Excessive packaging is mainly reflected in the following aspects: 1. The added value of the packaging does not conform to the connotation of the product itself. Its disadvantages are that it disregards the lord and ignores its quality, which undoubtedly directly harms the economic interests of consumers. 2. Excessive use of expensive materials and complex manufacturing processes. Its drawbacks are that it has created some "high-price" commodities, providing a hotbed of corruption and extravagant bad social phenomena. 3. The packaging itself is not easy to degrade and recover. Its drawbacks are negative impacts on ecology and the environment and are not conducive to the sustainable development of human society. 4. The packaging uses a lot of natural materials that are non-renewable and have a long regeneration cycle. The disadvantages are the eagerness to benefit from development concepts and immediate benefits; the second is only to see the use of natural materials, the characteristics of environmental protection, but can not see the destruction of the environment and resources.
In the late 1960s, the Frenchman Sergey Moscovic published a banner article titled "Green Conspiracy," which is considered to be a symbol of the development of the ecologicalism movement; in the 1980s, Norwegian Prime Minister Rentland was in the " In the report of our common future, the concept of "sustainable development" was proposed for the first time, which is the climax of the ecologicalism movement. Since the 1970s, "ecology" and "sustainable development" have been the main topics of concern for the packaging design community. In terms of humanization of packaging, rational design principles, reuse design, green design methods, etc. Developed countries have conducted targeted research. These studies and achievements have both extensive sociological and technical aspects, but all involve excessive packaging.
Due to the protection of resources and ecological concerns, many Western scholars and packaging designers began to think rationally about the over-packaging problem behind the material prosperity. In particular, the government began to intervene in this area. These behaviors have objectively promoted and deepened the research on packaging theory and science, and also restrained the tendency of over-packaging in these countries, and introduced the packaging industry to the harmonious development of man and nature. Germany first advocated the recycling of packaging materials and developed the "economic cycle law"; Denmark took the lead in implementing the "green tax" system; many countries require manufacturers, importers, and retailers to take responsibility for the recycling and remanufacturing of packaging materials. Items are illegal in South Korea. In order to implement the restrictions on the ratio of goods and the number of layers, Europe and the United States, Japan and other countries began to formulate packaging methods after the 1980s to check the rationality of commodity packaging, reward streamlining, and penalize excessive packaging.
In the 1980s, it was the beginning period of modern packaging in China; since the 20th century 90s, it is the period of rapid development of modern packaging in China, and it is also the frequent appearance period of overpackaging. Over the past decade, over packaging has become a strange social phenomenon and has attracted the attention of the people. "Excessive packaging" is not only a popular topic that people often talk about in newspapers and periodicals, but also arouses great concern from relevant government departments. In 1997, the State Environmental Protection Agency announced the environmental labeling and product technical requirements for biodegradable plastic packaging products. The “Cleaner Production Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China,†which came into effect on January 1, 2006, stipulated clearly that “the design of products and packaging should consider The impact on human health and the environment in the production cycle shall be prioritised by options that are non-toxic, harmless, easily degradable, or easy to recycle. Enterprises should rationally package their products and reduce excessive use of packaging materials and packaging waste." . How to use overpack? The regulations clearly stated: "In addition to gift packaging, the cost of ordinary packaging can not be higher than 15% of the product, the gap is not more than 20%."
Although China has increased its research on over-packaging and has gradually introduced some related policies and decrees, the phenomenon of over-packaging is still emerging. Compared with developed countries such as Europe, the United States, Japan, and so on, the research on overpackaging in China is still not systematic and topical; the profound social reasons for it are still being analyzed; the study of its drawbacks and suppression strategies is still underway. We need to deepen, especially to incorporate it into the legal management track.
At present, China's packaging industry ranks 14th in the 40 major industries of the national economy. Packaging has become a propeller for real business development and product competition. Statistics from relevant authorities show that of the nearly 3 million tons of garbage produced in Beijing alone, about 83,000 tons of various goods are packaged, of which 600,000 tons are over-packaging items that can be reduced. In the country's annual urban solid waste, packaging accounts for 30%. How to solve the overpacking problem that has emerged during the development of the packaging industry and to combine it with "humanized" design and "eco-design" and analyze its causes, manifestations, and drawbacks. Formulating effective strategies to curb their development is undoubtedly of very practical significance. At the same time, China is not only a big country in terms of resources, but also the largest resource-consuming country in the world. Advocating proper packaging and establishing a conservation-oriented society will be beneficial to the long-term stability of the country and the nation. In addition, although different countries and ethnic groups have different commercial values ​​and aesthetic customs, in general, the development of the packaging industry should be conducive to the survival and co-prosperity of mankind and nature; it will be conducive to the formation of a good Du Fu fashion; The sustainable development of future generations is conducive to the transmission of healthy national culture and business spirit. To suppress excessive packaging is to promote moderate packaging so as to achieve maximum rationality and harmony between people, nature, and products.
Packaging is a very time-sensitive industry. Compared with other products, it has a short time cycle; second, it has a large quantity and a high rate of scrap. Based on the above basic characteristics, it is of great significance to increase the research on packaging “degree†in order to obtain a reasonable standard for packaging. Through the analysis of "degree", the forms of the various aspects reflected in the overpacking can be drawn, as well as the specific forms and characteristics presented in its form. In short, what kind of packaging can be called overpacking, and its strict demarcation line is not. However, we can still carry out a comprehensive study from the social, aesthetic, functional and technical aspects of packaging to outline the basic concepts and normality of overpackaging.
The research on over packaging should include the following major aspects: First, from a historical point of view, over packaging is not unique to China, but the current stage of the development of China's packaging industry is its high period. Although there are many reasons for this, this phenomenon cannot be ignored. Secondly, excessive packaging reveals a commodity phenomenon and value orientation. It is in fact a social phenomenon, and in particular, it encourages extravagant and obscene styles and breeds wasteful habits. Therefore, we should conduct a profound analysis and criticism of its abuses. Third, we must systematically analyze "overpackaging" from the perspective of ecology and culture, including humanities, design factors and technological factors. Fourth, although excessive packaging is a market economy phenomenon with complex factors, it is not a normal phenomenon. Today, with the development of highly mechanized, standardized and mass-produced packaging, letting it continue to develop will lead to abnormal development of social consumption and huge waste of social resources. Fifth, addressing the negative effects of over-packaging requires not only the awakening of overall social awareness, but also the establishment and improvement of relevant packaging policies and regulations. Sixth, "ecological society" will be the main goal of human struggle in the 21st century, and "ecological packaging" is an integral part of it. To this end, to suppress over-packaging, in addition to government intervention and policy guidance, it is also necessary to update packaging design concepts and consumer attitudes. Seventh, overpacking does not equate to individual packaging, while the latter embodies freedom and humanistic sentiment, while the former is the ultimate solution. Eighth, suppressing over-packaging does not mean advocating "simple packaging," nor can it lead to monolithism in packaging.
The above eight aspects cannot be separated from reality. It is a whole. Putting this whole into the development of China's packaging at this stage, and considering its basis for future evolution, we will find out the feasible measures for solving problems, which are the problems that the packaging industry and workers must solve.
How to grasp the "degree" between "moderate packaging" and "over-packaging" does not mean that the government, enterprises, and consumers need to work together because they do not waste food and do not fall into the simple methodology of either or both.
Author: Xu Chao
Reprinted from: China Packaging News