The Environmental Protection Administration of the Executive Yuan will enact Internet shopping packaging restrictions starting on July 1 in an effort to improve environmental protection and decrease waste due to Taiwan's online shopping industry's continued success and the production of tens of thousands of tons of packaging waste.
EPA calls on the industry to reduce waste and improve environmental protection by launching new packaging restriction for online shopping.Photo provided by Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)
In accordance with the new regulations, the packaging materials used by the online retail sector cannot contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) components, must contain at least 90% recycled paper, and must contain at least 25% recycled plastic. Large-scale business owners are also required to abide by the package weight ratio grading rules.
Among them, large-scale operators with a capital of more than NT$150 million or more than 500 pick-up sites are also obliged to provide pertinent rules like reduction objectives and performance reports each year.
EPA calls on the industry to reduce waste and improve environmental protection by launching new packaging restriction for online shopping.Photo provided by Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)
If the company continues to sell its products in PVC packaging, a punishment between NT$1,200 and NT$6,000 would be applied. A NT$30,000 punishment will be applied if the product packaging weight ratio and package reduction do not comply with the rules. If the improvement is not done within the allotted period, there will be a daily fine of more than NT$30,000 and less than NT$150,000. If the situation becomes too bad, one can lose their job or business.
Additionally, the Environmental Protection Administration utilizes this to urge the general public and company owners to support environmental protection beginning with online purchasing, conserve natural resources, and encourage the environment's sustainable growth.