China's leading courier companies established "Green Delivery Day" on Tuesday, in a bid to reduce pollution caused by the logistics industry.

Customers put used packages into a green recycling bin. [Photo: china.com.cn]

China Environmental Protection Foundation, Alibaba Foundation, and China's courier giants including Alibaba's logistics arm Cainiao Network, STO Express, YTO Express, ZTO Express, Shanghai Yunda Express and Best Express jointly established "Green Delivery Day" at the 2019 Global Smart Logistics Summit held in Hangzhou, capital of eastern China's Zhejiang Province.

The day will be marked on May 28 each year.

The initiators also announced plans to install 50,000 green recycling bins across the country.

China's express delivery sector handled 50.7 billion parcels in 2018, an increase of 26.6 percent year-on-year, according to the State Post Bureau. Meanwhile, the sector generated 603.8 billion yuan (87.37 billion U.S. dollars) of revenue, up 21.8 percent from the previous year.

However, environmental pollution triggered by mass express packaging has aroused concern. The express industry has been making efforts to reduce pollution over the past few years.

The emergence of digital express sheets has helped save over 300 billion sheets of paper, while recycled environmental-friendly packaging has helped save 200 million disposable plastic bags.

Meanwhile, express firms have introduced more environmental-friendly materials to make packaging bags, implemented new energy vehicles, and set up recycle stations across the country.

"I would like to put express cartons into a recycling bin to promote the recycling of cartons. It is not just about the express industry, but the whole of society. And the establishment of 'Green Delivery Day' can attract more people to engage," a customer said at the launching ceremony.