On June 24, 2022, a milestone day in the history of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Global Development High Level Dialogue was held during the 14th BRICS Leaders' Meeting and reached multiple consensus. The "Replacing Plastics with Bamboo" initiative proposed by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization has been included in the list of outcomes of the Global Development High Level Dialogue, and will be jointly initiated by China and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization to reduce plastic pollution, address climate change, and contribute to global sustainable development
Participating leaders discussed global development issues of common concern around the conference theme and reached broad consensus. The meeting expressed gratitude to China for hosting this Global Development High Level Dialogue and issued a presidential statement (including a list of 32 achievements), willing to strengthen cooperation on accelerating the implementation of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and achieving common sustainable development.
Participating leaders discussed global development issues of common concern around the conference theme and reached broad consensus. The meeting expressed gratitude to China for hosting this Global Development High Level Dialogue and issued a presidential statement (including a list of 32 achievements), willing to strengthen cooperation on accelerating the implementation of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and achieving common sustainable development.
Reducing plastic pollution is urgent
The increasingly serious problem of plastic pollution poses a threat to human health and requires thorough resolution, which has become a consensus among humanity.
According to an assessment report released by the United Nations Environment Programme, out of a total of 9.2 billion tons of plastic products produced worldwide, approximately 7 billion tons have become plastic waste, with a recycling rate of less than 10%. Plastic waste not only causes serious harm to terrestrial and marine ecosystems, but also exacerbates global climate change. If there are no effective action measures and alternative products, the safety of human production and life will be greatly threatened.
Reducing plastic pollution is urgent. The international community has successively introduced relevant policies on plastic prohibition and restriction, proposing a timetable for plastic prohibition and restriction. In 2020, China issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control", encouraging the reduction of plastic consumption, promoting alternative products of biodegradable plastics, and proposing the dual carbon goals of "achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060"; The EU will implement a comprehensive ban on plastic production in 2021; ASEAN has released a regional action plan to address marine plastic waste... One stone has stirred up a thousand waves. As of now, more than 140 countries have clearly formulated or issued relevant plastic prohibition and restriction policies. In addition, many international conventions and organizations are also taking action to support the international community in reducing and phasing out plastic products, encouraging the development of alternatives, and adjusting industrial and trade policies to reduce plastic pollution.
On March 2, 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Conference, all member states of the United Nations unanimously passed a resolution to establish an intergovernmental negotiating committee and reach an internationally legally binding agreement by 2024, covering the entire lifecycle of plastic products, including their production, design, recycling, and treatment. This will be the most important international multilateral environmental agreement after the Paris Agreement.
Bamboo has obvious advantages and can be widely used
What are the advantages and potential of bamboo? Why is the concept of "replacing plastic with bamboo" deeply rooted in people's hearts?
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world. Research shows that the maximum growth rate of bamboo is 1.21 meters per 24 hours, and it can complete high and coarse growth in 2-3 months. Bamboo matures quickly and can become a forest within 3-5 years. It also produces long new bamboo shoots every year, resulting in high yield. One afforestation can be used for sustainable use. Bamboo is widely distributed and has a considerable scale of resources. There are 1642 known species of bamboo plants worldwide, and 39 countries have a total bamboo forest area of over 50 million hectares, with an annual bamboo production of over 600 million tons. Among them, there are over 800 types of bamboo plants in China, with a bamboo forest area of 6.41 million hectares.
Bamboo has a wide range of uses and can be fully utilized, with almost no waste. Bamboo products are diverse and rich, with over 10000 types of bamboo products developed, covering various aspects of people's production and life such as clothing, food, housing, and transportation. From disposable tableware such as knives, forks, spoons, straws, cups, and plates, to household durable goods, to industrial products such as cooling towers, bamboo grid fillers, and bamboo winding pipe corridors, bamboo products can replace plastic products in many fields.
It is also worth mentioning that bamboo products maintain low carbon levels or even negative carbon footprints throughout their entire lifecycle. From the perspective of carbon sequestration process, bamboo products have a negative carbon footprint compared to plastic products. Bamboo products can be completely naturally degraded after use, better protecting the environment and human health.
The initiative of "replacing plastic with bamboo" emerged as the times require
Finding plastic substitutes is an effective way to reduce plastic usage, reduce plastic pollution, and solve problems from the source. Bamboo may be a selected material from heaven.
Bamboo is the best substitute for plastic. As a green, low-carbon, and biodegradable biomass material, bamboo has great potential in addressing global plastic prohibition, plastic restriction, low-carbon, and green development. In the global trend of controlling plastic pollution, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization actively advocates for "replacing plastic with bamboo", working together with partners to promote the outstanding advantages and role of bamboo in reducing plastic pollution and replacing plastic products.
The "Replacing Plastics with Bamboo" initiative proposed by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization has received strong support from the host Chinese government, and as one of the outcomes of the Global Development High Level Dialogue, it has been incorporated into specific actions to implement the global development initiative. In fact, prior to this, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization had been making unremitting efforts to promote the concept of "replacing plastic with bamboo".
In December 2019, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, in collaboration with the International Bamboo and Rattan Center of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, held a side event on "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo to Address Climate Change" during the 25th United Nations Climate Change Conference, exploring the potential and prospects of bamboo in solving global plastic problems and reducing pollution emissions. In December 2020, during the Boao International Forum on Plastic Prohibitions, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization and its partners jointly organized an exhibition titled "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" and delivered a keynote report and a series of speeches on reducing plastic pollution, treating disposable plastic products, and replacing products, promoting bamboo solutions for global plastic prohibition and restriction issues. In March 2021, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization held an online lecture on the theme of "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo"; In September, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization participated in the 2021 China International Service Trade Fair, set up a bamboo and rattan special exhibition, showcasing the widespread application of bamboo in plastic reduction consumption and green development, as well as its outstanding advantages in low-carbon circular economy development. Together with the China Bamboo Industry Association and the International Bamboo and Rattan Center of the National Forestry and Grassland Bureau, they held an international seminar on "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" to explore bamboo as a solution based on nature; In October, during the 11th China Bamboo Culture Festival held in Yibin, Sichuan, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization once again held an international seminar on "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" to discuss plastic pollution prevention and control policies, research and practical cases of replacing plastic products. In June 2022, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization and the International Bamboo and Rattan Center of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration jointly conducted research on bamboo straws, small diameter bamboo winding pipes, and bamboo pulp molded embedded boxes
This series of actions not only showcases the important role of bamboo in reducing and replacing plastic, but also greatly enhances the awareness and attention of member countries of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization and the international community to the enormous potential of "replacing plastic with bamboo".
