Viewpoint depth ｜ How can the circular express packaging "last mile" be opened?

In the past two years, multiple departments and related companies have vigorously promoted recycling express packaging to speed up the "green revolution" of express packaging. "Xinhua View Point" reporter recently interviewed and found that in the courier received by consumers, traditional packaging such as carton, foam boxes, and plastic bags occupy the mainstream, and it is rarely seen in the daily life of recycling express packaging.

There are more and more inputs, and terminal consumption links are still rare

In December 2020, 8 departments such as the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Post Bureau jointly issued the "Opinions on Accelerating the Green Transformation of Expressing Express Packaging". Green transformation.

Statistics show that as of the end of 2020, the application rate of the entire network in China in my country reached 93.8%. In the first quarter of 2022, the application scale of the circulating express box (box) reached 7.589 million.

The reporter learned that at present, many express delivery companies have launched recyclable express packaging. In the cities of Zhongtong Express, a large number of cycles are used in the cycle, and the size is about equal to ordinary woven bags. It can circulate more than 50 times, which is higher than the service life of 1 to 3 times of ordinary woven bags; To 6 million times.

On May 10, 2022, the SF Courier courier opened the courier packaging that can be used for recycling in the user's home. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xin

"In 2018, SF Express launched the 'Feng BOX' circular packaging box. At present, we are mainly used to send clothes, shoes and other items." Said Xu Kai, deputy general manager of Shanxi SF Express Co., Ltd.

The "Qingliu Box" developed by JD.com has been used in more than 30 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. JD.com uses a foldable insulation weekly to replace the disposable foam box in the fresh fresh business. In 2021, it used more than 60 million times.

Data show that in 2021, a total of 108.30 billion pieces were completed by the national express service enterprise, a year -on -year increase of 29.9%. Compared with the huge total express delivery, the proportion of circulating packaging is relatively small.

Reporters interviewed in many places and found that only a few consumers have used such packaging in individual categories. Many consumers have "never used recycling courier boxes" in their lives. Packing ".

Many people in the industry have explained that at present, recycling packaging is mostly used for B -end customers such as government procurement and e -commerce platform supply, and relatively few customers have been on C -end customers.

High recovery cost, difficult to achieve cycle

The reporter's investigation found that the cost of circulating express packaging is higher than that of ordinary packaging, and it is difficult to recycle the "last mile" recycling in the logistics terminal, which leads to low push and low market recognition.

Zhao Xiaolong, general manager of Zhongtong Express Shanxi Management Center, calculated a account for reporters: take the cycle box of 36.5 yuan in Zhongtong Express as an example. After 50 times, the single cost can be reduced to 0.73 yuan, which is lower than its size similar to its size. Box 4 cost. "However, during the recovery process, the circulating box will generate additional costs such as manual operation, scanning, and vehicle transportation, which invisibly increase the cost pressure of the courier outlets."

In fact, the cycle of such packaging in actual life is far from the initial design. The person in charge of a logistics company in Xi'an revealed to reporters that it had previously implemented a circular box for a period of time, but it was difficult to achieve the number of design cycles.

"Although the courier repeatedly explained that the boxes should be returned, many users are not used to it and want to keep it or sell waste products themselves. And users are worried that once the number of times is used, the circulating box is not clean and strong." The person in charge was It is said that the damage and loss rate of the circulating express box can be higher. For cost considerations, companies have to transfer their focus to B -end customers with higher recycling efficiency.

In addition to the cost of materials, because the "last mile" distribution is based on "seeking fast" as the primary principle, the high time cost also makes many courier "unable to love" the circular box.

On April 26, 2022, at the gate of Beijing's community, the courier was preparing to deliver the goods. Xinhua News Agency reporter Peng Ziyang Photo

An example of a practitioner to reporters that an experienced courier can send about 200 pieces a day and calculate at 8 hours of work. The single delivery time is about 2.4 minutes. Recycling, the delivery time is an average of 8 minutes. Under the same conditions, the delivery efficiency of the circulating box express is only one -third of the ordinary express.

In the eyes of many consumers, the use of recycled express boxes means "trouble". Under normal circumstances, such packaging requires users to pick up and pick up the goods on -site, and then the courier will take the packaging box to recycle. Some consumers are unwilling to dismantle the box on the spot for privacy considerations.

For students and office workers, the time for picking up is limited, and most express delivery can only be delivered to the station or express cabinet. "After getting out of get off work, go home to pick up and sign it, and wait for the courier to come to pick it up." Ms. Yang, Citizen Yang, a citizen of Xi'an who had used the circular courier box, said that the circulating courier box was "a bit toss".

In addition, industry insiders said that at present, the overall express circulation trend is from the southeast coast to the northwest. There is difficulty in reverse logistics, resulting in a large number of circulating boxes that cannot be returned to the logistics network again after use.

Smooth process, removing barriers, step out of the cycle "Dead Hutong"

The "Administrative Measures for Mail Express Packaging", which is implemented from March 12, 2021, clearly stipulates that delivery enterprises should give priority to packaging and easy recycling packaging to encourage delivery companies Recycling and reuse. Several interviewees believe that to speed up the cycle of express packaging and achieve the goals of green, environmental protection and conservation, require joint efforts of manufacturers, delivery enterprises, users, etc.

On November 13, 2019, the sender used recycling paper boxes to help customers pack items that need courier. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fang Ye

At present, the industry has not yet established a unified and standardized recycling production and recycling process. Although many courier companies have launched their own brand of recycling express packaging, in the production, use and recycling process, the circulating box can only flow in the logistics chain inside the enterprise. , Also limited the coverage.

Li Zhiqiang, an associate professor at the Department of Packaging Engineering of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, said that relevant government departments can coordinate the formation of a unified circular packaging operation model in major enterprises in the field of logistics.

Industry insiders suggested that the establishment of a big data platform to improve the information tracking of the circular packaging throughout life cycle, making it possible for packaging to reverse logistics or place in place; adding recycling and recycling points in the community and colleges Cleaning and eliminating disinfecting, reducing loss rate and loss rate. In addition, appropriate support for environmental protection packaging manufacturers, improve the recognition of recycled express packaging in the whole society, and let the circular packaging truly enter millions of households.

Reporter: Zhang Sijie, Wang Hao, Zhao Yingbo

Edit: Qin Jiao Feng

- END -