China's packaging industry is entering a period of dual regulatory pressure. Domestically, a mandatory national standard for express packaging took effect on July 1, 2026. Internationally, the EU's PPWR regulation became enforceable on August 12, 2026. At the 14th CPRJ Plastic Packaging Forum, Wu Hongjun, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Packaging Federation, described the moment as a "dual transformation of policy adjustment and market iteration."
For Chinese packaging manufacturers and export-oriented brands, understanding both regulatory tracks is essential.
Domestic: The Express Packaging Standard
The mandatory national standard GB 45186-2024, "Requirements for Restricting Over-Packaging in Express Delivery," officially came into force on July 1, 2026, after an 18-month transition period. It sets quantifiable limits:
- Packaging layers: Non-fragile items limited to 2 layers; fragile items 3–4 layers depending on category. Fillers that do not fully wrap the contents do not count toward the layer limit.
- Box sizing: The diagonal of the outer carton must not exceed 1.5–2.5 times the diagonal of the minimum bounding cuboid of the contents, with ratios decreasing for larger sizes.
- Tape usage: Sealing tape width must not exceed 45 mm; total tape length is capped at 3–5 times the sum of the box's length, width and height (3× for small boxes, 5× for large boxes).
The standard arrives as China's express delivery volume reached 199 billion pieces in 2025 — ranking first globally for the 12th consecutive year. Major logistics companies have already adapted: SF Express reduced tape thickness from 5 to 4 silk (a weight saving of ~3g per bag), while ZTO's intelligent carton recommendation system has been deployed across nearly 300 warehouses nationwide to eliminate the "big box, small item" problem.
Domestic: Upcoming Policy Drivers
Beyond the express standard, several additional policies are reshaping the industry:
- VOCs Environmental Tax (January 1, 2027): China will begin levying an environmental tax on volatile organic compound emissions. Printing and packaging, as a major VOC-emitting sector, will face direct cost pressure.
- Eco-Environment Code (August 15, 2026): The Environmental Code of the People's Republic of China officially took effect on the first National Ecology Day, marking a new codified phase of environmental regulation.
- Green Design Guidelines (2026 Edition): The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with multiple departments, issued the "Industrial Product Green Design Guidelines," establishing five principles for packaging: harmlessness, material reduction, recyclability, reusability and degradability.
- "Beautiful China" 15th Five-Year Plan (July 2026): The State Council called for building a sound express packaging recycling system and promoting high-value utilisation of biomass resources.
International: PPWR and Dual Compliance
As detailed in our PPWR compliance guide, the EU regulation imposes heavy metal limits, PFAS restrictions, mandatory recyclability grading, EPR registration and labelling requirements. Wu Hongjun emphasised that "a dual domestic-international regulatory system is taking shape" — Chinese exporters must satisfy both sets of rules simultaneously.
Three Industry Transformation Features
According to the China Packaging Federation, the industry's green transition is showing three defining characteristics:
1. Material and Structure Innovation Becomes Standard Practice
Paper replacing plastic, bio-based feedstocks and recycled plastics have achieved scaled commercial deployment. Simplified lightweight, modular and foldable designs are replacing redundant structures — reducing cost while improving environmental performance.
Industry examples cited at the forum included: Fujian Nanwang Technology, which aligned its full supply chain with PPWR requirements early; Yongfa Printing, which replaces 300 million plastic packages annually with paper alternatives, reducing plastic use by 6,000 tonnes; and Amcor, which partnered with Mondelez to launch food flexible packaging containing 75% chemically recycled material.
2. Full Lifecycle Greening
From raw material sourcing through production to end-of-life recycling, full-chain low-carbon management and environmental certification have become core competitiveness for Chinese enterprises serving international clients. "Green compliance is shifting from a differentiator to an entry ticket," Wu stated.
3. New Business Models Emerging
Smart manufacturing transformation, circular packaging systems and shared leasing models are opening new revenue streams. Zhengji Plastics, for example, has implemented a "one crate fits all, full-cycle circulation" system for reusable transit boxes.
| Regulation / Policy | Effective Date | Key Impact |
|---|---|---|
| GB 45186-2024 (Express Packaging) | Jul 1, 2026 | Layer, box-size and tape limits |
| Eco-Environment Code | Aug 15, 2026 | Codified environmental enforcement |
| EU PPWR (EU 2025/40) | Aug 12, 2026 | Heavy metals, PFAS, EPR, recyclability |
| VOCs Environmental Tax | Jan 1, 2027 | Direct cost increase for printers |
| Recyclability Grade A/B/C threshold | 2030 (EU) | Design-for-recycling mandatory |
What This Means for Brands and Exporters
The old playbook — competing on low price, homogeneous products and high material consumption — is closing. Companies that invest in green material R&D, structural design innovation and full-chain compliance systems will be positioned to capture market share as the industry consolidates. For small and medium enterprises, compliance upgrading is no longer optional; it is a survival requirement.
