Universities jump on carton recycling bandwagon

Chinese universities have warmly embraced the recycling initiative by Cainiao Network Technology, Alibaba Group's smart logistics arm, which aims to minimize wastage of packaging materials.

According to the company, around 2,000 universities nationwide have set up carton-sharing stations where packaging for goods are recycled or reused. At Shanghai Jiao Tong University, some 24,000 packages – four times the usual volume - are expected to be received following this year's Singles' Day shopping extravaganza on Nov 11.

The company's recycling initiative is now into its third year.

According to Zhao Degang, a teacher from the university's management office, both its campuses in Xuhui and Minhang districts have set up stations that are estimated to recycle nearly 3,000 packaging boxes every day.

"Young people do more online shopping now and the initiative is a key opportunity to let the young generation know environmental protection can be done in a very simple manner such as recycling your delivery boxes," said Ji Yuyan, a volunteer service team leader at the university.

In China, the amount of packaging waste generated by delivery services accounted for 0.85 percent of the country's total household waste in 2018.

According to Cainiao Network Technology, the amount of packaging used for each of their parcels this year is 15 percent lesser than last year thanks to technological advancement and innovation. Its delivery services have also become greener due to the deployment of 20,000 new energy vehicles.

The company will also be jointly launching the National Carton Recycling Day on Nov 20 with the China Environmental Protection Foundation, the Alibaba Foundation and domestic express delivery companies. Recycling points will be set up in neighborhoods in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong province' Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as Zhejiang province's Hangzhou.