Alexei Volkov
China has long been the world's biggest producer, consumer, and exporter of plastics. However, until 2017, China was also the largest importer of plastic. Between 2010 and 2016, China imported an average of 8 million tons of plastic from over 90 nations worldwide. In 2016, Hong Kong was the world's largest exporter to mainland China, with nearly 2 million tons, followed by Japan and the United States. This trend began sometime between the 1980s and 1990s when China started taking in plastic scraps to use as raw materials for manufacturing and to address a shortage of domestic raw materials.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year with the most plastic exports to China | 2016 |
| Country that exported the most plastic to China in 2016 | Hong Kong |
| Amount of plastic exported by Hong Kong to China in 2016 | 2 million tonnes |
| Other top exporters of plastic to China in 2016 | Japan, the United States, Germany |
| Number of countries that exported plastic to China between 2010 and 2016 | More than 90 |
| Average amount of plastic imported by China from 2010 to 2016 | 8 million tonnes |
| Amount of plastic imported by China in 2017 | 600,000 metric tons |
| Amount of plastic imported by China in 2018 | Less than 1% of the world's traded plastic waste |
| Amount of plastic exported by the US to China | 700,000 tons a year |
| Amount of plastic imported by China from around the world | 7 million tons |
| Largest producer and exporter of single-use and virgin plastics | China |
| Largest importer of plastic until 2017/2018 | China |
| Largest exporter of plastic | Europe |
| Largest exporter of plastic in Europe | Germany |
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What You'll Learn
China's 2017 ban on plastic imports
China has long been the world's largest producer and consumer of plastics, with plastic pollution a stark and evident problem in the country. China was also the largest importer of plastic waste, accounting for 56% of the global market. In 2016, China imported almost 8 million tonnes of plastic from more than 90 nations. Hong Kong was the largest single exporter, with nearly 2 million tonnes, followed by Japan and the United States.
In 2017, China announced a ban on its import of most plastic waste, which came into effect at the end of that year. The ban prohibited the import of 24 types of solid waste, including plastic waste polymers of PE, PS, PVC, PET, and PP, as well as bales of PET plastic bottles, aluminum plastic film, and compact discs/digital video discs. The ban was named the "Prohibition of Foreign Garbage Imports: the Reform Plan on Solid Waste Import Management". It was implemented on 1 January 2018.
The ban has had a significant impact on global environmental sustainability and the global plastic waste trade. It has also affected recycling industries worldwide, particularly in Western countries, which had become reliant on exporting their waste to China. For instance, in England, the amount of burned waste increased by 665,000 tonnes in 2019. However, in the long run, the ban could have positive consequences for other nations, forcing countries to develop their own waste management systems and develop domestic recycling plants.
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The US exported 700,000 tons of plastic to China in 2016
China has long been the world's largest importer, producer, and consumer of plastics. In 2016, the United States exported almost 700,000 tons of plastic to China, contributing to the 8 million tons of plastic China imported from over 90 nations worldwide between 2010 and 2016. The US was one of the top three exporters to mainland China in 2016, along with Hong Kong and Japan. Hong Kong was the largest exporter, with nearly 2 million tons, while Germany topped the list of Western European countries, with around 390,000 tons per year.
The US and other wealthy nations relied on China to recycle their plastic waste, shipping about 7 million tons of plastic trash to China annually. China had the capacity to handle large quantities of plastic waste and a workforce that could sort recyclable materials from non-recyclable ones at a low cost. However, the Chinese government became concerned about the increasing amount of trash entering the country and the environmental repercussions of dealing with such vast amounts of waste.
In 2018, China implemented the National Sword policy, drastically cutting back on plastic waste imports and banning almost all imports. This decision had immediate and widespread repercussions on the global recycling industry, with over 100 million metric tons of plastic waste expected to be displaced by 2030. The ban also forced the US and other exporting countries to find alternative solutions for their waste, leading to increased incineration rates and the search for new receiving countries, such as developing nations in Southeast Asia.
The US's plastic waste exports declined by nearly half between 2015 and 2018 due to China's strict scrap import policies. This decline has positively impacted the environment, reducing plastic waste sent to countries with insecure waste management systems. China's import ban is predicted to have positive long-term consequences for the country's environmental sustainability by reducing its carbon footprint and mitigating the flow of plastic waste worldwide.
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Germany exported 390,000 tons of plastic to China annually
Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, with the world generating at least 350 million tons of plastic waste annually. This figure is projected to double by 2040 if no mitigating actions are taken. China, as the world's biggest producer, consumer, and exporter of plastics, has been at the epicentre of this crisis. Notably, China was also, until 2017, the largest importer of plastic waste, receiving nearly 600,000 metric tons of plastic waste in that year alone.
