Shanghai is set to introduce new regulations requiring all cigarettes sold within the city to be packaged in “plug wrapping paper.” This new requirement is aimed at reducing the number of discarded cigarette butts and improving the city’s overall cleanliness.
Currently, most cigarettes are sold in paper wrapping that can easily be torn or punctured, leading to a high number of discarded butts on streets and sidewalks. The new plug wrapping paper is designed to prevent this by making it much more difficult to tear or open the packaging.
The new regulations are set to come into effect on January 1st, 2022, and will apply to all cigarette brands sold within Shanghai, regardless of their country of origin. Retailers will be given a grace period to sell off any existing stock in traditional packaging, but will have to comply with the new requirements for all future orders.
Environmental groups have welcomed the move, noting that discarded cigarette butts are a major source of litter and can take decades to decompose. Shanghai has been making a push to improve its environmental cleanliness in recent years, including launching a campaign to reduce the use of single-use plastics in the city.
Some smokers, however, have expressed concerns that the new packaging may make cigarettes more difficult to access or may affect the taste of cigarettes. It remains to be seen how the new regulations will be received by the public, but officials are hopeful that the new measures will help to reduce the amount of litter and improve the overall health and cleanliness of the city.