中國的年輕一代，甚至比我還年輕的一代，是世界上最積極支持綠色消費的群體之一。

大家好，我是Kyle Obermann，The China Current特約撰稿人，在這裡我會向您展示「野性中國」。

在很多年之前的中國，人們就可以在點外賣時選擇不拿餐具，選擇不含塑膠的可持續包裝。幾年前，北京甚至禁止在餐廳中使用一次性餐具。2017年，中國宣佈將不再進口塑膠垃圾，向其他國家施壓，要求他們處理自己的垃圾問題。而且大多數城市計劃在今年徹底擺脫不可降解的膠袋。

現在，越來越多的年輕一代、Z世代和千禧一代中國消費者也在行動。

在瑞士信貸研究所發佈的一份新報告中，研究人員發現，中國、美國、巴西、瑞士、印度和法國等10個國家中，中國年輕消費者最有可能關注整體環境狀況，並以此改變自己的消費習慣，而且贊同對造成浪費的商品徵稅。

中國的年輕人也是最渴望減少使用速食時裝並且期待使用植物肉的一類群體。這項研究中，超過一半的中國受訪者都擁有電動汽車，是所有國家中的唯一一個。

這些積極的趨勢將改寫中國在全球推動減廢方面的角色。

我見過許多20多歲的熱情中國人，他們辭去公司的工作，只為在上海創立綠色時尚品牌。在香港，有一家名為Green Monday的公司專注於為中國市場提供植物豬肉和魚的替代品。由於牛肉在中國較少人買，製造豬肉和魚類的替代品是更符合市場的解決方案。甚至還有零廢物社區在網上湧現，激勵全國各地創建零廢物商店，並積極推廣這種生活方式。

中國的過去啟迪了它的未來。世界各地的年輕人都清楚地意識到我們的未來有何種危險，將對自己產生的重大影響，以及現在作出改變的必要性。儘管他們說不同的語言，使用不同的社交軟件，中國年輕人並沒有什麼不同，有時他們甚至在引領潮流。

China’s younger generation, even younger than me, wow, is one of the most aggressively pro-green consumer groups in the world.

Hi, I’m Kyle Obermann, Nature Contributor for the China Current, showing China’s wild side.

For many years already in China, people could order food while selecting not to get utensils and opt for plastic free, sustainable packaging. A few years ago, Beijing even banned disposable tableware in restaurants. In 2017, China announced it would no longer import the world’s plastic waste, pressuring other countries to deal with their own trash problems. And, most cities plan to get rid of non-degradable plastic bags this year. 

Now, more and more young, Gen-Z, and millennial Chinese consumers are also taking action.

In a new report published by the Credit Suisse Research Institute, researchers found that out of 10 nations including the US, Brazil, Switzerland, India, and France, young Chinese consumers were the most likely to be concerned about the overall state of the environment, change their consumption habits because of it, and favor a tax on wasteful goods.

Young Chinese people were also found to be some of the most eager to reduce usage of fast fashion and try plant-based meat products. China was also the only country in the study where over half of the respondents said they owned an electric vehicle.

These optimistic trends are set to rewrite the narrative of China’s role in our global push to reduce waste. I’ve met many passionate Chinese in their 20s who have quit corporate jobs just to start green fashion brands in Shanghai. One start up in Hong Kong called Green Monday focuses on providing plant-based pork and fish alternatives to the Chinese market… a much more relevant solution than beef which is still infrequently consumed in China. There are even zero-waste communities popping up online, inspiring the creation of zero waste stores and lifestyles across the country. 

China’s past has enlightened its future. Young people around the world are distinctly aware of what’s at stake in our future, how it will affect them the most, and the need to make changes now. Even though they speak a different language and use different social media apps, China’s youth are no different, and sometimes, they’re even leading the way.