The new year 2024 comes with positive and beneficial news in bamboo industry. Not only the increase of production value, but also the updates of standards will bring positive aspects for the development of the industry. Let’s pay attention to the recent changes in the industry together.
Bamboo forest © Tom Delanoue
China’s output value of bamboo industry exceeds USD 55 billion in 2023
Bamboo products manufacturing
Now there are more than 10,000 bamboo manufacturing and processing enterprises in China. China’s annual output value of the bamboo industry exceeds USD 55 billion in 2023, which has increased by more than 10% compared to 2022.
In 2023, with the promotion and acceleration of China’s 3-Year Action Plan and the Global Action Plan (2023-2030) of "Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic", the bamboo industry has successively developed, the product quality and variety has been improved, the technology has been advanced and the market has expanded. Some provinces such as Fujian, Anhui, Sichuan and Hunan have taken the lead position to promote the high-quality development of the bamboo industry.
BioMatrix Products © altPlus
With the development of the bamboo industry, altPlus has already expanded our operational and product scope with the altPlus Fiber and altPlus Resources divisions. Fiber has over 4000 metric tons of materials in pipeline for biopolymer and mold pressed products. altPlus will see a dramatic increase servicing the market with over 75,000 metric tons of biomass. In 2024, altPlus will keep innovating and upgrading our technology and service to deliver the high-quality products to the global market.
A new ISO standard on engineered bamboo
Recently, a new international standard for engineered bamboo proposed by INBAR, known as ISO 5257:2023 Bamboo structures – Engineered bamboo products – Test methods for determination of mechanical properties using small size specimens, was officially released by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
ISO 5257:2023 specifies test methods, using small-size specimens, suitable for determining a suite of mechanical properties of engineered bamboo products, providing global users with an alternative test method to ISO 23478. This standard stands as a remarkable achievement in international collaboration, led by Prof. Huang and jointly drafted by Assistant Prof. Liu Yanyan and Postdoctoral Researcher Shen Yurong from Nanjing Forestry University, along with Assistant Prof. Huang Zirui from Southeast University.
The new standard will help the industrialization and expand the application potential of the engineered bamboo products in future.
Bamboo’s potential role in climate change showcased at COP 28
Side Event at COP 28 © INBAR
In the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Dubai, INBAR (International Bamboo and Rattan Organization) has showcased the potential of bamboo in the fight against climate change by organizing the side events and an exhibition booth.
The topic of one side event is “Bamboo Based Innovation for Upscaling Landscape Restoration and Green Growth in Developing Countries”. The session highlighted bamboo’s potential for landscape restoration, green growth and sustainable development. The event also emphasized bamboo’s crucial role in restoring degraded lands, mitigating and adapting to climate change and promoting green economies. The development of engineered bamboo and related products can devote to the commitment of reducing the CO2 emissions in the globe.
altPlus has involved itself in the sustainable and green development. Last year, altPlus M Series LVB materials were applied in bus stations and low-rise structures. In early 2024, altPlus Nakou in Fujian will increase altPlus EB Materials division to expand capacity of our M Series LVB materials delivered to international markets, which will help expand on the available solutions from altPlus.
Engineered Bamboo © altPlus