In May 2023, Germany passed the Disposable Plastic Fund Act (EWKFondsG), which will come into effect on January 1, 2025, and will have a significant impact on sellers of disposable plastic products on e-commerce platforms379.
Core requirements of the new regulations
Scope of control: including eight categories of products such as food containers, packaging bags, beverage cups, and wet wipes9.
Definition of producers: not only German local manufacturers, but also foreign companies that sell PP plastic products directly to German consumers through cross-border e-commerce7.
Technical breakthroughs
Single material solution
Traditional composite plastic packaging is difficult to separate and recycle due to multi-layer materials, while single PP material is 100% recyclable while maintaining barrier and printability. The global plastic flexible packaging market is expected to reach US$22.9 billion in 2027, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.46%. Single materials are becoming the “trend” of the industry10.
Intelligent packaging system
Scan the product size through 3D automated packaging technology to generate customized packaging boxes, significantly reducing the use of fillers. This type of system helps companies reduce logistics costs while meeting the new German regulation requirement of “packaging void ratio not exceeding 50%”58.
Cost optimization strategy
Material substitution: Use new materials such as BOPE (biaxially oriented polyethylene) to improve performance and reduce unit costs10.
Scale effect: China’s PP plastics industry is concentrated in East China and South China, and large-scale production has reduced the cost of sea transportation to $1.2/kg26.
Enterprise compliance support
Authorized representative service: To meet the German EPR requirements, overseas companies can designate an authorized representative through a compliance service provider to complete registration (DIVID will open registration on August 1, 2024)7.
Accelerated testing and certification: Alibaba International Station account managers provide EPA/REACH certification guidance, and new merchants complete store launch in an average of 7 days2.
Platform resources and business opportunity capture: Cross-border e-commerce full-link empowerment
Cross-border e-commerce platforms are building a full-link empowerment system through the three pillars of technology, logistics, and finance to help PP plastics companies efficiently connect with global buyers.
Traffic and conversion support
Precise matching: Based on a global database of 50 million corporate buyers, AI algorithms lock in high-intent buyers, and new merchants can obtain effective enquiry guarantees in the first week2.
European subsidy bonus: Targeted traffic to buyers from 6 countries including France, Germany, and Spain, the exposure of plastic bag categories increased by 200%2.
Logistics and compliance guarantee
Special line speed-up: More than 30 special lines for plastic products have been opened, and 98% of orders in the Shenzhen central warehouse have been shipped out within 24 hours, and core cities in
Europe have reached 10 days2.
Compliance one-stop service: EPR registration and VAT declaration are integrated to avoid EU environmental penalties2.
Financial icebreaker tool
Credit guarantee: The transaction rate of merchants who have opened Ali Credit Insurance has increased by 65%2.
Order financing: Special loan support from MYbank, with the fastest loan release in 2 hours2.
Future trend forecast: Green technology and market diversification
With the EU’s “Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation” (PPWR) coming into effect in early 2025, the PP plastic industry will usher in a deeper transformation58.
Technology evolution direction
Degradable PP composite materials: The composite research and development of bio-based materials (such as PLA, PBS) and PP is accelerating to meet the EU’s restrictions on “perfluorinated compounds”48.
Low-carbon process: The lesson that energy consumption accounts for 40% of the cost of glass packaging suggests that PP companies need to plan green production in advance8.
Market strategy adjustment
Regional differentiation:
Europe: Mainly promote matte environmentally friendly PP packaging2.
Middle East: Focus on thickened anti-fall design2.
Latin America: Develop waterproof and portable models2.
Pre-certification: Embed EU EPR and REACH certification in the early stage of product development to avoid market access risks35.
“In the past, it was believed that foreign trade must invest in exhibitions, but now newcomers can quickly produce orders through Alibaba International Station.”
PP plastic cross-border e-commerce is standing at the door of a historic opportunity. The surge in global demand and the upgrading of environmental regulations seem to be contradictory, but in fact they jointly promote the industry’s transformation to high-end and green. With Alibaba International Station’s download volume in Europe rushing into the top three application markets2, the platform bonus and policy transition period form a short window.
Compliance emergency processing: immediately confirm whether the product belongs to the category of disposable plastics through the DIVID self-checking tool7, and complete the registration number submission before the end of 2024.
Material upgrade: Develop a single PP material or degradable composite material to meet EU recycling standards.
Platform resource activation: Use Alibaba International Station’s 10 billion traffic subsidies in Europe to lock in high-intent buyers matched by AI in the first week of entry.
Regional customization: Develop differentiated products for European matte preferences and Middle Eastern thickening needs.
The golden period of environmentally friendly packaging substitution has begun, and those who plan ahead will win a green pass to the global market.
The earth needs to reduce plastic, and business opportunities need to increase speed – the two are achieving unprecedented unity in technological innovation.