Bamboo instead of plastic: China's ongoing green transition

The world generated an estimated 400 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2024, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). From water bottles and shampoo containers to polyester clothing and PVC piping, this deluge of plastic is fueling a pollution crisis that is damaging ecosystems, endangering human health and accelerating climate change.

June 5 marks World Environment Day 2025, with the theme "Beat Plastic Pollution." One promising solution is bamboo – a fast-growing, biodegradable resource that's gaining traction, particularly in China. 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.

China, 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, China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the National Development and Reform Commission launched a "Three-Year Action Plan for Bamboo-for-Plastic Substitution," aiming to build a full supply chain for bamboo-based products such as packaging, tableware, and daily-use goods.

As of 2022, China's 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.

On Thursday, Yibin City in southwest China's Sichuan Province announced plans 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, or 23 percent of China's output. Key products include bamboo-based paper, tableware and auto interior materials.

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 advancing 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, China is sharing its 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 shows how policy, technology and international cooperation can work together to build a greener, more inclusive future.