Chishui's bamboo industry shoots to new heights

With a short growth cycle of 3 to 5 years, bamboo serves as a rapidly replenishing, biodegradable biomass material, offering an effective solution to reduce plastic pollution.

Last October, the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments issued a 3-year action plan to accelerate the development of replacing plastic with bamboo, encouraging major bamboo-producing regions to expand the industrial chains.

Seizing upon these opportunities, Chishui has prioritized the development of the bamboo industry as its flagship sector.

Nearly 300 enterprises have gathered along the bamboo industrial chain, capable of producing over 300 products, including building materials, furniture and daily necessities.

"Bamboo pulp products can fully degrade in just 45 to 90 days, offering high quality and environmental friendliness," said Cao Yuan, design director of Guizhou Zhusu Huanbao Technology, a molding enterprise utilizing bamboo pulp boards as its raw material.

The company has produced 100,000 bamboo pulp mooncake boxes and 500,000 pairs of bamboo pulp shoe inserts in the first half of the year, with exports reaching Europe and the United States.

The local government in Zunyi has actively encouraged the integration of bamboo office supplies and dining utensils into government procurement, facilitating the gradual replacement of plastic packaging materials in key local industries such as liquor.

"Bamboo-made packaging boxes are more eco-friendly than plastic packages," said Zhang Wantian, marketing department manager of Guizhou Xinjin Bamboo Wood Products, mentioning that five local liquor companies have already expressed interest in customizing bamboo packaging.

Yao Lianshu, president of the company, highlighted that as a leading national forestry enterprise, their product range is diversifying with the rising trend of replacing plastic with bamboo.

Within their workshop in Chishui Bamboo Industry Park, bamboo poles are meticulously cut, sliced, carbonized, dried and assembled by skilled workers to craft complete bamboo boards.

These boards are used in the creation of bamboo flooring and furniture, as well as unique products like bamboo toilet seat covers, bamboo electronic scales and more.

Yao mentioned that the production of toilet seat covers primarily targets the European market, with exports last year accounting for a quarter of the company's output value.