The Impact of "Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastics" on Carbon Emissions under the Background of the Digital Economy

Against the backdrop of global climate change, worsening plastic pollution, and China’s advancement of the "Dual Carbon" strategy, "bamboo substitution for plastics" has become a green path with both ecological and economic value, while the digital economy provides key support for its efficient implementation. Based on panel data from 92 bamboo-rich counties in the Yangtze River Basin from 2015 to 2023, this study employs SARAR spatial econometric model, cost-benefit analysis (CBA), panel regression, and a green development indicator system to explore the mechanism and carbon emission reduction effect of the digital economy empowering "bamboo substitution for plastics".