Shanghai began enforcing a new rule restricting single-use plastics on Sept 1, driving demand for eco-friendly alternatives. In Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, companies had already prepared solutions to capture this growing market.

At a workshop of the Zhejiang Jiadebao Technology Co Ltd in Taizhou Bay New Area, seven automated lines were busy producing molded pulp tableware made from bagasse and bamboo fiber. The firm, which helped draft national standards for pulp-molded products, now supplies both domestic and international markets.

An interior view of a workshop of the Zhejiang Jiadebao Technology Co Ltd in Taizhou. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Orders from Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea are balanced with growing domestic demand from supermarkets and restaurants. The company produces more than 2 million items daily, with orders booked through late October.

Exports to the United States declined due to tariffs, but sales at home rose, with domestic output from January to July up about 10 percent year-on-year. New products such as tea cups and outdoor dining sets are targeting new consumption scenarios like camping and night markets.

In Huangyan district, Taizhou Jiajubao is producing reusable silicone containers. Made from food-grade silicone, the products can withstand temperatures up to 230 degrees and be recycled by specialized firms. Annual sales of its top-selling transparent storage box exceed 100,000 units with an output value of over 3 million yuan ($420,061.15).

The products from Taizhou Jiajubao are exhibited on a stand. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Hu Heyou, the chief executive officer of Taizhou Jiajubao, expects Shanghai's new regulation to boost demand and provide wider market opportunities for eco-friendly products.