Cainiao Network gathers Singles Day waste
Cainiao Network is deploying recycling boxes at 75,000 service points across universities and dispatch stations nationwide to deal with waste packaging in the aftermath of the recent Singles Day shopping spree.
The logistics affiliate of Alibaba Group is joining with partners including STO, Yunda, Best Express and the China Environmental Protection Foundation to encourage recycling.
At Shanghai Jiao Tong University's campus in Minhang District, for example, some 3,000 cardboard boxes were put in the recycling boxes in just one day.
The number of courier packages in China hit 50 billion last year and packaging makes up a considerable amount of daily recyclable waste.
The State Post Bureau said the total number of online shopping packages handled by post office and courier firms reached a record high of 535 million on November 11, 28 percent more than last year.
It estimates that 2.8 billion packages will be dispatched in the weeklong peak period following Singles Day.
The total number of delivery orders handled by Cainiao reached a new record of 1.292 billion, up 59 percent from last year.
Users can receive a virtual badge if they recycle through Alipay, Alibaba's payment and financial services arm.
