Introduction and Global Initiative
The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) is working with the International Negotiating Committee on plastics to develop a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution. The “Substitution of Bamboo for Plastic Initiative” was included in the outcomes of the Dialogue of Global Development Initiative, announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the High-Level Dialogue on Global Development during the 14th BRICS Summit on June 24, 2022 aimed at reducing plastic pollution and to address climate change.
On November 7, 2023, INBAR and China jointly released the official Global Action Plan for Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic (2023-2030). This plan served as a roadmap for future work, mobilizing stakeholders globally to implement the Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative (BASP) Initiative and accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
On May 25, 2023, INBAR introduced its "Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative" at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade, showcasing bamboo products as viable plastic substitutes. WTO members showed significant interest in bamboo's potential to combat plastic pollution, which poses serious threats to biodiversity and public health.
Domestic Policy Engagement and Implementation
INBAR actively engaged with key Chinese government departments to promote domestic policies for bamboo as a plastic replacement. In late November 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) submitted policy recommendations on bamboo substitution for plastic to the State Council. In October 2023, following continued support from INBAR, the NDRC, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Commerce, and National Forestry and Grassland Administration jointly released the "Opinion on Three-years Action Plan for Accelerating Bamboo as A Substitute for Plastic".
Public Awareness and Capacity Building
Side events at major forums like the 11th China Bamboo Culture Festival, CIFTIS 2021, COP 28, and UNFF-18 raised public awareness of the BASP Initiative. These events involved governments, research institutes, international organizations, NGOs, bamboo industry associations, the private sector, and the media. They enhanced their capacity to adopt innovative bamboo solutions to address the plastic crisis.
Regulatory Changes and Market Development
Timber trade regulations in various countries and regions, particularly China, were amended based on INBAR's recommendations. Bamboo is now included in new methodologies for afforestation carbon projects, allowing carbon credits from bamboo forests to be quantified and traded in China's carbon market. Furthermore, the Chinese government has listed key bamboo product categories as plastic substitutes within the "Opinion on Three-years Action Plan for Accelerating Bamboo as A Substitute for Plastic," promoting the development of the domestic bamboo market.
Through these initiatives, our research with INBAR advanced the use of bamboo as a sustainable alternative to plastic, fostered global collaboration, influenced policy and promoted environmentally friendly practices across industries.
Bamboo certification
Our work also looked at the benefits of bamboo certification. Trade regulations, public procurement, private sector activity, public awareness and public advocacy are the main drivers for increased use of certified bamboo products. Future growth of certified bamboo products is promising. This has resulted from there being increased attention towards and requirements for following global environmental policies. We showed that 48 valid Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) bamboo forest management certificates and 3,237 valid bamboo FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certificates were issued. These encouraging trends indicated a commitment to sustainable management of bamboo with benefits to the ecosystem and the people involved in the supply chain from forest to the end product.