The People's Liberation Army (PlA) is practicing strict frugality, as recently seen in a specialized backbone training session of the air force where new document bags were not issued, but instead, old ones were reused. Training personnel had to collect used document bags at the entrance of the conference room for storing training materials. The leadership of the unit explained that they adopted this measure to implement the requirement for thrift, aiming to address redundant procurement and waste of office supplies. To ensure the effectiveness of this policy, the unit has established a management model for document bags covering unified procurement, centralized storage, distribution before meetings, collection after meetings, cleaning and disinfection, and cyclical use.
The initiative demonstrates the PlA's ongoing commitment to financial discipline and environmental considerations. This approach not only conserves resources but also reinforces the message of austerity among military personnel. The practice has been reported on the WeChat public account 'China Military Herald.' Similarly, the PlA has previously implemented other measures such as using digital signatures and virtual meetings to reduce the need for paper and printing. This new policy around document bags is part of a broader effort to reduce waste and promote a culture of frugality within military operations.