Global Plastic Reduction Regulations Take Effect, Boosting Demand for Eco-friendly Retail Display Props
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- Sohu
- Issue Time
- Jan 1,2026
Summary
As three major global plastic reduction regulations took effect on January 1, 2026, traditional plastic display props are phased out, driving a surge in demand for eco-friendly alternatives in the retail industry.
On January 1, 2026, three major global plastic reduction regulations came into effect simultaneously: South Korea's mandatory requirement of 10% recycled plastic content, the U.S. Plastic Pact Roadmap 2.0, and the expansion of Dubai's plastic ban. This regulatory synergy is driving the green transformation in the packaging and display sector of the retail industry. As a result, traditional plastic display props are facing obsolescence, and the demand for eco-friendly display props made from materials such as bamboo fiber and bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) has surged, becoming a core choice for retail enterprises to operate in compliance.
According to industry analysis, the three newly implemented regulations have established a global framework for plastic reduction: South Korea explicitly requires plastic packaging and display products to contain more than 10% recycled components, forcing enterprises to switch to eco-friendly alternative materials; the U.S. Plastic Pact Roadmap 2.0 sets a target of reducing virgin plastic by 30% by 2030, mandating that all commercial display props must be reusable, recyclable, or compostable; Dubai has expanded its plastic ban to cover core categories such as disposable plastic display containers and promotional display stands, completely banning non-degradable plastic products. Under the superimposition of multiple policies, retail enterprises' procurement demand for eco-friendly display props has entered an explosive period.
Market data confirms this trend. According to the "Organic Display Rack Market Development Report" released by the China Plastics Processing Industry Association, the global organic display rack market size reached 12.86 billion yuan in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 28.4%, and is expected to exceed 16.5 billion yuan in 2026, with a compound annual growth rate maintained in the high-speed range of 25-30%. The retail industry is the core demand sector: in 2025, the demand for eco-friendly display racks in the retail industry reached 350,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 42%, and terminal formats such as large supermarket chains and premium grocery stores are accelerating the inclusion of eco-friendly display props in their procurement lists. Bamboo-based degradable materials, for example, have become the preferred choice for European and American retail brands due to their "zero plastic, fully degradable" characteristics and compliance with EU food contact standards.
Industry insiders pointed out that the implementation of global plastic reduction regulations is not only a policy constraint but also promotes the deepening of sustainable development concepts in the retail industry. In the future, eco-friendly display props with material traceability certificates and carbon footprint accounting reports will become the market mainstream, while enterprises that fail to establish a full-life-cycle environmental management system may be excluded from the supply chains of large brands. This trend also brings opportunities for Chinese foreign trade display props enterprises. Relying on abundant agricultural and forestry waste raw material resources and mature bio-based material production technology, domestic enterprises' competitiveness in the field of eco-friendly products is continuously improving.
Source: Sohu.com "2026 Global Plastic Reduction Regulations Take Effect! Bamboo-based Degradable Packaging Becomes the First Choice", Original Document "2026 and Future 5 Years Organic Display Rack Project Market Data Survey and Monitoring Research Report"