2023 Partnership Forum stresses importance of SDG-driven partnerships

INBAR advocates for bamboo to combat plastic pollution at important UN meeting.

Under the theme “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels,” UN Member States and stakeholders joined the 2023 Partnership Forum of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) yesterday in New York to highlight the role that partnerships can play in driving action on the sustainable development agenda.

The forum was a full-day event, hosting a plenary session, formal session speakers, spotlight sessions, a multi-stakeholder advisory group webcast, side events, online stakeholder consultation and a partnership exchange. Of the 20 side events that covered an umbrella of topics related to the sustainable development goals and post-COVID-19 recovery, UN Global Compact in collaboration with INBAR and the Yicai Media Group organized the side event “Accelerating Net Zero Transition through Innovative Partnerships — SDG-driven Business Solutions Across Sectors to Combat Global Plastic Crisis.”

The side event provided insights into humankind’s dangerous relationship with plastics and the large amount of plastic waste that accumulates in landfills and natural environments. Speakers expressed that though it is unrealistic to  eliminate plastics altogether, we can strategically replace their applications with nature-based solutions. This is where sustainable materials like bamboo come into play. Bamboo can be a green alternative to many plastic products, and with new technologies and manufacturing processes, new product innovations can help us meet the SDGs.

Opening remarks were given by Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of UN Global Compact. In the keynote speech, Prof. Lu Wenming, Deputy Director General of INBAR, stated that “In the coming years, INBAR will work with stakeholders in INBAR Member States including the United Nations Global Compact to effectively implement an action plan to support the accomplishment of the goals set under the Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative, which includes the formulation of favorable policies and strategies to incentivize the industry, support technology transfer and capacity building, promote research and technological innovations for diversification and optimization of the production and commercialization processes, as well as undertake global advocacy to mainstream bamboo as a sustainable alternative to plastics.”

CEOs from different companies such as Lenovo, Alibaba, Tingyi Group, Tomra, Yicai, and Ningbo Shilin Arts & Crafts, joined the lively discussion moderated by Meng Liu, Head of China Office of the UN Global Compact. Discussion centered on how to leverage innovative partnerships to unlock the circular economy.

At the tail-end of 2022, INBAR and China jointly launched the Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative during the Second Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress. Within this mandate, INBAR is also partnering with the United Nations Global Compact on a pilot project to accelerate a net-zero transition and build a platform for partnerships and innovation on SDG-driven business solutions that are accepted by the market. These joint efforts and more will support the implementation of the initiative to help combat plastic pollution on a global scale.