of recyclable and degradable materials.
Technological research and achievement transformation, improvement of alternative materials and product performance, etc., promote plastic pollution control through scientific and technological progress.

In the medium and long term, in order to form a more complete plastic recycling economy system, in addition to government and social governance, it is necessary to break through key technologies and achieve industrialization.
In particular, it is necessary to form a fundamental innovative solution for the plastic recycling at the molecular level in major products and key nodes.

If the large-scale industrial production of plastics is the first revolution of such artificial synthetic materials, focusing on functionality and economy, then the goal of the second technological revolution of plastics should also aim at higher standards of health, safety and recycling.
Completely eliminate the negative effects of plastics on humans.

The international community also attaches great importance to scientific and technological breakthroughs in the plastics field
.
This year, an article on the breakthrough progress of plastic recycling technology appeared on the cover of the top journal "Nature" in the field of scientific research and received widespread attention.

The European Union has provided substantial funding support for scientific and technological research on advanced plastic sorting, chemical recycling and polymer design improvement and innovation, microplastics' potential health effects and monitoring tools, and low-cost and real environmentally beneficial bio-based plastics
.
For example, through the "Horizon 2020" plan, more than 250 million euros have been provided to fund research and development areas directly related to the "European Plastics Cycle Strategy", of which about half is used to help develop alternative raw materials
.
In addition, an additional 100 million euros will be invested through other programs to fund the research and development of smarter and more renewable plastic materials, improve the efficiency of the recycling process, and track and remove hazardous substances and pollutants in recycled plastics
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The European Commission will also carry out plastics strategic research and innovation agenda to provide guidance for research and innovation funding beyond 2020
.

China will play an irreplaceable influence in global plastic governance

The world should look at China's plastic pollution control efforts in a more objective and fair perspective
.
With the development and progress of society, industry and technology, human beings have enjoyed the benefits of plastics functionality and economy for many years, and now they have reached the stage of emphasizing higher standards of health, safety and recycling
.
We have only one earth, and every country and every individual should start from now and from me
.
However, if developing countries are required to do it in one step and only pay attention to cyclicality and give up too much functionality and economy, this is not seeking truth from facts, nor is it completely fair, especially for large plastic producers and consumers like China
.

As the largest developing country in the world, China is actively fulfilling its responsibilities as a major country and doing its utmost to achieve a balance of functionality, economy, health and safety, and cyclicality.This should also be a major internal logic of the "Opinions.
" If this is done well, China will truly achieve a leading role commensurate with its own conditions and status.

On the other hand, China's plastic pollution control work cannot surpass its own development stage.

Only efforts that are in line with national conditions and are committed to balancing functionality, economy, health and safety, and cyclicality will not be too idealistic to float in the air, and can really be effective.This should also be the step-by-step and point-by-step approach of the "Opinions".The fundamental reason for the implementation of "ban on plastic" and "limit on plastic" in the field.

China's efforts in the treatment of plastic pollution will have far-reaching impact.
At present, the EU has been actively promoting international cooperation in plastics governance, hoping to play a leading role at the international level, promote the conclusion of a global plastics agreement, and promote the EU's methods in the field of plastic recycling economy.

Japan also hopes to promote its technology, innovation, and environmental infrastructure for plastics treatment to the world.As the world's largest country in the production and consumption of plastics, China will not only solve its own problems, but will also play an irreplaceable role in global plastic governance cooperation.The issuance and implementation of the "Opinions" will be an important key node in retrospect.