Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Single-use plastic: China to ban bags and
other items
Another decisive action by China. This time,
plastics. China, the world's largest plastic user, has announced a major plan to
reduce single-use plastics starting from this year. Restaurants will not be
allowed to use single-use straws after this year. Also, non-degradable bags
will be banned by the end of the year in major cities and by 2022 in other
places. In order to cut the supply of plastic bags, the production and sale of thin
plastic bags are going to be banned as well. Only China can take such drastic
actions of this scale in such very short notice. Industries and businesses
that are producing and distributing plastic products are going to be severely affected.
Restaurants, stores, either online or onsite or delivery services need to find
alternative wrapping materials within months. The problem is everyone will be
looking for the same things at the same time. Will there be enough supply of
degradable, or non-plastic straws, bags, or wrapping materials? One way to
dodge the new regulations is to use the single-use plastics twice or more, just
like silvers and dishes. That sounds environmentally conscious and comically
viable. In case you don’t want to use a washed and cleaned straw for your
smoothie, you may want to carry a longer-lasting, durable, and washable straw
with you.
Is China going to be the global leader to
reduce the use of plastics? If so, what the second-largest plastic user, The USA, is going to do? Do elections help save the environment?
Enjoy reading the article and think about how proactive
and progressive you should be to live in this new decade.
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