In 2016, Germany was the top exporter of plastic waste to China among Western European countries, sending approximately 390,000 tons of plastic annually. This contributed significantly to China's plastic waste crisis, adding 10 to 13% to the already massive amount of waste the country was struggling to manage. The overall trend of plastic waste exports to China began between the 1980s and 1990s when the country started accepting plastic scraps from less economically developed regions. This served as a source of raw materials for China's processing and manufacturing industries and helped address a shortage of domestic resources.
Germany's substantial contribution to China's plastic waste imports had broader implications. For one, it reflected a broader pattern of Western countries relying on third countries to manage their waste. This reliance hindered the development of domestic waste management markets and infrastructure in Germany and other European nations. As a result of China's import ban in 2017, Germany and other exporting countries had to seek alternative markets for their trash and, in some cases, increase their incineration rates.
China's decision to ban plastic waste imports in 2017 had far-reaching consequences for global environmental sustainability and the recycling industry. While it prompted developed nations to address their plastic waste more independently, it also led to a displacement of over 100 million metric tons of plastic waste by 2030. This displacement underscores the ongoing challenges in effectively managing plastic waste on a global scale.
In conclusion, Germany's annual export of 390,000 tons of plastic to China was a significant contributor to China's plastic waste crisis and had broader implications for global waste management practices and environmental sustainability. The subsequent ban on plastic waste imports by China has forced countries to reevaluate their waste disposal systems and underscores the urgent need for sustainable solutions to address the growing plastic pollution crisis.
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China's plastic waste pollution crisis
However, this had severe environmental repercussions for China, which already consumed and produced vast amounts of plastic. In 2020, China produced about 60 million tons of plastic waste, of which only 16 million tons were recycled. As a result, plastic pollution has long plagued the country, with the Yangtze River being identified as one of the biggest sources of global plastic pollution. China is also the largest source of mismanaged plastic waste and the biggest offender of ocean plastic pollution.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, China implemented a strict import ban on plastic waste in 2018, with further restrictions on scrap material imports in 2019. The ban has had ripple effects globally, forcing countries to find alternative waste management solutions and deal with their own waste. While China's actions may temporarily worsen the plastic crisis in other nations, they are a necessary step in addressing the monumental environmental damage caused by plastic pollution, which is projected to account for more carbon emissions than coal by 2030.
China has also taken steps to combat plastic pollution domestically. The government has released state guidelines, banned single-use plastic bags, and encouraged industries to use degradable plastic products. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen, and the plastic crisis continues to be exacerbated by the booming e-commerce and food delivery industries, which have made plastic packaging more prevalent in recent years.
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China's role in global plastic pollution
China has long been associated with plastic pollution, along with severe air pollution. China is the world's biggest producer, consumer, and exporter of plastics, specifically single-use plastics. China is also the largest source of mismanaged plastic waste and the biggest offender of ocean plastic pollution. In 2020 alone, China produced about 60 million tonnes of plastic waste, of which only 16 million tonnes were recycled. China's massive local plastic production significantly contributes to the country's greenhouse gas emissions, which are already largely attributed to coal production.
Up until 2017, China was the largest importer of plastic. Between 2010 and 2016, it imported on average 8 million tonnes of plastic from more than 90 nations around the world. In 2016, Hong Kong was the largest single exporter to mainland China, with nearly 2 million tonnes, followed by Japan and the United States. Germany topped the list of Western European countries, with around 390,000 tonnes per year. These imports contributed an additional 10 to 13% of plastic waste to the already huge amount that China has been struggling to deal with.
In recent years, China has taken steps to address its plastic pollution problem. China has strengthened its regulatory frameworks with the ambition to significantly reduce the leakage of plastic into the environment. Today, China has a well-established regulatory framework aimed at reducing plastic pollution through a circular economy, solid waste management, and infrastructure improvements. Additionally, China has implemented new digital technologies, such as big data and artificial intelligence, to monitor pollution sources and detect types of pollutants.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2016, Hong Kong was the largest exporter of plastic to mainland China, with nearly 2 million tons.
In 2016, the United States and Japan were also among the top exporters of plastic to China.
The United States exported almost 700,000 tons of plastic waste to China annually.
China cut back on imports of plastic waste due to concerns about contamination, the difficulty and expense of recycling, and illegal dumping, causing pollution on land and in waterways.
