China Tightens Standards for Biodegradable Plastic Bags
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China has approved strict new standards for biodegradable plastic shopping bags, raising the bar for a sector that industry insiders say has been plagued by misleading claims and poor product quality.
The State Administration for Market Regulation recently released the revised national standard, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Under the new rules, bags marketing themselves as biodegradable must achieve a decomposition rate of 90%, up from the current requirement of 60%.
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- China will enforce stricter standards for biodegradable plastic bags from Jan. 1, 2027, raising the required decomposition rate to 90%.
- The new rules address misleading labels, improve durability, and tighten labeling, aiming to curb market abuses and enhance consumer trust.
- China's annual production capacity for biodegradable bags grew over 20% since 2020; forecasted to reach 2 million tons and over 60 billion yuan market value by 2030.
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What Happened When
- 2020：
- The current standard for biodegradable plastic shopping bags, dividing them into food-contact and non-food-contact categories, is put in place.
- 2020 to 2024：
- Production capacity for biodegradable bags grows more than 20% annually.
- 2021 to 2026：
- Existing policies reduce the use of traditional plastic bags by about 20 billion units annually.
- 2024：
- Total output of biodegradable bags reaches nearly 500,000 tons with a production value exceeding 10 billion yuan ($1.44 billion).
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