INF/TE/IDP/RD/82* 
5 December 2022  
(22-9005) Page: 1/6 
 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  
 
_______________  
  
 
* 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/82  
 
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  WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE AND EFFECTIVE SUBSTITUTES AND ALTERNATIVES FOR 
PLASTICS  
AGENDA  
 
Workshop on sustainable and effective substitutes and alternatives for plastics  
WTO in collaboration with UNCTAD  
6 December 2022  
Hybrid event – WTO room (Room S1, S3) and online (zoom)  
10:00 am – 1:00 pm  
 
The workshop will be structured in three parts: i) opening segment; ii) two work -focused break -
out sessions (1h45min divided into two parts each) covering specific topics; and iii) closing plenary 
where delegations and stakeholders will reconvene. Discussi ons in the break -out sessions will be 
facilitated and focus on the guiding questions to each topic (see annex). Delegations and invited 
stakeholders can choose their preferred break -out session and are asked to participate actively. 
They are also invited t o send written submissions prior to the event to idp@wto.org .  
 
Delegations and invited stakeholders planning to attend the workshop virtually must register via 
Zoom by clicking here. 
 
10:00 am  Plenary (Room S1 and Zoom):  
 
Welcome remarks  
 
Factual summary of discussions held at the Dialogue covering the Workshop topics, WTO  
 
Presentation “Plastic pollution: the pressing case of natural and environmentally friendly 
substitutes to Plastics”, UNCTAD  
 
10:30 am – 12:45 pm - Break-out sessions  
 
Session 1  (Room S3 and Zoom)  
 
10:35  
a. Working definitions for terms relevant to 
trade in substitutes and alternat ives2   
 
 
11:35  
b. HS code identification exercise, and trade -
related measures enabling substitution of 
single -use plastic products (SUPP) and 
other “problematic” goods by sustainable 
materials  
 Session 2  (Room S1 and Zoom)  
 
10:35  
a. Illustrative and extended l ist of material 
substitutes and material identification 
exercise  
 
11:35  
b. Minimum criteria for life cycle analysis, 
including other considerations such as 
tradability, non -toxicity, affordability, 
accessibility, and availability.  
 
 
12:45 pm 1:00 pm Plenary (Room S1 and Zoom):  
 
Reports of facilitators, round of short reactions by the plenary and conclusion  
 
 
 
ANNEX – Questions for written submissions by delegations and stakeholders  
 
2 Tentative definitions for terms such as:  plastic; microplastic; plastic substitutes; plastic alternatives; 
environmentally sustainable; effective (including cost and functionally effective); single -use; reusable; 
biodegradable; erodible; recyclable; recyclable content; compostable; plastic -related emissions; waste 
management technologies.  INF/TE/IDP/RD/82  
 
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Break -out sessions will focus on the guiding questions below. Delegations and invited stakeholders 
are kindly invited to send written an swers to these questions prior to the event to idp@wto.org . 
 
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    
☐ microplastics    
☒ plastics substitutes  Similar as plastics  Bamboo and rattan  
☒ plastic alternatives  Similar as plastics  Bamboo and rattan  
☒ environmentally 
sustainable  Nature -based resources  Bamboo and rattan  
☐ effective (including cost 
and functionally effective)    
☒ single use  Single time to be used  bamboo  
☒ re-usable  durable  Bamboo and rattan  
☒ biodegradable  Nature based products  Bamboo and rattan  
☐ erodible    
☒ recyclable  Made with nature resources  Bamboo and rattan  
☒ recycled content  plants  Bamboo and rattan  
☒ compostable   Bamboo and rattan  
☒ plastic -related emissions  Reduce plastic pollution  Bamboo and rattan  
☒ waste management 
technologies  No waste and full utilization  bamboo  
☐ Other    
 
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.  
 
Chapter  14 Vegetable plaiting materials; veg etable 
products not elsewhere specified or included  Remarks  
Heading  14.01  Vegetable materials of a kind used primarily for 
plaiting (for example, bamboos, rattans, reeds, 
rushes, osier, raffia, cleaned, bleached or dyed cereal 
straw, and lime bark)   
Subheading  1401.10  Bamboos  Introduced in 
1988  1401.20  Rattans  
Chapter  20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other 
parts of plants   
Heading  20.05  Other vegetables prepared or preserved otherwise 
than by vinegar or acetic acid, not frozen, other than 
products of heading 20.06   
Subheading  2005.91  Bamboo shoots  Introduced in 
2007 
    INF/TE/IDP/RD/82  
 
