Bamboo

There are over 1000 species of bamboo. This amazing plant grows in tropical and temperate environments and is very hardy, not needing pesticides or herbicides to grow well. It is a type of grass and grows from it’s roots, when it is cut it quickly grows back with most species maturing in 3-5 years.

Some facts about the sustainability of bamboo are:

• It is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilisers
• It requires no irrigation
• It rarely needs replanting
• It grows rapidly and can be harvested in 3-5 years
• It produces 35% more oxygen that an equivalent stand of trees
• It sequesters carbon dioxide and is carbon neutral
• It is a critical element in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
• It is an excellent soil erosion inhibitor
• It grows in a wide range of environments
• It’s production into fibres has lower environmental impact than other forms of fibre, especially synthetic ones.

The uses of bamboo

Houses, schools and other buildings

According to UNESCO, 70 hectares of bamboo produces enough material to build 1000 houses. If timber was used instead, it would require the felling of trees from an already diminishing forest. Today, over one billion people in the world live in bamboo houses.

Roads and bridges

It is being used in road reinforcements in India and it is also used in bridges built in China, capable of supporting trucks that weigh as much as 16 tons.

Medicines

In China, ingredients from the black bamboo shoot help treat kidney diseases. Roots and leaves have also been used to treat venereal diseases and cancer. According to reports in a small village in Indonesia, water from the culm (the side branches) is used to treat diseases of the bone effectively.

Clothes

It’s the new hemp, it can be made into a strong and durable fabric a bit like canvas and can be made into all sorts of clothes. Additionally, bamboo fabric is breathable, thermal regulating, wicks moisture better than polyester performance fabrics, will resist odour and is absorbent and fast drying keeping you dryer and more comfortable than any cotton or polyester fabrics. Beware though: it is also made into Rayon in a chemical process that is unsustainable.

Accessories

It is also used to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other types of jewellery.

Food

Shoots are used mainly in Asian food preparations. In Japan, the antioxidant properties of the bamboo skin prevent bacterial growth, and are used as natural food preservatives.

Fuel

Charcoal made from this amazing plant has been used for centuries as cooking fuel in China and Japan. The Bamboo vinegar or pyroligneous acid is extracted when making charcoal and is used for hundreds of treatments in almost all fields. This liquid contains 400 different chemical compounds and can be applied for many purposes including cosmetics, insecticides, deodorants, food processing, and agriculture.

Scaffolding

It is often used for scaffolding because it proves to be an eco-friendly and cost-effective resource. In Hong Kong, bamboo scaffolding is preferred over metal scaffolding because its easily available and cheaper.

Furniture

Beautiful and intricately crafted beds, chairs and tables are made from bamboo. Read more about sustainable furniture here»

Rugs and textiles

Exotic woods like the mango are often used in Oriental rugs. Buying a bamboo rug will ensure that you save a tree.

Paper

Pulps are mainly produced in China, Myanmar, Thailand and India, and are used in printing and writing papers.

Nappies

According to Japanese scientists, bamboo cloth can retain its antibacterial quality even after 50 washings.

Utensils and tableware

Cups and saucers, spoons and ladles can all be made from this incredibly versatile material.

The list is endless…

Musical instruments, fishing rods, bicycles, helmets, toys…

Source: https://econation.co.nz/bamboo/