According to the Decision of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress on Deepening Ecological Civilization and Building a Model of a Beautiful China in Shanghai, Shanghai’s upgraded “Plastic Ban” will officially take effect on September 1, 2025. This is no longer an environmental initiative, but a mandatory legal regulation with one core goal: to completely remove from the market all single-use plastic products that are difficult to recycle and harmful to the environment.

At the forefront of this ban are everyday disposable items such as coffee cups, beverage cups, and food containers. The inner linings of these products are often coated with PE film or PLA layers, both of which are difficult to recycle. As a result, they can only be incinerated or sent to landfills. The new regulation makes it clear: any product that hinders circular use will be eliminated. Violating companies will face fines of up to RMB 100,000 and even suspension of business, in addition to being permanently recorded with a credit infraction, affecting their long-term development. The compliant and efficient way forward: embrace fully biodegradable plant-based tableware.

September 1 marks the beginning of a new era, requiring Shanghai’s restaurant chains and food enterprises to make swift and strategic decisions. Achieving compliance in this upgrade means far more than avoiding fines and credit risks—it is a direct statement to the market of a company’s foresight and sense of social responsibility. In the business competition of the future, a sustainable supply chain will no longer be an added bonus, but the core competitive advantage that determines whether a brand can earn consumer trust.