NewsINBAR holds talks with Agriculture Committee of Italian Chamber of Deputies
Meeting aims to deepen exchange and cooperation, particularly around plastic substitution with bamboo.
On 24 July 2024, INBAR and the Agriculture Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies held bilateral talks on enhancing exchange and collaboration across bamboo and rattan sectors.
INBAR Deputy Director General Lu Wenming introduced INBAR and the Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic (BASP) Initiative. INBAR Director of External Relations and Partnerships Li Lan provided an overview of the potential of bamboo and rattan resources and their prospects in Europe. INBAR Global Policy Officer Borja De La Peña shared the achievements and best practices of INBAR’s global projects.
Italy has the largest area of bamboo cultivation in Europe, which features significant yet untapped potential. INBAR is willing to explore establishing new partnerships with bamboo product-importing countries such as Italy. INBAR aims to construct a robust international cooperation platform for bamboo and rattan producing and consuming countries, including local governments, universities, research institutes and the private sector, which will facilitate international exchange and negotiations, build international consensus, advance the sustainable use of global bamboo and rattan resources, and boost the trade of bamboo and rattan products. INBAR intends to work with the Italian government to organize promotional activities for bamboo and rattan in Italy in 2025, championing BASP’s vision of green consumption to meet the world’s urgent demand for reducing, restricting and banning the use of plastic.
More than 10 deputies from ruling and opposition parties in Italy attended the meeting. Despite differing political views, deputies shared a common understanding of bamboo as a green, low-carbon and biodegradable material that can offer a nature-based solution to complement Europe’s efforts to ban plastic. Deputies pointed out that since the Renaissance, Italy has used bamboo in gardens, blending the plant with natural scenery to create elegant landscapes. Technological advancements and growing environmental awareness have revealed bamboo as a versatile material for replacing plastic products in various industries like packaging, construction, transportation and chemicals.
Italy is willing to engage in dialogues and exchanges with INBAR across bamboo and rattan sectors, leveraging INBAR’s technical expertise and platforms to realize the potential of Italy’s bamboo industry. The Agriculture Committee intends to put forward a related proposal to promote the development of Italy’s bamboo resources, advance the market of BASP products, contribute to plastic pollution reduction and ultimately strengthen the country’s green and sustainable development.
Stefano Meneghelli, Mayor of Guidizzolo, Daniela Besutti, Councilor of Mantovano and Head of the Italian Bamboo Association, and other relevant stakeholders also attended the meeting.
