Key facts
- A green group has urged Hong Kong to implement regulations on excessive e-commerce packaging.
- Last year, e-commerce parcels in Hong Kong generated an estimated 2.7 million kg of waste.
- A survey indicated that 60% of Hong Kong respondents find parcel packaging excessive.
- A regulatory gap exists for goods repackaged within Hong Kong, as they are not subject to mainland rules.
- The Environmental Protection Department has launched a Packaging Reduction Charter with over 100 companies.
A leading environmental group is urging Hong Kong to implement stricter regulations on excessive packaging, particularly from e-commerce, to address a growing waste problem. The call comes as mainland China is set to introduce national standards, creating a potential regulatory gap for goods handled or repackaged within Hong Kong.
The Green Earth, a non-profit organization, reported that Hong Kong generated at least 2.7 million kilograms of waste from e-commerce parcels last year. Their recent survey revealed that 60% of respondents consider parcel packaging excessive, with 76% expressing frustration over managing the resulting waste. Steven Chan Wing-kit, assistant environmental affairs manager at The Green Earth, highlighted that mainland China's regulations only extend to consolidation warehouses, leaving parcels sent or repackaged in Hong Kong unmanaged.
Chan suggested that the Hong Kong government should proactively collaborate with mainland authorities to reduce packaging waste at its source and encouraged the e-commerce sector to adopt reusable packaging solutions. Previously, another local group, Green Sense, estimated that 780 million pieces of plastic packaging were used for online purchases in Hong Kong amid the pandemic, with an average of 2.32 pieces of packaging per product.
In response to waste concerns, Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has launched the Packaging Reduction Charter. This initiative encourages businesses to reassess and reduce their packaging usage, aiming to foster a waste reduction culture and support the city's long-term goals of achieving 'zero landfill' and carbon neutrality. As of its launch, 102 local and multinational companies have committed to the charter, pledging to report their packaging material usage, implement reduction measures, and encourage suppliers and partners to adopt sustainable practices.