Are China’s vast bamboo forests the answer to forever fossil plastics?

Chinese researchers say technique to ‘remodel’ the tall grass into plastic substitute could produce eco-friendly utensils, hats, phone cases

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China seeks ways to capitalise on the rapid growth and biodegradability of bamboo and its potential as a substitute for petroleum-based products. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Published: 1:00pm, 29 Aug 2024

A team of Chinese scientists on a quest to develop bamboo into a biodegradable alternative to plastics say they have discovered a recipe to process the material into feasible products.

China – which has more bamboo forests than any other country – is in the midst of a long-term effort to reduce pollution and reach carbon neutrality and has been looking for ways to transform the tall, thick grass into a viable replacement for petroleum-based goods that can decompose quickly.

Plastic pollution has become a critical global concern, and the very slow biodegradation of traditional plastics has led to alarming accumulations of plastic waste in soil, waterways and even human bodies.

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“Bamboo, known for its rapid growth, renewability, biodegradability, and eco-friendliness, is regarded as a promising substitute for plastics,” the researchers wrote in a paper published in the American Chemical Society’s peer-reviewed journal ACS NANO on August 20th.

But significant technical challenges have prevented the widespread adoption of bamboo as a substitute for everyday plastics.

The natural structure of bamboo cells means its “plasticity” and self-adhesive properties are much lower than traditional plastics, making it necessary to combine it with other materials such as starch. However, bamboo-starch composites have potential drawbacks, such as poor mechanical strength, water sensitivity and processing costs.

To find a solution, the team developed a method to improve the plasticity of bamboo by altering its cellular structure before hot-pressing it into a water resistant and recyclable plastic.

To make bamboo-based thermosetting plastic on an industrial scale, the researchers ground bamboo into powder and used eco-friendly chemicals to remove part of the lignin – the organic substance binding the cell structures, giving the stalks their rigidity – and disturb the structure of another cellular component in the cells.