12 Progress in Restricting Excessive Packaging

Abstract

In China, commercial packaging has an immense impact on the environment, requiring a large amount of supervision and management. The surge in the commercial economy has brought about the increased output of the packaging industry, followed by a rapid increase in the production and consumption of packaging. Restricting excessive packaging has become an important part of developing a green economy and sustainable consumption. Progress was made in restricting excessive packaging in China in 2012. This chapter reveals the progress from two perspectives such as government legislation and supervision, and nongovernmental investigation and recommendations. The Department of Environment and Resources Protection of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has been instrumental in formulating and overseeing the administration of the Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Restricting the Production, Sale, and Use of Plastic Bags , or the bag ban. Keywords: China; Department of Environment and Resources Protection; excessive packaging; National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC); plastic bag ban