Book covers appear to be the latest target of the Chinese government’s crackdown on plastic waste.

According to a regulation dated Oct. 10 but published online Wednesday, the Ministry of Education has asked all primary and middle schools, as well as all administrative departments under its jurisdiction, to ensure that students will not be required to protect their books with plastic covers, in an effort to achieve what the ministry is calling a “zero plastic back-to-school season.”

The regulation, which also bans book covers containing hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene, is intended to support existing bans on certain plastics. China joined the global effort to combat plastic waste in 2008 by issuing a nationwide ban on producing and selling disposable plastic bags, and in 2017 the country stopped importing several categories of plastic waste.

In addition to restricting plastic book covers, the regulation also requires schools to incorporate classes on Xi Jinping Thought, as pertaining to sustainable development and environmental protection, into their curricula. (Image: IC)