June 5 marks World Environment Day, which this year focuses on "Plastic pollution Solutions" aimed at reducing global plastic pollution. Experts from many countries said that the "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" initiative jointly launched by the Chinese government and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization will help global control of plastic pollution and make positive contributions to promoting sustainable development.

Plastic pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems facing mankind, and it is also one of the important topics of concern of the United Nations Environment Program. In 2022, China and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization jointly launched an initiative to deepen cooperation on "replacing plastic with bamboo" globally, so as to better leverage the role of bamboo in replacing plastic products.

According to the United Nations Environment Program, more than 400 million tons of plastic are produced by humans every year, and about 10 million tons of plastic waste flows into the ocean every year. The amount of plastic waste, the wide range of distribution and the large impact have caused concern. The growing problem of plastic pollution is also a threat to human health.

In order to minimize plastic pollution, science and technology should be used to develop new resources to reduce plastic use, said John Cobb Jr., a member of the National Academy of Humanities. Finding alternatives to plastics is an effective way to reduce plastic use and reduce plastic pollution from the source, and it is a top priority for the global response to the plastic pollution crisis. The initiative of "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" is of great practical significance and makes a positive contribution to promoting sustainable development. The international community should take action on a larger scale as soon as possible to control global plastic pollution.

Eric Lindebieu, head of global plastics policy at WWF, believes that it is very important to find alternatives to plastic, bamboo and rattan offer a solution, and now is the time for all parties to put in place the right concrete measures and regulations to achieve the necessary changes.

In the opinion of experts, compared with plastic products, bamboo has good toughness, strong plasticity, short growth cycle and convenient planting, which has the natural advantages of replacing plastics. As a green, low-carbon, fast-growing, renewable and degradable biomass material, bamboo can directly replace some non-biodegradable plastic products in many fields such as packaging and building materials. Using bamboo to replace plastic products can increase the proportion of green bamboo products and reduce plastic pollution.

Bamboo can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a number of ways: bamboo grows quickly and has a strong ability to sequester carbon; Bamboo durables store carbon for a long time, maintaining a low or even zero carbon footprint throughout the product life cycle; And bamboo can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing wood and energy-intensive, high-emitting plastics, concrete and steel. From as small as a disposable drink straw to as large as kilometers of drainage pipes... With the help of technology, bamboo products are seeking to replace the dominance of plastic products in many fields such as packaging, construction, transportation and chemical industry.

tohoku university northeast Asia research center, professor asuka sugawa said, as a whole, can replace the plastic with bamboo cut use of fossil fuels, carbon dioxide emissions will help.

> Renato Constantino, vice chairman of the Expert Advisory group of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, an international environmental group, said traditional materials such as bamboo and rattan have advantages over materials such as oil and plastics from a sustainable perspective. As climate change poses a serious challenge to mankind, sharing ideas on the use of traditional materials is also a way to keep up with The Times.

Philippine environmental activist von Hernandez said that to reduce the production and use of plastic products, using natural and sustainable materials such as bamboo as alternatives is the right direction. We welcome the "Bamboo instead of Plastic" initiative and look forward to the Chinese government's continued support for global efforts to reduce plastic products.

Economist Ronnie Linse, director of the Center for China Studies in Brazil, pointed out that the bamboo and rattan industry is developing rapidly, and bamboo and rattan are excellent substitutes for many plastic products. The "bamboo instead of plastic" initiative will help promote investment and innovation in the plastics industry and reduce the impact of plastic pollution on the environment. Bamboo and rattan products have great potential and are expected to replace a large number of plastic products, so as to better develop a green economy and create a healthier world. (Participating reporters: Tan Jingjing, Zhang Xiaoru, Wang Qibing, Liu Kai, Xie Zhao, Wang Tiancong, Qian Zheng)

Plastic Industry Video