Sofia Martinez
China has long been associated with plastic pollution, as the country consumes at least one-fifth of the world's plastics and is the largest producer and exporter of single-use plastics. In recent years, China has taken steps to address this issue, such as implementing the National Sword policy in 2018, which banned the import of most plastics and other materials destined for recycling within the country. This move aimed to reduce the influx of contaminated materials that were overwhelming Chinese processing facilities. While China's ban has had some positive effects on its domestic plastic pollution, it has also shifted the burden of waste management to other countries, particularly in Southeast Asia and Africa. China has also adopted regulatory instruments to govern plastic usage and is exploring ways to treat end-of-life plastics through incineration and cleanups. The effectiveness of these measures in preventing and controlling plastic pollution remains to be seen, with limited research available on enforcement and compliance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic consumption | At least 20% of the world's plastics |
| Plastic production | Largest producer of single-use and virgin plastics |
| Plastic export | Largest exporter of single-use and virgin plastics |
| Plastic import | Largest importer of plastic until 2018 |
| Plastic recycling | Only 17% of plastic used in China is recycled |
| Plastic waste | Produced 60 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2020, of which 16 million tonnes were recycled |
| Single-use plastic production | Home to about a third of the world's companies operating single-use plastic production facilities |
| Plastic pollution | Largest source of mismanaged plastic waste and the biggest offender of ocean plastic pollution |
| Plastic policy | Serious and concentrated effort to govern plastics began in 2016 |
| Plastic waste import ban | Has pushed developed countries to reduce and reuse their plastic waste |
| Carbon neutrality goal | Addressing issues pertaining to treating end-of-life plastic through incinerators |
| Action plans | The Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and Control, the Action Plan for Tackling Pollution in Agriculture and Rural Areas, and the Action Plan of Bohai Sea comprehensive governance |
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What You'll Learn
China's ban on importing waste
In the years leading up to the ban, China imported vast quantities of waste from foreign nations. Between 2010 and 2016, the country imported an average of 8 million tonnes of plastic from over 90 countries. In 2017, the last year before the ban, China imported almost 600,000 metric tons of plastic waste. The waste-recycling industry contributed to rapid industrialization and economic growth in China, but it also led to increased air and water pollution, with serious environmental and health repercussions.
The import ban, known as "National Sword," prohibited the import of 24 types of solid waste, including eight types of post-consumer plastic scrap, one type of unsorted paper, 12 types of used textiles, and four metal slags containing vanadium. The ban has been tightened further, with the allowable contamination levels for scrap material imports being significantly reduced. China's decision to halt foreign waste imports has disrupted recycling programs worldwide, especially in countries that heavily relied on China to manage their waste, such as Australia and the United States.
While the ban has potentially helped China reduce its domestic plastic pollution, it has not significantly reduced global waste. Instead, it has shifted the responsibility to other countries, particularly in Southeast Asia and Africa, which may have less capacity to manage waste effectively. The ban has also led to a decrease in global recycling rates, with more plastics ending up in landfills, incinerators, or littering the environment.
To address the plastic pollution crisis, China has introduced several action plans and policies. In 2020, Fujian province issued an action plan specifically targeting marine waste cleanups, including plastic waste. China has also launched a five-year action plan to phase out single-use plastics and promote alternatives and recycling. These measures are part of China's efforts to achieve its ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.
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China's contribution to ocean plastic pollution
China has long been associated with plastic pollution, both as a consumer and a producer. It is the largest producer and exporter of single-use and virgin plastics, and until 2018, it was also the largest importer of plastic waste. In 2020, China produced about 60 million tonnes of plastic waste, of which only 16 million tonnes were recycled. On average, only about 17% of the plastic used in China is recycled.
China's massive local plastic production contributes significantly to global greenhouse emissions, mainly from coal production. As plastic breaks down into microplastics, they make their way into the environment, including the oceans. Studies have found that all 21 species of sea fish and freshwater fish from Chinese waters examined had ingested plastic, which means that people consuming these fish are also inadvertently consuming plastics.
The Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world, has been identified as one of the biggest sources of global plastic pollution. The river basin comprises one-fifth of China's land area and supports nearly one-third of its population. However, it has been linked to more than half of all marine plastic pollution.
In recent years, China has taken some steps to address its plastic pollution problem. In 2018, China implemented the "'National Sword'" policy, banning the import of most plastics and other materials destined for its recycling processors. This move aimed to curb the influx of contaminated materials that were overwhelming its processing facilities. While this ban may have helped reduce China's domestic plastic pollution, it shifted the burden to other poorer countries, such as those in Southeast Asia.
China has also adopted several regulatory instruments to govern plastic use and pollution. However, the effectiveness of these measures in preventing and controlling plastic pollution remains uncertain due to limited research on enforcement and compliance. Fujian province, in 2020, issued the Action Plan for Further Strengthening the Comprehensive Management of Floating Garbage in the Sea, which explicitly focuses on marine waste cleanups, including addressing plastic pollution.
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China's regulatory response to plastic pollution
China has long been associated with plastic pollution, being the largest producer and exporter of single-use and virgin plastics. In 2020, China produced about 60 million tonnes of plastic waste, of which only 16 million tonnes were recycled. China is also the biggest offender of ocean plastic pollution, with the Yangtze River being responsible for more than half of all marine plastic pollution.
