Platform governance and green responsibility: innovative applications and policy synergies of Extended Producer Responsibility in e-commerce recycling systems

Research Article
Open access

Platform governance and green responsibility: innovative applications and policy synergies of Extended Producer Responsibility in e-commerce recycling systems

Qianji Yao 1*
  • 1 The Chinese University of Hong Kong    
  • *corresponding author 1155217700@link.cuhk.edu.hk
Published on 10 June 2025 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7102/2025.23778
ASBR Vol.16 Issue 4
ISSN (Print): 2753-7110
ISSN (Online): 2753-7102

Abstract

The rapid development of e-commerce has led to a packaging waste disaster, and the traditional Extended Producer Responsibility system is powerless in the face of the platform economy. This study takes Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo as observational samples to reveal how e-commerce platforms are reshaping the environmental responsibility system through digital technology. Relying on infrastructure such as smart lockers and AI traceability systems, major platforms have established a packaging recycling network covering 28,000 communities. The research found that when the platform assumes the role of “virtual producer,” through innovative mechanisms such as reverse logistics coordination and user point incentives, the packaging recycling rate can be increased to three times the industry average. Technical means such as QR codes on express delivery slips and mini-games on garbage classification allow consumers to scan the codes to participate in recycling and receive coupons. This gamification strategy significantly improves user engagement. However, drawbacks such as data black boxes and cost allocation still limit the model's promotion. It is necessary to address the problem of multi-stakeholder interest games through a flexible regulatory framework. Practice has proven that the liability system dominated by digital platforms provides a new paradigm for environmental protection in e-commerce, and its widespread implementation relies on policy innovation through government and business collaboration.

Keywords:

Extended Producer Responsibility, platform governance, e-commerce sustainability, circular economy, reverse logistics

Yao,Q. (2025). Platform governance and green responsibility: innovative applications and policy synergies of Extended Producer Responsibility in e-commerce recycling systems. Advances in Social Behavior Research,16(4),116-120.
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References

[1]. Daramola, O. M., Apeh, C. E., Basiru, J. O., Onukwulu, E. C., & Paul, P. O. (2023). Optimizing reverse logistics for circular economy: Strategies for efficient material recovery and resource circularity. International Journal of Social Science Exceptional Research, 2(1), 16–31.

[2]. Peng, B., Wang, Y., Elahi, E., & Wei, G. (2023). A system dynamics prospective analysis of extended producer responsibility in Colombia’s packaging sector. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 3(1), 47–65.

[3]. Kumar, S., & Dixit, G. (2022). Circular economy through waste reverse logistics under extended producer responsibility: A system architecture perspective. Waste Management & Research, 40(11), 1234–1245.

[4]. Ding, H., Wang, Y., & Chan, F. T. S. (2022). Establishing reverse logistics for a circular economy: A systematic review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 350, 131489.

[5]. Ramasubramanian, B., Tan, J., Chellappan, V., & Ramakrishna, S. (2023). Recent advances in extended producer responsibility initiatives for plastic waste management in Germany and the UK. Materials Circular Economy, 5(1), 6.

[6]. Modupe, D. O., Apeh, C. E., Basiru, J. O., Onukwulu, E. C., & Paul, P. O. (2023). Optimizing reverse logistics for circular economy: Strategies for efficient material recovery and resource circularity. International Journal of Social Science Exceptional Research, 2(1), 16–31.

[7]. Batista, L., Gong, Y., Pereira, S., Jia, F., & Bittar, A. (2022). Circular supply chains in emerging economies: A comparative study of packaging recovery ecosystems in China and Brazil. International Journal of Production Research, 60(12), 3751–3770.

[8]. Kaipainen, J., Urbinati, A., Chiaroni, D., & Aarikka-Stenroos, L. (2022). How companies innovate business models and supply chains for a circular economy: A multiple-case study and framework. International Journal of Innovation Management, 26(5), 2250041.

[9]. Aarikka-Stenroos, L., Chiaroni, D., Kaipainen, J., & Urbinati, A. (2022). Companies' circular business models enabled by supply chain collaborations: An empirical-based framework, synthesis, and research agenda. Industrial Marketing Management, 105, 295–308.

[10]. Rashid, A., Asif, F. M. A., Krajnik, P., & Nicolescu, C. M. (2021). Resource conservative manufacturing: An essential change in business and technology paradigm for sustainable manufacturing. Journal of Cleaner Production, 278, 123–134.

Cite this article

Yao,Q. (2025). Platform governance and green responsibility: innovative applications and policy synergies of Extended Producer Responsibility in e-commerce recycling systems. Advances in Social Behavior Research,16(4),116-120.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Journal：Advances in Social Behavior Research

Volume number: Vol.16
Issue number: Issue 4
ISSN：2753-7102(Print) / 2753-7110(Online)

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References

[1]. Daramola, O. M., Apeh, C. E., Basiru, J. O., Onukwulu, E. C., & Paul, P. O. (2023). Optimizing reverse logistics for circular economy: Strategies for efficient material recovery and resource circularity. International Journal of Social Science Exceptional Research, 2(1), 16–31.

[2]. Peng, B., Wang, Y., Elahi, E., & Wei, G. (2023). A system dynamics prospective analysis of extended producer responsibility in Colombia’s packaging sector. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 3(1), 47–65.

[3]. Kumar, S., & Dixit, G. (2022). Circular economy through waste reverse logistics under extended producer responsibility: A system architecture perspective. Waste Management & Research, 40(11), 1234–1245.

[4]. Ding, H., Wang, Y., & Chan, F. T. S. (2022). Establishing reverse logistics for a circular economy: A systematic review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 350, 131489.

[5]. Ramasubramanian, B., Tan, J., Chellappan, V., & Ramakrishna, S. (2023). Recent advances in extended producer responsibility initiatives for plastic waste management in Germany and the UK. Materials Circular Economy, 5(1), 6.

[6]. Modupe, D. O., Apeh, C. E., Basiru, J. O., Onukwulu, E. C., & Paul, P. O. (2023). Optimizing reverse logistics for circular economy: Strategies for efficient material recovery and resource circularity. International Journal of Social Science Exceptional Research, 2(1), 16–31.

[7]. Batista, L., Gong, Y., Pereira, S., Jia, F., & Bittar, A. (2022). Circular supply chains in emerging economies: A comparative study of packaging recovery ecosystems in China and Brazil. International Journal of Production Research, 60(12), 3751–3770.

[8]. Kaipainen, J., Urbinati, A., Chiaroni, D., & Aarikka-Stenroos, L. (2022). How companies innovate business models and supply chains for a circular economy: A multiple-case study and framework. International Journal of Innovation Management, 26(5), 2250041.

[9]. Aarikka-Stenroos, L., Chiaroni, D., Kaipainen, J., & Urbinati, A. (2022). Companies' circular business models enabled by supply chain collaborations: An empirical-based framework, synthesis, and research agenda. Industrial Marketing Management, 105, 295–308.

[10]. Rashid, A., Asif, F. M. A., Krajnik, P., & Nicolescu, C. M. (2021). Resource conservative manufacturing: An essential change in business and technology paradigm for sustainable manufacturing. Journal of Cleaner Production, 278, 123–134.

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