E-commerce going green as carton price skyrockets

Major e-commerce giants have increased efforts to recycle increasingly expensive cartons and promote the use of sustainable, greener packaging materials.

Industry statistics showed the price of raw paper has risen to 5,000 yuan ($754) per metric ton - which increased by nearly 70 percent within the year - and put great pressure on carton manufacturers as well as caused carton shortage throughout the country.

The rise in the price of paper lies in the shrinkage of supply, including the shutdown of small paper mills and the country's curbs on solid waste imports to reduce environmental pollution, experts said, adding that paper manufacturers have to increase prices to transfer the rising costs.