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  Chapter  44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal   
Heading  44.02  Wood charcoal (including shell or nut charcoal), 
whether or not agglomerated   
Subheading  4402.10  Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2007 
Heading  44.09  Wood (including strips and friezes for parquet 
flooring, not assembled) continuously shaped 
(tongued, grooved, rebated, chamfered, V -jointed, 
beaded, moulded, rounded or the like ) along any of 
its edges, ends or faces, whether or not planed, 
sanded or end -jointed.   
Subheading  4409.21  (Non -coniferous) Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2007 
Heading  44.12  Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated 
wood   
Subheading  4412.10  Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2007 
Heading  44.18  Builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood, including 
cellular wood panels, assembled flooring panels, 
shingles and shakes   
  - Assembled flooring panels   
Subheading  4418.73  -- Of bamboo or with at least the top layer 
(wear layer) of bamboo  Introduced in 
2017 
  - Other   
Subheading  4418.91  -- Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2017 
Heading  44.19  Tableware and kitchenware, of wood   
  - Of bamboo   
Subheading  4419.11  -- Bread and boards, chopping boards and 
similar boards  Introduced in 
2017 
Subheading  4419.12  -- Chopsticks  Introduced in 
2017 
Subheading  4419.19  -- Other  Introduced in 
2017 
Heading  44.21  Other articles of wood   
  - Other   
Subheading  4421.91  -- Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2017 
    
Chapter  46 Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other 
plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork   
Heading  46.01  Plaits and similar products of plaiting materials, 
whether or not assembled into strips; plaiting 
materials, plaits and similar products of plaiting 
materials, bound together in parallel strands or 
woven, in sheet form, whether or not being finished 
articles (for example, mats, matting, screens)   
  - Mats, matting and screens of vegetable materials   
Subheading  4601.21  -- Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2007  4601.22  -- Of rattan  
 4601.90  Plating Plaits & similar products, whether/not 
assembled into strips; bound together in parallel 
strands/woven, in sheet form, whether/not being 
finished articles   
 4601.92  -- Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2007  460193  -- Of rattan  
Heading  46.02  Basketwork, wickerwork, and other articles, made 
directly to shape from plaiting materials or made op 
from goods of heading 46.01; articles of loofah   
  - Of vegetable materials   
Subheading  4602.11  -- Of bamboo  INF/TE/IDP/RD/82  
 
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   4602.22  -- Of rattan  Introduced in 
2007 
    
Chapter  47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic 
material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or 
paperboard   
Heading  47.06  Pulps of fibres derived from recovered (waste and 
scrap) paper or paperboard or other fibrous cellulosic 
material   
  - Other   
Subheading  4706.30  -- Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2007 
    
Chapter  48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of 
paper or of paperboard   
Heading  48.23  Other paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and 
webs of cellulose fibres, cut to size or shape; other 
articles of paper pulp, paper, paperboard, cellulose 
wadding or webs of cellulose fibres   
  - Trays, dishes, plates, cups and the like, of paper or 
paperboard   
Subheading  4823.61  -- Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2007 
    
Chapter  94 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress 
supports, cushions and similar stuffed 
furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not 
elsewhere specified or included; illuminated 
signs, illuminated name -plates and the like; 
prefabricated buildings.   
Heading  94.01  Seats (other than those of heading 94.02), whether 
or not convertible into beds, and parts thereof   
  - Seats of cane, osier, bamboo or similar materials   
Subheading  9401.52  -- Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2007 
 9401.53  -- Of rattan  Introduced in 
2007 
Heading  94.03  Other furniture and parts thereof   
  - Furniture of other materials, including cane, osier, 
bamboo or similar materials   
Subheading  9403.82  -- Of bamboo  Introduced in 
2007 
 9403.83  -- Of rattan  Introduced in 
2007 
    
 
 
 
3) Illustrative and extended list of material substitutes and material identification 
exercise  
 
Q. Please indicate the key criteria to be considered when identifying environmentally sustainable 
and effective substitute materials. Please provide examples of such materials as well as relevant HS 
codes if available.  
 
10000 kinds of bamboo commodities: handicrafts, woven bamboo products of mats, curtains, 
carpets, basketworks and utensils for daily life, furniture and seats, packing materials, newly 
developed bamboo products for sports, building, decoration, etc. and singly use products for eating 
and drinking…keyboard, computer, mouse, and similar product which plastic can make.  
Rattan handicrafts, woven rattan mats and baskets, furniture and seats.  
 INF/TE/IDP/RD/82  
 
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  4) Minimum criteria for life cycle analysis, including other considerations such as 
tradability, non -toxicity, affordability, accessibility, an d 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, their alternatives, and substitutes.  
 
 
__________