"‘You have a new take-out order, please handle it promptly!’ At the height of lunchtime, a mala tang shop on Chaoyang Road in Beijing’s Chaoyang District is buzzing with activity. Orders for takeout come in one after another, and the staff are constantly packing meals into a variety of lunch boxes, rushing around to meet demand. The delivery riders waiting outside are often overwhelmed by the pace.
Behind this booming business lies the rapid growth of online food delivery. As more people choose to order food instead of cooking, there has been a sharp increase in the use of disposable tableware, raising serious environmental concerns. Recently, the Chongqing Green Volunteers Association filed a lawsuit against the three major delivery platforms—Meituan, Eleme, and Baidu Takeout—alleging resource waste and environmental pollution. How to tackle the environmental impact of takeaway waste is now a growing concern across society.
The daily orders from these three platforms amount to about 20 million yuan. Most of the waste ends up being landfilled or incinerated. On weekends, many people prefer not to cook but still want quality food. Liu Ke, a Beijing resident, used to frequently order takeout.
“I didn’t think much about it at first, but later I realized how much packaging was wasted. Main dishes come in large boxes, side dishes in small ones, sauces in sealed bags, and barbecue wrapped in aluminum foil. To prevent spills, they even add extra layers of plastic film, along with disposable spoons, chopsticks, toothpicks, paper towels, plastic bags, and order tags. I became worried because so much of it is plastic that doesn’t degrade easily. It’s a real environmental problem. Now I try to order less,†said Liu.
Business owners also face challenges. Wang, the owner of a spicy hotpot restaurant, told reporters that Chinese cuisine often involves soups and oils, making cardboard packaging unsuitable. Considering cost, using degradable containers isn’t practical. “Using cheap, non-degradable plastic boxes is the only option right now. If the packaging isn’t tight, the soup might spill, leading to complaints. That’s why we tend to over-pack.â€
Since 2011, China’s online food delivery market has grown rapidly. According to a 2017 report by Aimei Consultation, the number of online food delivery users reached 256 million in 2016, with a market size of 166.24 billion yuan. By 2017, the number of users was expected to reach 301 million, with a market size of 204.56 billion yuan.
According to estimates, the combined daily orders from Meituan, Eleme, and Baidu Takeout amount to around 20 million. If each order uses an average of 0.06 square meters of plastic bags, that equals 1.2 million square meters of plastic waste per day—enough to cover 168 football fields.
An environmental group found that each meal generates an average of 3.27 disposable plastic containers. That means over 60 million meal boxes are used daily. If stacked at 5 cm high, that would equal the height of 339 Mount Everest.
Wen Zongguo, director of the Circular Economy Industrial Research Center at Tsinghua University, explained that most takeout plastics are polypropylene and polyethylene, which are hard to degrade. In addition to containers and cups, the waste includes food scraps. Most of it is either landfilled or burned, with very little being recycled.
“A lot of takeout waste increases air, water, and soil pollution. Non-degradable plastics can remain in the soil for years if landfilled, and burning them can release harmful substances. If food residue isn’t handled properly, it can worsen sanitation and increase pressure on waste management systems,†Wen said.
While biodegradable lunch boxes are a potential solution, they’re not yet ready to replace plastic entirely. Liu Jianguo, professor at Tsinghua University, noted that biodegradable options are often heavier and may not fully decompose. Even if they do, they still need proper disposal and treatment. The entire lifecycle must be considered, including production and processing, to ensure true environmental benefits.
Some suggest using a “sharing†model, like reusable containers. However, experts like Liu Jianguo are skeptical. “Safety and hygiene are top priorities. Who ensures the cleanliness of shared containers? How many consumers would accept them?†he asked.
Experts agree that both biodegradable and reusable containers can help, but they’re not yet viable replacements for plastic. Solving the issue requires a systemic approach, involving all stakeholders—platforms, businesses, and consumers.
The government is taking steps. The National Development and Reform Commission is reviewing the “plastic limit order†and exploring ways to reduce non-degradable packaging in the food delivery sector. Meanwhile, the U.S. delegation, in collaboration with the China Cuisine Association and the China Environmental Protection Foundation, launched the “Green Takeout Coalition†to promote eco-friendly packaging.
Wen Zongguo emphasized that solving the problem requires shared responsibility across the supply chain. Platforms should implement extended producer responsibility, covering part of the recycling and disposal costs. Governments must also regulate packaging waste and encourage recycling through policies and incentives.
Experts also recommend improving waste sorting and recycling systems, promoting green materials, and increasing R&D for sustainable alternatives. Some platforms have already taken small steps, such as offering discounts for customers who decline cutlery. However, adoption remains low, and some businesses still provide utensils regardless.
In conclusion, tackling the environmental impact of takeout waste requires collective action. From better regulations to consumer awareness, every step counts. As Liu Jianguo said, “We all need to take responsibility and turn green actions into real change.â€
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