China has unveiled ambitious plans to drastically reduce single-use plastics 2025. China's National Development and Reform Commission is fast-tracking a number measures designed to slash the production and use plastics over the next five years. It announced that the end of 2020, non-biodegradable plastic bags will be banned supermarkets and shopping malls major cities. The ban will also apply to food delivery services, which use vast amounts the plastics. Single-use plastic straws and cutlery used food takeaway services will be banned nationwide the end of this year. China will encourage the use alternative materials such as non-plastic products and biodegradable shopping bags.
Single-use plastics are one the world's biggest sources plastic pollution. They have become a ubiquitous part daily life and a part of our throwaway culture. The Chinese authorities set a goal of reducing the "intensity consumption" order to reverse our reliance single-use plastics. Previous regulations to curb plastic use, in 2008, led to an estimated cut plastic bag production 67 billion bags. The United Nations said it is urgent that all countries adopt policies similar to those China is introducing. It said: "We are already unable to cope the amount plastic waste we generate, unless we rethink the way we manufacture, use and manage plastics."
