The 5th International New Materials Industry Conference wrapped up this week in Bengbu, Anhui Province on the Chinese mainland, where attendees swapped traditional plastics for innovative, plant-based alternatives.
From conference credentials and mineral water bottles to shopping bags, everyday items were made from polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable polymer derived from renewable biomass like corn and straw. This green superstar is rapidly finding its way into packaging, textiles and even medical tools.
"PLA is a low-carbon and environmentally friendly material that holds the potential to replace traditional plastics and reduce dependence on fossil fuels," said Chen Liping, executive general manager of the BBCA Group.
PLA-based tableware first gained global attention at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics, and it’s now fueling new momentum in the broader materials sector.
The four-day event, themed "New Technology, New Materials, New Future," welcomed around 400 delegates from across the globe. Alongside PLA demos, conference sessions highlighted how AI-driven platforms and data analytics are speeding up material discovery and production.
A report by CCID Consulting, under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the Chinese mainland, revealed that the new materials industry hit 8.7 trillion yuan in 2024, up 13.8% year on year. The frontier materials segment surged 26.6% to 329.2 billion yuan and is projected to top 500 billion yuan by 2026.
"As the Chinese mainland advances new industrialization during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the new materials industry is set to enter a golden period of growth," added Li Ke, vice president of CCID Consulting.
With green materials like PLA and AI-powered innovation converging, the industry seems poised for a sustainably charged future on the global stage.
Reference(s):
Green and AI technologies boost China's new materials industry
cgtn.com