Express and e-commerce industry focus on green packaging

Growing Pressure on Ecommerce Packaging Sustainability

The rapid growth of express delivery has led to a significant increase in packaging waste. China's express delivery volume reached 70 billion pieces by 2020, with per capita delivery volume rising to about 50 pieces. This scale generates substantial waste, including 8.233 million tons of corrugated paper and 16.8g of plastic film per average package.

Plastic Film in Packaging Faces Regulatory and Market Pressure

Plastic film used in packaging accounts for 16.8g per average express package. With increasing environmental concerns, plastic film is being restricted or rejected by end customers, especially in Europe, the USA, and Southeast Asia. This creates demand for paper-based alternatives that are recyclable and meet green packaging standards.

Paper Packaging Dominates but Still Has Environmental Impact

Paper materials make up 96.18% of express packaging, primarily corrugated paper. While paper is more sustainable than plastic, the sheer volume of use—projected to reach 41.27 million tons by 2025—still creates a major resource burden. Converting kraft paper in-house reduces reliance on external suppliers and lowers overall environmental impact.

Switching to Paper Cushioning Reduces Plastic Use

Protective packaging such as bubble wrap is increasingly replaced by paper cushioning like honeycomb paper, paper bubble, and fanfold paper. These materials are made from kraft paper and can be recycled with the carton, eliminating plastic waste and aligning with green packaging policies.

In-House Conversion Offers Cost and Supply Control

Buying finished protective paper rolls on the open market is more expensive than converting kraft reels in-house. Using a converting machine allows packers to produce custom-sized rolls at lower cost, reduce inventory risk, and maintain consistent supply without depending on external vendors.

Automated Bagging Lines Require Pre-Opened Rolls

E-commerce fulfilment and 3PL operators using autobag lines need pre-opened bags on a roll. These are produced from poly film or paper. Paper-based pre-opened bags are increasingly preferred due to environmental regulations and customer demand for recyclable packaging.