Every year, the world produces an astonishing amount of plastic waste—estimated at 400 million tonnes in 2024 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). From water bottles and packaging to clothing and household items, this surge in plastic use is fueling a pollution crisis that harms ecosystems, threatens human health, and accelerates climate change.
As World Environment Day 2025 approaches on June 5, with the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution,” innovative solutions are gaining attention. One such promising alternative is bamboo—a fast-growing, biodegradable resource that is especially abundant in the Chinese mainland.
According to the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR), bamboo can be harvested in just three to five years and absorbs more carbon dioxide than traditional forests. The Chinese mainland, home to about one-quarter of the world’s bamboo forests and one-third of global bamboo output, is leading efforts to replace plastic with bamboo.
In 2023, the Chinese National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the National Development and Reform Commission launched a “Three-Year Action Plan for Bamboo-for-Plastic Substitution.” This initiative aims to build a comprehensive supply chain for bamboo-based products such as packaging, tableware, and everyday goods.
As of 2022, the Chinese bamboo industry reached a total output value of 415.3 billion yuan (about $57.6 billion) and employed over 17 million people, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.
Yibin City in southwest China’s Sichuan Province announced plans on Thursday to develop 2,000 bamboo-for-plastic application scenarios by 2027. The city now hosts 43 manufacturers, with an annual bamboo pulp capacity of 430,000 tonnes—14 percent of the national total—and 120,000 tonnes of molded pulp products, accounting for 23 percent of the Chinese output. Key products include bamboo-based paper, tableware, and materials for automobile interiors.
In Anji County, in east China’s Zhejiang Province, over 6,000 sets of bamboo tableware have been adopted across nearly 300 hotels, achieving full coverage and replacing more than 3.5 million sets of disposable plastic items.
Beyond environmental benefits, bamboo is also contributing to global sustainable development and poverty reduction. In Africa, China is supporting the Inter-Africa Bamboo Smallholder Farmers Livelihood Development Programme led by INBAR. Through training programs, the Chinese mainland is sharing expertise in bamboo cultivation and management with smallholder farmers in countries like Ghana, helping them participate more fully in the bamboo value chain.
As the world seeks scalable, nature-based solutions to plastic pollution, bamboo is emerging as a powerful alternative. China’s leadership in bamboo-for-plastic innovation demonstrates how policy, technology, and international cooperation can work together to build a greener, more inclusive future.
