Apart from being one of the strongest natural fibers in the world, bamboo has a rapid cultivation cycle. In the global academic community, the development of environmentally friendly and biodegradable polymer composites using bamboo fibers as reinforcement has become an active area of research.

　　China is the world's largest bamboo producer. According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the country is home to approximately 7.56 million hectares of bamboo forests, accounting for roughly one-fifth of the global total. It also owns a cutting-edge processing technology system and a comprehensive industrial chain that spans cultivation, harvesting, processing, and product development.

　　In 2022, China partnered with the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization to launch the Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic initiative. The following year, the National Development and Reform Commission teamed up with the administration and other ministries to issue a three-year action plan to accelerate the movement. The plan outlined a range of actions spanning technological innovation, industrial development, market substitution, and international cooperation. This was followed up by a supportive standards system from the administration in 2024, which covered 140 items in nine categories, including building materials, medical supplies, and handicrafts.

　　The initiative has yielded results. According to the administration, China's bamboo industry reached an annual output value of over 520 billion yuan ($77.5 billion) by the end of last year, with more than 10,000 bamboo processing enterprises and 29 million people employed across the supply chain. The range of bamboo products has expanded to over 15,000 varieties, with bamboo fiber tableware, bamboo-based packaging, and bamboo fiber composite materials entering the market as alternatives to plastic products.