Biomass plastics industry urgently needs policy support
In recent years, some enterprises have been involved in the production of bioenergy and biomass plastics. However, due to insufficient government funding and a lack of substantial policy support, many of these companies have either disappeared or shifted their production focus. As the 21st century progressed, the global oil crisis intensified, prompting many countries to invest in bioenergy development. Since 1993, China has faced increasing challenges in its petroleum supply. In response, Professor Jiang Jiming, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and researcher at Tsinghua University, proposed establishing a national-level biomass plastics production base to address the growing reliance on imported oil.
China is now the second-largest oil consumer globally, yet it holds only about 2% of the world’s oil reserves—approximately 3 billion to 4 billion tons. By 2003, the country’s oil import dependence had reached 36%, and experts predict this could surpass 55% by 2020. This heavy reliance on foreign oil poses a serious threat to China’s energy security.
The annual consumption of chemical-based plastics in China exceeds 20 million tons, including 5 million tons of packaging materials. The use of disposable food containers alone reaches over 20 billion units annually. While these plastics bring convenience to daily life and industry, they take 200–300 years to decompose, leading to severe environmental pollution. Experts argue that developing bioplastics is not only a strategic move to conserve oil but also an effective solution to the "white pollution" problem.
According to Commissioner Cai Jiming, biomass plastics are made from agricultural products like corn starch, potato starch, and tapioca flour, combined with synthetic polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene. These materials undergo multi-disciplinary processes involving chemistry, biotechnology, and mechanical engineering. The resulting bioplastics retain all the functions of traditional plastics while being biodegradable through microbial action.
Due to the low cost of starch and abundant natural resources, biomass resins can be produced at a lower cost than conventional plastics. However, early development was hindered by high technology costs, expensive imported equipment, and a small market scale. With rising oil prices, the cost of regular plastics has increased, making bioplastics more competitive. For example, a company producing over 20,000 tons of starch-based resin annually can reduce costs by 15%.
Despite this potential, the main challenge for degradable plastics in China lies in the lack of national policy support. Many eco-friendly products remain unclassified in customs, and there are no clear standards or regulations for the degradable plastics market. Additionally, private investment is limited, and most companies operate on a small scale.
In 2000, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture launched a national initiative to promote bio-based products and bioenergy, which was signed into law. Similar efforts have been advocated by Chinese scientists, but progress remains slow. Only a few companies, such as Guangdong Sanjiu Biodegradable Plastics Co., Ltd., are currently producing biomass plastics at a comparable level to developed nations.
Member Cai Jiming emphasized that the production of bioplastics not only helps in the deep processing of agricultural products and increases farmers' income, but also reduces oil dependency and addresses long-term environmental issues. He urged the government to launch R&D projects, establish national biomass plastic bases, and implement preferential policies in loans, taxes, and exports. Supporting companies with technical capabilities will help reduce costs, meet market demand, and accelerate the growth of the biomass energy industry.
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