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Setting Bamboo Alternatives as the New Plastic
Innovative youth solutions from the National Dialogue China 2024
While plastics have long been valued for their convenience and low cost, they have also become a major source of pollution, with hundreds of millions of tons accumulating each year. Growing awareness of this environmental crisis has sparked a movement to reduce plastic usage and find sustainable alternatives.
Life of Plastic
Bamboo is the New Plastic
Recognizing that bamboo is highly renewable and strong, businesses like “Replace Plastic with Bamboo” from Tianjin University, specifically aim to decrease plastic consumption by using bamboo-based alternatives through extracting nanocellulose from bamboo.
Nanocellulose is produced by isolating structural components from plant cell walls, resulting in a material that is safer, stronger, and more flexible than plastic. It is particularly fitting for food packaging and used for agricultural applications to preserve fresh products and extend shelf life.
Launched in 2017, the inspiration came from deep concerns about global marine environmental issues. The growing problem of plastic pollution, which increases by hundreds of millions of tons annually, has caused tremendous damage to ecosystems, especially in marine environments.
The team underwent an intensive research and development phase before yielding its first pilot product in 2022. To date, it has helped to reduce roughly 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide in the process, said team member Junjie Cui.
Taking the Global Stage
Currently, the team works closely with key partners, including strawberry suppliers in Dandong, ginseng producers in Jilin, and food groups across China. Their reach extends even further, supporting durian farmers in Malaysia.
One of their standout products is a bamboo-based spray that has helped local farmers in Malaysia particularly in the durian market, to prevent fruit splitting and minimize losses. The team also offers bamboo-based preservative paper, eco-friendly bags, and a liquid agricultural film that accelerates decomposition while reducing soil pollution.
"When customers use our preservative paper and bags, they provide feedback not only on their excellent freshness retention but also express admiration for their eco-friendly bamboo-based material, rather than traditional plastic," said Junjie.
Globally, nanocellulose is emerging as a strategic material with a market demand valued at $351.5 million in 2022 and projected to grow of 20.1% from 2023 to 2030. [1] Although most production currently takes place in Japan, there is significant potential for expansion in China, he added.
In fresh product preservation, "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" has developed the world’s first bamboo-based, food-grade, dual-use preservation solution for fruits, vegetables, flowers, and eggs. These innovative products offer critical benefits such as moisture retention, oxygen barriers, and antibacterial properties ensuring long-lasting, eco-friendly preservation. With prices capped at 300 yuan ($41.18) per ton for fruits and vegetables, they offer an affordable alternative to traditional plastic packaging, explained Junjie.
The team still faces some challenges in terms of changing the mindsets of consumers. Many are still accustomed to using plastic products and have low awareness and acceptance of bamboo-based alternatives. Another factor is cost, as some green production technologies and raw materials remain relatively expensive.
"Every time I witness the damage caused by plastic waste to marine environments, my determination to succeed intensifies."
However, it is through strategic collaborations that the business achieves significant growth. By continuously highlighting the advantages of its products and their environmental benefits, the business calls for support and partnership across all sectors to drive meaningful change for both society and the planet.
For those aspiring to start a business or make a lasting impact on a sustainable future, Junjie shares this advice:
- Have firm conviction. Entrepreneurship involves numerous difficulties and challenges. Believing in your vision and goals is essential to remain steadfast when facing obstacles.
- Emphasize innovation. Continuous innovation in products and business models is crucial to meet market demands and handle competition.
- Foster collaboration. No business can succeed alone. Actively seek partnerships with suppliers, sales channels, research institutions, and others. Collaboration helps pool resources, reduce costs, increase efficiency, and drive the business forward.
[1] Nanocellulose Market Size: https://shorturl.at/MGW6a
Note: Replacing Plastic with Bamboo was one of the many innovative youth teams that showcased their solutions and participated in the 2024 National Dialogue China. Visit the National Dialogue for more information.
This article does not represent an endorsement of any commercial or private enterprise.
About National Dialogue
National Dialogues are flagship country-level events of Youth Co:Lab, co-led by UNDP and Citi Foundation, which bring together youth leaders and stakeholders to build capacities, foster innovation, and co-create solutions to national development challenges, while strengthening coalitions and shaping an enabling ecosystem. As the largest youth movement for empowerment, social entrepreneurship, equality, and social inclusion in the Asia-Pacific region, Youth Co:Lab has supported young people in 28 countries and territories, reaching over 300,000 participants.
At the national level, the National Dialogue China is co-hosted by UNDP, the China Song Ching Ling Science & Culture Centre for Young People (SCLSCC), and Citi China. Held annually, the event aims to empower Chinese youth to contribute to achieving the SDGs through innovation and entrepreneurship.
Over the past six years, the National Dialogue China has supported more than 300 Chinese youth-led start-ups, offering professional mentorship from experts across impact funds, incubators, and academia, while enhancing their access to funding opportunities from industry partners.
Every year, outstanding teams from the National Dialogue China are selected to join other teams from National Dialogues across the region at the Youth Co:Lab Summit, the largest gathering of youth social entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific region. They present their innovative business solutions alongside peers from other countries and territories, showcasing how youth can drive a green and just transition through social innovation and entrepreneurship.
