In the first four months of this year, China's express delivery volume has exceeded 50 billion pieces, reaching this volume 18 days earlier than in 2024; In 2024, the volume of express delivery services in China exceeded 170 billion, ranking first in the world for 11 consecutive years... In recent years, China's express delivery industry has achieved frequent good news, with "small packages" accelerating, reflecting the resilience and vitality of China's economic development. However, along with it, there is also an increase in the usage and waste of express packaging, which has caused environmental problems that cannot be ignored. Therefore, the revised version of the "Interim Regulations on Express Delivery" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"), which will be implemented from June 1st, has attracted much attention. The biggest highlight of the revised "Regulations" is the addition of a special chapter on "Express Packaging" for the first time, which clearly proposes to "promote the greening, reduction, and recyclability of express packaging", and emphasizes the responsibilities of relevant responsible parties, including enterprises engaged in express delivery business, at all links of the entire chain. This fills the institutional gap in the governance of express packaging, sets a new standard for the green development of the industry, and provides strong policy guidance and institutional guarantees for promoting the "lean" and "green" development of express packaging. In fact, with green development becoming a consensus in the whole society, the "green content" of the express delivery industry has been increasing year after year. Data shows that by the end of 2024, the proportion of secondary packaging for e-commerce express delivery will no longer exceed 95%, and intelligent packaging technology will reduce packaging consumables by 20%. Take the corrugated paper we use for daily express packaging as an example, almost all of it comes from recycled cardboard boxes, and through technological improvements, the pressure resistance of corrugated paper has been improved. Now, the strength of 3 layers can match that of the past 5 layers. For example, the narrowing of adhesive tape and the increasing use of electronic waybills have made express delivery more environmentally friendly. In addition, some companies are actively promoting shared express boxes, developing new materials and designs for express packaging with more technological content. However, many consumers believe that in actual experience, the "greening" of express delivery is not as significant as imagined. Only a relatively low proportion of people reported being exposed to green packaging when receiving items, and although they are willing to pay for the "green premium", they rarely have the opportunity to choose green packaging. One of the challenges faced by the green transformation of express packaging is that it may be well received but not well received. Where is the obstruction? For businesses, over packaging is a "safety card" to avoid after-sales risks. After all, an extra layer of foam and a circle of adhesive tape means lower commodity damage rate and return and replacement costs. For express delivery companies, reusable express packaging still faces significant cost constraints, such as initial R&D investment and subsequent management and recycling costs, coupled with the pursuit of sorting efficiency. As a result, they naturally tend to use standardized and low-cost traditional packaging materials. In the recycling process, due to the lack of standards, platforms, etc., it is also difficult to achieve scale. Making express packaging "thin" and "green" is essentially a transformation of the entire production, distribution, and consumption chain, and each fighting on its own is destined to be unsustainable. To solve this problem, we need to break down the barriers of interests through institutional innovation, fundamentally smooth this chain, find common interests, work together, achieve win-win results, and take solid steps towards promoting the greening of express packaging. For example, improving relevant policies to strengthen incentives and guidance, offsetting the environmental costs incurred by enterprises using green packaging with tax incentives, and further enhancing the enthusiasm and initiative of enterprises to use green packaging. On the other hand, accelerate the construction of a recycling system, enrich the recycling methods and channels for recyclable express packaging, and achieve a smoother flow of green express packaging. Equally important and necessary is to innovate knowledge dissemination and incentive mechanisms, such as point redemption, to enhance consumers' willingness to use recyclable packaging and reshape their consumption habits. In this way, with the transformation of green packaging, concepts, technologies, and innovative vitality will also accelerate their flow. Taking the opportunity of the implementation of this revised version of the Regulations, we will gather greater consensus and jointly promote this green transformation. At that time, we will not only gain green mountains and clear waters, but also stronger momentum for the sustainable development of the express delivery industry and even the economy and society. (New Society)