The project is aimed at assisting the Environmental Protection Agency (hereafter referred to as the EPA) in promoting reduction of packaging waste. Packages subject to the project include packages of gift boxes in which there are packaged products, packages of individual products, and packages for the purpose of transporting in e-commerce industry. Besides, the project also includes searching for data regarding products containing mercury, and synthesizing results of inspections. With regard to reduction of packages of gift boxes, several missions have been accomplished. First, we have finished case study about measures reducing packaging waste across the world; second, we have analyzed the results of spontaneous inspection, which was initiated by the EPA; third, we have proposed the draft amendment to “Regulation of Restriction on Excessive Packaging of Products”. On the other hand, we have undertaken inspections on 115 items sent by regulated producers. Furthermore, we have also undertaken spontaneous inspections on 150 gift boxes, which were seemingly overly-packaged, during essential holidays, including Dragon Boat Festival, Valentine's Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, Spring Festival and weekdays. As for reducing packages of individual products, we have accomplished interviews and investigation with 11 practitioners regarding reduction of packaging waste. Based on the results of interviews and investigation, we have made suggestions for managing packages of individual products. Concerning reducing e-commerce’s packaging waste, research on measures reducing e-commerce packaging waste across the world is completed. Besides, we have analyzed the data in the past around reduction of e-commerce’s packaging waste. On the other hand, we scrutinized the progress of enacting the guideline for Ecommerce Packaging Reduction Alliance (EPRA). Finally, we proposed a draft of “Regulation of Restricted Subjects and Implementation Methods around E-commerce Packaging “. We have also inspected 253 items from online platforms with the E-commerce Packaging Reduction Labels and 47 items from online platforms without the labels. Besides, we expanded the Recirculated Package Demo Project and completed the draw with prizes worth three hundred thousand dollars in total. Totally 8 e-commerce platforms participated in the initiative, which spanned from November 22th, 2021 to March 15th, 2022, including PChome Online Inc., momo.com Inc., UNIQLO, QUEENSHOP, Formosa Technologies Corporation, Buy Directly from Farmers, Chef Clean, and Better Milk. A total of 113,285 pieces were shipped and 105,057 pieces were returned, with a recovery rate of 93%. In the meantime, we completed 5 policy-promoting graphics and discourses, and 1 press conference publicizing policies of reducing packages for individual product and e-commerce. Finally, we finished searching for measures managing products containing mercury and synthesizing the results of inspections on products containing mercury.

Packaging Reduction, Packaging Reduction of e-commerce, Heavy Metals Reduction