Effective from September 1st! Shanghai's latest decision: Ban and restrict disposable plastic products in accordance with the law, with a maximum fine of 100000 yuan
On September 1, 2025, the "Plastic Ban Order" in Shanghai will officially come into effect. This is no longer an environmental initiative, but a mandatory industrial revolution with only one core goal: to completely remove all "pseudo environmentally friendly" disposable tableware that is difficult to recycle and pollutes the environment from the market.
According to the Decision of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on Deepening the Construction of Ecological Civilization and Creating a Model of Beautiful Shanghai, from this day on, the use of non compliant disposable tableware will no longer be a moral issue of "non environmental protection", but a clear illegal act. Violators may face fines of up to 100000 yuan, or even severe penalties such as being ordered to suspend operations. The basis for punishment comes from Article 32 of the Shanghai Environmental Protection Regulations and Article 106 of the National Solid Waste Law.
The core of this transformation is the requirement that substitutes used in the catering industry must meet a new and strictly sequential standard: "recyclable, easy to recycle, and biodegradable".
The first and foremost issue is the disposable tableware we use in our daily lives, such as coffee cups, beverages, and meal boxes. The plastic film on their inner walls is mostly PE coated or difficult to recycle PLA coated. Pseudo environmentally friendly coatings are a nightmare for the recycling system, making them unable to be recycled as waste paper and pulp, and can only be incinerated or buried. The new regulations specify that any product that hinders recycling will be eliminated. Non compliant enterprises not only face fines of up to 100000 yuan or even the risk of closure, but will also be permanently recorded as a credit stain, affecting long-term development. The efficient way out of compliance: embracing truly "easy to recycle" technology.
Image source: Paper and Plastic Governor
Punishment basis: Article 106 of the Solid Waste Pollution Prevention and Control Law and Article 32 of the Shanghai Environmental Protection Regulations: Units shall be fined RMB 100000-100000, and individual operators shall be fined RMB 200-1000 (up to RMB 5000 in serious cases); Repeated offenders may be ordered to suspend business for rectification and recorded on the public credit platform.
At present, the best solution recognized by the EU and US markets is "paper-based materials+water-based barrier coatings". The paper cups made with mature water-based coating technology can not only pass the US FDA and China GB food contact certification, but also be treated as ordinary waste paper after use, directly entering the recycling channel and easily being recycled into pulp, achieving true closed-loop circulation.
In Shanghai, solutions are already within reach. The "Green Low Carbon Paper Cup Pioneer Alliance", guided by official institutions such as the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Ecological Environment Bureau, and the Shanghai Foreign Investment Association, was established at the 2024 Shanghai International Carbon Neutrality Expo.
The alliance is jointly initiated by Shanghai technology company DBC, chemical giant BASF, and paper giant Jinguang Group (APP), among other industry leaders, to create the "EPP water-based barrier coating technology" through collaborative innovation in the industry chain. This product focuses on reducing plastic, carbon, recyclability, and easy recycling. After more than a year of global market verification, EPP water-based barrier coating is a mature solution to replace PE coating. At the same time, Shanghai strongly encourages responsible and capable chain brands to take the lead in adopting the bio based PHA water-based coating technology that combines easy recycling and degradation characteristics, and jointly promote the diversified development of green solutions.