Green compliance is shifting from a bonus item to an admission ticket. — Wu Hongjun, Deputy Secretary-General, China Packaging Federation
Sources: This article is based on reporting from Adsale CPRJ (雅式橡塑网), August 12, 2026; Xinhua News Agency (新华社), August 14, 2026; and China Packaging Network (中国包装网), August 11, 2026.
中国包装行业正进入双重监管压力期。国内层面，快递包装强制性国家标准于2026年7月1日正式实施；国际层面，欧盟PPWR法规于2026年8月12日强制执行。在第14届CPRJ塑料包装论坛上，中国包装联合会副秘书长吴红军将当前形势概括为"政策调整与市场迭代的双重变局"。
对于中国包装制造商和出口型品牌而言，同时理解两条监管主线至关重要。
国内：快递包装新国标
强制性国家标准GB 45186-2024《限制快递过度包装要求》在经历一年半过渡期后，于2026年7月1日正式生效，设定了可量化的硬性指标：
- 包装层数：非易损易碎类不超过2层；易损易碎类视具体品类3至4层。填充物未完全包裹内件不计入层数。
- 箱体适配：包装箱对角线长度不得超过内件外切最小长方体对角线的1.5至2.5倍，大尺寸区间比例递减。
- 胶带用量：封箱胶带宽度不超过45毫米；总长度限制为箱体长宽高之和的3至5倍（小箱3倍，大箱5倍）。
该标准出台之际，2025年中国快递业务量已达1990亿件，连续12年位居世界第一。主要物流企业已提前适应：顺丰将胶带厚度由5丝调整为4丝，平均单袋减重约3克；中通智能包装箱推荐系统已在全国近300个仓库推广，从源头杜绝"大箱装小件"。
国内：后续政策驱动力
除快递标准外，多项政策正在重塑行业格局：
- VOCs环保税（2027年1月1日）：国家将开始征收挥发性有机物环保税，印刷包装作为主要涉VOCs行业将直接面临成本压力。
- 生态环境法典（2026年8月15日）：《中华人民共和国生态环境法典》在首个全国生态日正式实施，标志着生态环境监管进入法典化新阶段。
- 绿色设计指南（2026年版）：工信部联合多部门印发《工业产品绿色设计指南》，对包装提出"五化"原则——无害化、节材化、易回收、可复用、可降解。
- "美丽中国"十五五规划（2026年7月）：国务院要求健全快递包装循环利用体系，推动生物质资源高值化利用。
国际：PPWR与双向合规
正如我们在PPWR合规指南中详细分析的，欧盟法规对重金属、PFAS、可回收性分级、EPR注册和标签均设定了严格要求。吴红军强调，"国内国外双向监管体系正在加速成型"——中国出口企业必须同时满足两套规则。
行业转型三大特征
据中国包装联合会分析，行业绿色转型正呈现三大关键特征：
1. 材料与结构创新常态化
以纸代塑、生物基原料、再生塑料已实现规模化落地。简约轻量化、模块化、可折叠设计正逐步淘汰冗余繁复的设计，在降低成本的同时兼顾环保与实用价值。
论坛上列举的企业案例包括：福建南王科技较早对标PPWR新规实现全链路合规包装；永发印务深耕以纸代塑，年替代塑料包装3亿个、减塑6000吨；安姆科携手亿滋国际推出含75%化学回收材料的食品软包装。
2. 产品全生命周期绿色化
从源头采购到生产加工，再到末端回收再生，全链条低碳管控与环保认证已成为国内企业对接国际客户、打通海外贸易的核心竞争力。"合规管控与绿色创新不再是加分项，而是入场券，"吴红军表示。
3. 新业态不断涌现
智改数转、循环包装、共享租赁等新模式持续拓宽产业盈利空间。例如正基塑业聚焦可循环周转箱，实现"一框通用、全程循环"。
| 法规/政策 | 生效日期 | 核心影响 |
|---|---|---|
| GB 45186-2024（快递包装） | 2026年7月1日 | 层数、箱体、胶带量化限制 |
| 生态环境法典 | 2026年8月15日 | 环境监管法典化 |
| 欧盟PPWR（EU 2025/40） | 2026年8月12日 | 重金属、PFAS、EPR、可回收性 |
| VOCs环保税 | 2027年1月1日 | 印刷企业直接增本 |
| 可回收性A/B/C门槛 | 2030年（欧盟） | 强制为回收而设计 |
对品牌和出口企业的意义
依靠低价竞争、产品同质化、高耗材生产的老路将越走越窄。在绿色新材料研发、包装结构设计创新与全链条合规体系上投入的企业，将在行业洗牌中抢占市场份额。对广大中小企业而言，合规改造与工艺迭代已从选择题变为生存题。
绿色合规正从"加分项"变为"入场券"。——吴红军，中国包装联合会副秘书长
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