September 03, 2024 – The application process for the 2024 “Qingshan Technology Award” has officially commenced, with a continued focus on core topics such as green and low-carbon materials, carbon capture, and resource utilization. The award aims to select 10 outstanding talents, with each winner receiving a prize of up to 1 million yuan. This award was established to promote the development of environmental technology, facilitate the achievement of carbon neutrality goals, and drive the green transformation of industries.
According to reports, the “Qingshan Technology Award” is an integral part of the “Qingshan Plan” initiated by Meituan. Since Meituan launched this environmental initiative on August 31, 2017, significant progress has been made in areas such as plastic pollution control, promoting sustainable consumption, and addressing climate change. Especially in plastic pollution control, Meituan has successfully implemented large-scale garbage classification and food container recycling projects in 22 cities across 20 provinces by collaborating with upstream and downstream industries. As of the end of August this year, the project has recycled approximately 22,000 tons of plastic food containers, helping to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 34,000 tons, thus achieving the original 2025 goal ahead of schedule.
As understood by the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, in promoting plastic recycling and reuse, Meituan not only works closely with local governments and environmental organizations but also actively collaborates with restaurant businesses and recycling companies to explore the establishment of an efficient food container recycling system. For instance, under the guidance of relevant departments in Beijing, Meituan initiated the “Box Fusion, New Fashion” takeout container recycling project, effectively improving the recycling rate of plastic food containers through a well-established recycling chain.
Furthermore, Meituan, together with brands like Chabaidao and Aihuishou, launched the “New Life for Good Cups” campaign to encourage consumers to actively participate in recycling plastic tea cups. This initiative aims to create a green packaging solution for the entire lifecycle of plastic tea cups and enhance the recycling value of plastic packaging products. The campaign has attracted over 14,000 participants and recycled nearly 1.7 tons of tea cups, setting a positive industry example.
It’s worth mentioning that since its establishment in 2021, the “Qingshan Technology Award” has funded 29 young scientists exploring cutting-edge research in green and low-carbon materials and other fields. These scientists have made significant breakthroughs in environmental technology. For example, a research team from Donghua University, supported by the Meituan Qingshan Technology Fund, has successfully developed key technologies for producing high-value recycled products using waste food containers, injecting new vitality into environmental protection efforts.