NewsINBAR leads global push for bamboo-for-plastic solutions at Hainan Expo
At the 6th Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, INBAR united diplomats, policymakers and industry leaders to advance bamboo as a promising alternative to plastic.
On 13 April 2026, the international event “‘Bamboo as a Sustainable Substitute for Plastic’ – A New Trend of a Green Free Trade Port” was held at the 6th China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou. The event was guided by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) and organized by the Hainan Provincial Forestry Department. It brought together over 100 senior guests, including ambassadors to China from INBAR Member States, high-level officials from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, leaders of Hainan Province and representatives from bamboo-producing regions, research institutions and enterprises. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on policies, industry development, technological innovation and international cooperation, collectively exploring green pathways for the bamboo industry and contributing to global efforts to mitigate plastic pollution.
Mr. Ba Te’er, Member of the Standing Committee of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and Executive Vice Governor of Hainan Provincial People’s Government; Mr. Li Yunqing, Vice Administrator of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration; and H.E. Miguel Lecaro Barcenas, Representative of the INBAR Council Chair and Ambassador of Panama to China, attended the event and delivered remarks.
Other distinguished participants included H.E. Kojo Bonsu, Ambassador of Ghana to China, and Ms. Li Lan, Director of INBAR’s External Relations and Partnerships.
In his address, Ambassador Miguel Lecaro Barcenas noted that China has achieved remarkable results in the development of bamboo resources and the implementation of the Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic (BASP) Initiative, highlighting it as a green and sustainable development model that delivers both economic and ecological benefits. He reaffirmed INBAR’s commitment to promoting the development of the bamboo and rattan industries through technical cooperation and project implementation, supporting plastic reduction, low-carbon transition and sustainable rural livelihoods. . He also called for enhanced collaboration and technology sharing among all parties to advance the sustainable growth of the bamboo sector.
Mr. Borja De La Peña Escardó, Director of the Global Programme Department at INBAR, emphasized in his keynote speech that INBAR is working closely with its 52 Member States to accelerate the implementation and impact of the BASP Initiative. He noted that the initiative aims to transform bamboo and rattan technologies into drivers for poverty reduction, income growth and industrial upgrading. He also shared INBAR’s ongoing efforts in conducting training programs, implementing projects, facilitating technical exchanges and promoting industrial development across multiple countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Consumer Products Expo places a strong focus on green, low-carbon development and sustainable consumption, which aligns closely with the goals of the BASP Initiative. Hainan Province possesses unique natural resources and geographical advantages. Since advancing the development of its Free Trade Port with Chinese characteristics, the province has been committed to exploring pathways for inclusive green development, seeking broader international exchanges and cooperation, and actively strengthening its partnership with INBAR. INBAR is poised to enhance comprehensive cooperation with Hainan Province in the bamboo and rattan sector. By leveraging the institutional advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port — through policy innovation, technology dissemination, project implementation and global dialogue — both sides aim to expand the global reach and development prospects of green bamboo and rattan products, contributing bamboo-based solutions to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Following the event, guests visited the BASP-themed exhibition hall, where they learned about recent achievements of the initiative and the future prospects of bamboo-based products.
