World's First "Reed-to-Plastic" Production Line Begins Operation, Capable of Producing Polylactic Acid

Recently, the world's first polylactic acid (PLA) production line using reeds as raw material officially commenced operations. The facility consumes approximately 50 tons of reeds, straw, and other raw materials daily, producing around 10 tons of PLA and lignin. This production line was invested in and constructed by a Chinese company, whose independently developed production technology is internationally leading, successfully filling the gap in non-food-based bioplastics.

According to company representatives, the enterprise employs a self-developed synthetic bio-manufacturing technology system for non-food feedstocks. Using specific microbial strains, it breaks down the cellulose and hemicellulose in reeds into sugars, which are then fermented into lactic acid monomers. These monomers are finally polymerized into PLA—bioplastic—through proprietary macromolecular technology. Currently, the PLA pellets produced by the company meet all performance standards and can be widely applied in various fields, including meal boxes, straws, disposable plastic packaging, agricultural mulch films, and Garbage Bags.

Compared to traditional plastics, reed-based bioplastics offer significant advantages in both environmental sustainability and cost. From an environmental perspective, reeds absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis during growth. After being converted into plastic via biorefining, the material can fully degrade back into carbon dioxide and water when discarded, forming a complete lifecycle carbon loop of "growth–use–degradation." This effectively reduces fossil resource consumption and carbon emissions. Calculations show that roughly 1 ton of PLA can be produced from 5 tons of straw (reeds). In terms of cost, PLA derived from non-food feedstocks like reeds and crop straw can reduce production expenses by about 50% compared to grain-based raw materials. With scaled-up production, its price is expected to fall below that of traditional petroleum-based plastics, potentially replacing single-use petrochemical plastic products.

In addition to bioplastics, the company also utilizes enzymatic hydrolysis technology to extract lignin from reeds, synthesizing bio-resins. These resins are then combined with carbon fiber to form high-performance composite materials. These composites exhibit significantly enhanced mechanical strength compared to traditional petrochemical epoxy resins and can be used in the manufacturing of products such as badminton rackets, tennis rackets, and bicycle hubs. They also demonstrate broad application potential in high-end manufacturing sectors like aerospace, rail transit, and new energy.

It is reported that after reaching industrial-scale production, the company’s PLA facility will consume about 50 tons of reeds and straw daily, yielding approximately 10 tons of PLA and lignin, with an annual designed capacity of thousands of tons. Shishou, where the facility is located, boasts abundant reed resources, being one of the few large-scale reed-growing areas in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, ensuring a stable supply of raw materials. In the future, the company plans to expand nationwide, leveraging millions of acres of reeds and straw resources in the Dongting Lake region to promote wetland ecological restoration, achieving a win-win scenario for economic development and environmental protection.