A leading green group has urged Hong Kong to align with coming national standards on excessive packaging, warning that the city generated at least 2.7 million kg (5.9 million lbs) of waste from e-commerce parcels last year.

The call coincided with an online survey by non-profit group The Green Earth, which found that 60 per cent of respondents in Hong Kong considered parcel packaging excessive, while 76 per cent felt frustrated when handling the waste.

Steven Chan Wing-kit, assistant environmental affairs manager of the charity, said mainland China’s regulatory scope could only extend as far as consolidation warehouses across the border.

“The issue is left unmanaged once the goods leave the mainland,” he said.

A regulatory gap remains, as parcels sent or repackaged in Hong Kong are not subject to any rules.

“We suggest [the government] proactively collaborate with relevant mainland authorities and reduce packaging waste at the source,” Chan said, urging the e-commerce sector to promote reusable packaging.