Carbon Zone

Guidelines for Reducing Online Shopping Packaging 2.0

Taiwan E-commerce Packaging Reduction Guidelines 2.0

Taiwan Guidelines for Reducing Online Shopping Packaging 2.0

 

The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), now the Ministry of Environment (MOENV) announced in the early part of 2023 the Targets and Measures for Restrictions on Internet Shopping Packaging. To further guide businesses in achieving long-term packaging reduction goals, the Guidelines for Reducing Online Shopping Packaging 2.0 were established.

Competent Authority and Effective Date

  • Competent Authority: Ministry of Environment (MOENV), Taiwan
  • Effective Date: August 1, 2023

Scope and Applicable Entities

The Guidelines define online shopping packaging materials as packaging used during the delivery of online shopping products for transportation and product protection purposes, including:

  • Packaging boxes
  • Packaging bags
  • Cushioning materials
  • Adhesive tapes

The Guidelines apply to online retail businesses involved in online shopping packaging, including the following business models:

  1. B2C (Business-to-Consumer): An e-commerce business provides products directly to consumers and is responsible for activities such as marketing, customer service, and sales.
  2. B2B2C (Business-to-Business-to-Consumer): A platform operator provides an online marketplace where individual businesses list and sell products while managing their own sales, marketing, and customer service activities.
  3. C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer): A platform operator provides a marketplace that enables transactions between individual consumers.

Packaging Reduction Principles

Packaging reduction should follow a prioritized approach: source reduction first, followed by reuse, recycling, and finally energy recovery or disposal.

  1. Source Reduction

    Minimize the amount of packaging materials used in terms of weight and volume while maintaining essential packaging functions, including:

    • Product protection
    • Logistics and transportation
    • Consumer usage
    • Legal requirements
  2. Reuse

    Maximize the benefits of reusable packaging while minimizing environmental impacts by ensuring:

    • Reusable packaging is designed to be recyclable at the end of its useful life.
    • Reusable boxes and bags are designed for multiple cycles of use under expected conditions, with a defined minimum number of reuse cycles.
    • Used reusable packaging is properly cleaned and sanitized to meet health and safety requirements.
    3. Improving Recyclability

    Enhance packaging recyclability throughout the design, manufacturing, and usage stages:

    • Design stage: Ensure packaging is compatible with existing recycling technologies and improve recyclability.
    • Manufacturing stage: Ensure materials and production processes do not hinder subsequent recycling operations
    • Usage stage: Design packaging that can be easily separated by consumers and properly sorted through existing recycling systems, while maintaining product safety and hygiene.

Packaging Reduction Measures

The Guidelines establish phased packaging reduction targets for online retailers. Businesses are required to meet the applicable requirements within the specified timelines and document their implementation plans and reduction measures accordingly.

The reduction plan is implemented in phases
The reduction plan is implemented in phases

Exclusions

The Guidelines do not apply to transactions conducted directly between private individuals. However, C2C platform operators remain subject to the Guidelines where applicable.

Enforcement and Penalties

The Guidelines do not specify enforcement procedures or penalties. Relevant compliance requirements should be referred to the Targets and Measures for Restrictions on Internet Shopping Packaging.

FAQ

A.

The Guidelines apply to online retail businesses operating under B2C, B2B2C, and C2C business models that fall within the scope of online shopping packaging regulations.

A.

Businesses should implement packaging reduction measures according to the specified timeline and requirements and incorporate the relevant actions into their packaging reduction plans.

A.

MOENV provides guidance to participating businesses in developing packaging reduction plans. Businesses participating in the Packaging Reduction Label Alliance may be required to submit and obtain approval for their plans in accordance with program requirements.

A.

While the Guidelines require carbon footprint disclosure for certain packaging applications, they do not specify a calculation methodology. In practice, product and packaging carbon footprint assessments are commonly conducted in accordance with ISO 14067.

SGS Solutions

Product Carbon Footprint
SGS helps organizations quantify and understand the carbon footprint of their products and packaging, build internal carbon management capabilities, and support carbon footprint disclosure in line with the objectives of the Guidelines for Reducing Online Shopping Packaging 2.0. For more information, please refer to: Product Carbon Footprint Audit

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