Fast growth rate, strong carbon sequestration ability, considerable resource scale, "replacing plastic with bamboo" ushered in new opportunities for development
◎Reporter Ma Aiping
The 25th anniversary celebration of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization and the 2nd World Bamboo and Rattan Conference held on November 7 aroused the society's attention to "replacing plastic with bamboo".
"By 'substituting bamboo for plastic', the negative impact of 'microplastics' on the human body and the ecological environment can be alleviated. According to statistics, only 9% of the 9 billion tons of plastic products produced in the world are currently recycled. 12% are incinerated, and the remaining 79% end up in landfills or flow into the natural environment, so it is urgent to reduce plastic pollution," said Cheng Haitao, a researcher at the Institute of New Materials for Bamboo and Rattan Biomass at the International Bamboo and Rattan Center.
The growing problem of plastic pollution threatens human health.
Finding alternatives to plastics is an effective way to reduce the use of plastics, reduce plastic pollution, and solve the problem from the source.
Bamboo may be the material of choice.
Fei Benhua, director of the International Bamboo and Rattan Center, said that bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world.
Moso bamboo can grow up to 1.21 meters every 24 hours at the fastest, and can complete high growth in about 40 days; bamboo matures quickly, and moso bamboo can mature in 4-5 years. ; Bamboo is widely distributed and the resource scale is considerable.
There are 1,642 known species of bamboo plants in the world, and the area of bamboo forests in 39 countries is known to be about 50 million hectares, and the annual harvest exceeds 800 million tons.
Among them, China has more than 800 kinds of bamboo plants, with a bamboo forest area of 7.01 million hectares.
As a green, low-carbon and degradable biomass material, bamboo has great promise in the field of global plastic ban, plastic restriction, low carbon and green development.
"Bamboo has a wide range of uses, and can be used all bamboo, with almost no waste. Bamboo products are diverse and rich, and more than 10,000 kinds of bamboo products have been developed, involving all aspects of people's production and life, such as clothing, food, housing, and transportation. From knives From disposable tableware such as forks, straws, cups and plates, to durable household goods, to industrial products such as cooling towers, bamboo lattice fillers, bamboo winding pipe corridors and other industrial products, bamboo products can replace plastic products in many fields.” Fei. Ben Hua said.
Some data show that the carbon sequestration capacity of bamboo forests far exceeds that of ordinary forests, 1.46 times that of Chinese fir and 1.33 times that of tropical rain forests.
Bamboo forests in my country can reduce carbon by 197 million tons and sequester 105 million tons of carbon every year, and the total amount of carbon reduction and carbon sequestration is 302 million tons.
If the world uses 600 million tons of bamboo to replace PVC (polyvinyl chloride, a plastic decorative material) products every year, it is expected to reduce 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
June 24, 2022 is a milestone day in the history of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The High-level Dialogue on Global Development was held during the 14th BRICS Leaders' Meeting and reached a number of consensuses.
The "Bamboo for Plastic" 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, combat climate change and contribute to global sustainable development.
Why is the concept of "replacing plastic with bamboo" deeply rooted in the hearts of the people?
"Bamboo raw materials come from natural growth, absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, and synthesize polymer materials; bamboo products maintain carbon sequestration throughout the life cycle. Compared with plastic products, it has the characteristics of renewable, carbon dioxide absorption, carbon sequestration, and carbon sequestration. It has the advantages of long cycle, non-polluting products, degradable products, and friendly living environment. The use of bamboo products, cultivation of bamboo resources, and ecological effects form a complete industrial chain, which can better protect the environment and protect human health." Fei Benhua said.
"Bamboo instead of plastic" is ushering in new opportunities for development.
Jiang Zehui, co-chairman of the board of directors of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization and academician of the International Academy of Wood, suggested that "replacing plastic with bamboo" has become a national action, and the top-level design should be improved at the national level as soon as possible, and support should be increased.
For example, it is necessary to do a good job of planning the development of the "Bamboo instead of plastic" industry, determine key industries and products, promote the establishment of innovative projects, support the research and development of equipment and equipment, and increase scientific research and industrialization.
From scientific research achievements to corporate practices, to national actions and global initiatives, China, as a responsible major country, is leading a "green revolution" in a new era around the world by "replacing plastic with bamboo".