INF/TE/IDP/RD/81* 
5 December 2022  
(22-9004) Page: 1/3 
 Original:  English/anglais/inglés  
 
  
UNOFFICIAL ROOM DOCUMENT1 
 
DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS POLLUTION  
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS TRADE  
SUBMISSIONS  BY INBAR  
Workshop 6 December 2022  
 
 
DOCUMENT DE S ÉANCE NON OFFICIEL1 
 
DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS POLLUTION  
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS TRADE  
SUBMISSIONS  BY INBAR  
Workshop 6 December 2022  
 
 
DOCUMENTO DE SALA NO OF ICIAL1 
 
DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS POLLUTION  
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS TRADE  
SUBMISSIONS  BY INBAR  
Workshop 6 December 2022  
 
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* In Original language only/En langue originale seulement/En el idioma original solamente.  
1 Documents issued in the RD series are not official WTO documents. They usually appear in their 
language of submission and will not be translated systematically into the working languages of the WTO. They 
are intended for use in WTO meeting rooms and are a ttributed an unofficial symbol for archiving purposes only.  
Les documents de la série RD ne sont pas des documents officiels de l 'OMC. Ils ne paraissent 
généralement que dans la langue dans laquelle ils ont été communiqués et ne seront pas systématiquement 
traduits dans les langues de travail de l'OMC. Ils sont destinés aux salles de réunion de l'OMC et une cote non 
officielle leur est attribuée à des fins d'archivage.  
Los documentos de la serie RD no son documentos oficiales de la OMC. Por lo general se distribuyen en 
el idioma en que han sido presentados y no se traduce n sistemáticamente a los idiomas de trabajo de la 
Organización. Se distribuyen para su uso en las salas de reunión de la OMC y se les asigna una signatura no 
oficial a efecto s de archivo únicamente.  INF/TE/IDP/RD/81  
 
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Workshop - Questions for written submissions by stakeholders and delegations  
 
1) Working definitions  
 
Q. What are the concepts for which a "working definition" could help the identification of 
"environmentally sustainable and effective substitutes and alternatives"  (please select all that 
apply). For each, what are the key elements that should be included in a working definition?  
 
 Concept  Key elements   Potential source  
☐ plastic    
☐ micro -plastics    
☒ plastics substitutes  Similar or better quality than plastics  bamboo  
☒ plastic alternatives  Similar or better quality than plastics  bamboo  
☒ environmentally 
sustainable  renewable  bamboo  
☒ effective (including cost 
and functionally effective)  Competitive price  bamboo  
☒ single use  disposable  bamboo  
☒ re-usable  durable  bamboo  
☒ biodegradable  Biodegradable in nature condition  bamboo  
☐ erodible    
☒ recyclable  Recyclable under normal condition  bamboo  
☐ recycled content  Bamboo material   
☒ compostable  Compostable in natural condition  bamboo  
☒ plastic -related emissions  Bamboo products are low -carbon products to 
reduce high emission of plastics after 
substitution  bamboo  
☐ waste management 
technologies    
 
 
2) HS code identification exercise, and trade -related measures enabling substitution of 
single -use plastic products (SUPP) and other “problematic” goods by sustainable 
materials.  
 
Q. Please indicate what " environmentally sustainable and effective substitutes and alternatives" are 
already being traded – even if not perfect/ideal solutions – and their identification codes under the 
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) – even if those codes currently cover 
other products.  
 
HS codes  Products  
140110  Bamboo raw materials  
440210  Bamboo charcoal  
440921  Bamboo flooring  
441210  Bamboo plywood  
441873  Assembled bamboo flooring panels used for construction  
441891  Other bamboo panels used for construction  
441911  Bamboo chopping boards  
441912  Bamboo chopsticks  
441919  Small bamboo sticks  
442191  Bamboo articles of daily use  
460121  Bamboo mats/screens  
460192  Semi-finished bamboo plaits & plaiting articles  
460211  Bamboo basketwork/ wickerwork products  
470630  Bamboo pulp  INF/TE/IDP/RD/81  
 
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  482361  Bamboo paper based articles  
940152  Bamboo seats  
940382  Bamboo furniture  
 
 
3) Illustrative and extended list of material substitutes and material identification 
exercise  
 
Q. Please indicate what are the key materials/goods/sectors that could be prioritized when 
identifying "environmentally sustainable and effective substitute" materials. Please provide 
examples of such materials as well as relevant HS codes if available.  
 
One single use bamboo products: bamboo straw, cattery, and chopsticks, plates, cups, and cof fee 
stir and ice cream sticks,  cotton swab.  
Bamboo toothbrush, pen  
Kitchen items: chopping boards, toothbrushs  
Bamboo fiber/pulp packing material  
Bamboo  electronic  product  shell 
Natural bamboo fiber for mattress, mask and interior decoration (vehicles, buildings, etc.)  
Bamboo filling in cooling tower  
Bamboo winding pipe  
Bamboo skate board, surf board, bamboo woven helmet  
Bamboo blades  
 
 
4) Minimum criteria for life cycle analysis, including other considerations such as 
tradability, non -toxicit y, affordability, accessibility, and availability.  
 
Q. What are the key criteria that should be included in the life cycle analysis (and other 
considerations such as tradability, non -toxicity, affordability, accessibility, and availability)  of 
plastics, th eir alternatives, and substitutes.  
 
 
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