In recent years, China has taken steps to address its plastic pollution problem through regulatory measures. China's serious and concentrated effort to govern plastics began in 2016, with the issuance of various policies and action plans. One such example is the National Sword policy, enacted in January 2018, which banned the import of most plastics and other materials headed for recycling processors in China. This move aimed to reduce the influx of contaminated materials that were overwhelming Chinese processing facilities.
Several action plans issued by the Chinese central government have referenced waste management in a generic manner, without a specific focus on plastic waste clean-up. However, in 2020, Fujian province issued an action plan specifically aimed at addressing marine waste clean-up, including plastic pollution. China has also adopted other regulatory instruments to govern plastic, but the effectiveness of these instruments in preventing and controlling plastic pollution remains to be seen.
While China's regulatory response to plastic pollution has gained momentum, there is still limited research on the enforcement and implementation of these policies. It is unclear how different state and non-state actors are involved in the processes leading up to the issuance of plastic policies and their subsequent roles in governing plastics in China. Additionally, China's import ban on plastic waste has had mixed effects, reducing domestic plastic pollution but shifting the burden to other poorer countries.
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China's plastic policies
China is the single largest producer and exporter of single-use and virgin plastics, and until 2018, it was also the largest importer of plastic. In 2020, China produced about 60 million tonnes of plastic waste, of which only 16 million tonnes were recycled. On average, only about 17% of the plastic used in China is recycled.
China has been taking steps to address its plastic pollution problem. In 2016, China began to take a more serious and concentrated approach to governing plastics. China's "National Sword" policy, enacted in January 2018, banned the import of most plastics and other materials headed for the nation's recycling processors, which had handled nearly half of the world's recyclable waste for the past quarter of a century. The ban has helped China reduce its domestic plastic pollution but has also shifted the responsibility for waste management to other poorer countries.
China has also issued several action plans to address water pollution, including the Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and Control issued in 2015, the Action Plan for Tackling Pollution in Agriculture and Rural Areas issued in 2018, and the Action Plan for the Comprehensive Governance of the Bohai Sea issued in 2018. While these plans reference the removal of waste, they do not explicitly focus on plastic waste cleanup. In 2020, Fujian province issued the first Chinese policy document explicitly developed for the purpose of comprehensively addressing marine waste cleanups.
China's massive local plastic production contributes to its high level of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from coal production. To achieve its ambitious carbon neutrality goals, China must address the issue of treating end-of-life plastics through incinerators and focus on cleanups. While China has adopted several regulatory instruments to govern plastic, the effectiveness of these instruments in preventing and controlling plastic pollution remains to be seen.
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China's carbon neutrality goal
China is the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter, and its massive local plastic production contributes to its lion's share of global emissions. China is the largest producer and exporter of single-use and virgin plastics, and until 2018, it was the largest importer of plastic as well. In 2020, China produced about 60 million tonnes of plastic waste, of which only 16 million tonnes were recycled. On average, only about 17% of the plastic used in China is recycled. China is also the largest source of mismanaged plastic waste and the biggest offender of ocean plastic pollution.
In recognition of the need to address global warming and establish a low-carbon and environmentally friendly economic development model, China has committed to achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. This goal was first announced by President Xi Jinping in a declaration at the UN General Assembly in September 2020. China has since officially submitted a long-term strategy (LTS) to the UNFCCC.
To achieve carbon neutrality, China will need to build eight to ten times more wind and solar power installations than existed in 2022, amounting to two to four terawatts each of solar and wind capacity. Ultra-high voltage transmission between the country's provinces should also double or triple to ensure power supplies are delivered where they are needed. China has also set a target of achieving an economy-wide peak in carbon emissions by 2030 and covering all greenhouse gases in its 2035 NDC.
China's suite of 14th Five-Year Plans sets out a range of mitigation measures to prepare the country for a post-coal transition, but it is struggling to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and curb growing energy demand. As a result, China's policies are currently rated as "Insufficient" or "Highly Insufficient" in addressing climate change.
To achieve its ambitious carbon neutrality goal, China will need to address the issue of treating end-of-life plastic through incinerators and focus on cleanups. China has adopted several regulatory instruments to govern plastic, but their effectiveness in preventing and controlling plastic pollution is yet to be determined.
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Frequently asked questions
China is the largest producer and exporter of single-use and virgin plastics. It is also the biggest offender of ocean plastic pollution, with the Yangtze River being responsible for over half of all marine plastic pollution. China consumes at least a fifth of the world's plastics and has a population that is growing by 0.5% annually.
China has implemented several regulatory instruments to govern plastic use and pollution. In 2020, Fujian province issued an action plan specifically targeting marine waste cleanups. China's serious efforts to govern plastics began in 2016, with the issuance of various national and subnational-level policies.
China's ban on importing waste has disrupted global recycling programs, with many developed countries now redirecting their waste to other poorer countries in Southeast Asia and Africa. This has shifted the responsibility for waste management without significantly reducing global waste.
Plastic pollution in China contributes to its large share of global greenhouse gas emissions. The breakdown of plastics into microplastics has led to plastic ingestion by fish and, consequently, humans who consume those fish. This poses potential health risks, including damage to organs, suppression of the immune system, hardening of veins, and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.
