The China Packaging Federation (CPF) is planning to better align with international standards and speed up the development of ‘green’ packaging in the country by 2030.
The CPF, a national industry organisation with State Council approval, published a draft of its five-year packaging industry development strategy (2026-30) on 23 April, with a public consultation open until 10 May. The strategy is intended to align with the country’s 15th five-year plan.
Over the last five-year period, the CPF said the industry has made progress in developing or revising national policies and industry standards, such as tackling plastic pollution and requirements to restrict excessive packaging. It has also developed technologies in areas such as lightweight and high-performance materials.
However, it said challenges remain, such as improving China’s competitiveness on the international market, scaling up biodegradable and recyclable packaging materials, and improving supply chain coordination.
The global packaging landscape is becoming increasingly environmentally focused and regulated, it said, pointing to plastic taxes and recycled content requirements. This creates compliance and cost challenges for Chinese packaging exports. The sector must therefore improve its supply chain resilience and adapt to international rules, it said.
Standards and alignment
The CPF said it will revise industry standards that focus on smart packaging, green packaging and safety of food contact materials (FCMs), including:
- improving standards for biodegradable materials;
- refining technical requirements for waste recovery and recycling; and
- developing eco-design guidelines – and improving certification and labelling systems – for environmentally friendly packaging.
It will also encourage businesses to:
- prioritise procurement of environmentally friendly packaging materials;
- ensure they comply with national policies on green supply chain management;
- align with international rules such as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to help reduce compliance costs and enhance international competitiveness;
- promote alignment of national standards with international ones;
- apply for international certification; and
- participate in the development of international standards and promote China’s technical solutions within them.
Innovation
The CPF said it aims to identify key technological bottlenecks and to support businesses and research institutes in addressing these challenges, including by establishing a national packaging manufacturing innovation centre to create a hub for the sector.
The federation will expand R&D capacity and encourage green design principles, such as design for recyclability, the use of mono-materials, and the establishment of a high-value recycling system for packaging waste. It will also focus on improving chemical recycling technologies for plastics and on sorting and cleaning processes to promote the uptake of recycled materials.
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