China plastics rules
Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (Fa Gai Huan Zi [2020] No. 80)
Topic : Packaging · Level : National
Today
2025 milestone reached. No 2026-2030 plastics plan found as of 4 Nov 2026; Solid Waste Law replaced by Eco-Env Code 15 Aug 2026.
Summary
Since 2020, China has phased out many single-use plastics, such as non-degradable bags, straws and tableware, with milestones in 2020, 2022 and 2025. Local authorities enforce the rules. No post-2025 national plastics plan had been published by Nov 2026.
Who is concerned
- Turnover
- non précisé
- Employees
- non précisé
- Listed company
- cotées et non cotées
- Sectors
- Retail and e-commerce
- Food service
- Express delivery
- Hotels
- Triggering activities
- Making, selling or using banned plastics
- Extraterritorial reach
- No
Domestic market only. Export packaging follows destination rules (EU PPWR).
- Examples
- Supermarket chain
- Food delivery platform
- Courier company
What the law requires
- Stop producing or selling banned plastic items
- Replace non-degradable bags, straws, tableware
- Cut plastic in express and e-commerce packaging
- Report plastic use where local rules require
Penalties
Eco-Env Code Art. 1225 (from 15 Aug 2026): banned single-use plastics: stop sales, confiscation, fine 1-3x goods value; licence revoked if serious.
What this changes for a supplier in China
Domestic bans push packaging makers toward paper and biodegradable materials. EU exports still need PPWR-compliant packaging data.
Expected evidence
- Packaging material specification
- Biodegradability certificates
- Recycled content declaration
Tiers : Tier 1-2