"Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" products. [Photo/Tide News]

Representatives from Anji county in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, shared the county's practices on "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" at the Closing Conference: Strengthening Plastic Pollution Management in Asia and the Pacific organized by the United Nations Environment Programme in Bangkok on March 5 and 6.

Anji county has been a trailblazer in the "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" initiative since 2022. Through robust policy frameworks, industrial development enhancements, expanded application scopes, and strong community engagement, Anji has pioneered novel methods to tackle plastic pollution at its source.

The county has continuously developed its bamboo industry, cultivating over 2,000 products spanning six major categories in the "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" domain. Its bamboo industry had an output exceeding 19 billion yuan ($2.62 billion) in 2024, with 41 bamboo product companies above the designated size.

Anji's application of "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo" extends across various sectors, from degradable bamboo plastic bags to bamboo tableware and other household items. These products have gained widespread acceptance in supermarkets, hotels, and homestays, with initiatives to promote their adoption in government offices, hospitals, and financial institutions.

Additionally, Anji has also held a series of activities to promote the initiative, such as design competitions and international conferences, and it has organized companies to participate in well-known exhibitions at home and abroad.

The county's efforts have not gone unnoticed. Attendees at the conference commended Anji's commitment to environmental sustainability and lauded its practices on "Replacing Plastic with Bamboo", recognizing its potential to combat plastic pollution and contribute valuable insights to global low-carbon development.