Is Bamboo Sustainable? The Eco-Friendly Benefits Of Bamboo

Increased awareness of what negative impacts certain materials have on our environment has provoked a change of practices across the world.

Companies and customers are both trying to undergo sustainable practices when it comes to everyday living, with little changes having a big influence on how our world is affected. With the dangers of pollution and climate change being brought to prominent light, more and more people are doing what they can to become eco-friendlier.

One of the replacement materials called into question is bamboo. To find out why bamboo is sustainable for the environment, how it is better than alternatives, and how you can incorporate it into everyday usage, read on for more information!

What Is Bamboo?

First, it might be worth sharing what this sustainable material actually is. Bamboo is a diverse type of evergreen perennial flowering plant, often described as a giant, wood-like grass.

Grown mainly in the tropics, there are over a whopping 1200 different species of this plant, with most being very adaptable, especially in high humidity conditions. However, certain types are also able to grow in colder climates, such as regions in the UK and North America, making it readily available.

This renewable resource is usually seen as a material used for homeware and clothing, although it can also be a good food source in some regions, causing it to be useful in multiple different ways.

As a plant, one of the most obvious environmental advantages that bamboo provides is its capability to emit oxygen and take in carbon dioxide.

The Environmental Benefits of Bamboo

Bamboo is a highly eco-friendly material that is good for the ecosystem, has multiple useful properties, and grows quickly, sometimes reaching its full size in just three months, compared to the 30+ years it takes for regular trees to grow.

Aside from these naturally renewable properties, bamboo doesn't need the addition of any harsh chemicals or pesticides during the harvesting process, reducing the amount of pollution put into our atmosphere. Additionally, producing bamboo also requires less energy than the production of other construction materials such as wood and steel, enhancing its efficiency.

As a plant, one of the most obvious environmental advantages that bamboo provides is its capability to emit oxygen and take in carbon dioxide. Not only does this create cleaner, healthier air, but it also provides humans, along with other living creatures, with a plentiful supply of oxygen that is needed in critical living processes such as respiration. Bamboo produces a substantial amount of oxygen compared to an equal tree mass as well as taking in large amounts of carbon dioxide, triggering a fast rate of carbon sequestration.

How To Incorporate Bamboo Into Your Daily Routine

By this point, you may be wondering what materials you can replace with this renewable and sustainable plant. With its vast array of benefits, customers are on the hunt for bamboo alternatives in a variety of household items. Examples include bamboo toothbrushes, makeup brushes, furniture, coffee cups, kitchen utensils, plastic straw alternatives, and flooring, just to name a few!

Furthermore, although bamboo is a light material, it is also incredibly durable when compared to steel and wood, making it an efficient construction material. This is especially common in Asia, where bamboo is often used in building projects and roads to reinforce concrete. Growing much faster than the hardwood and softwood alternatives, bamboo is an obvious choice.

Businesses Using Bamboo

Some companies have already started to take action when it comes to swapping out less sustainable materials with bamboo.

For example, the eco-conscious company, Who Gives a Crap, incorporates recycled bamboo and bamboo-sugarcane materials into their blended-material toilet paper. Targeting such a wasteful industry with a variety of sustainable, bamboo-based products has helped this company set innovative trends in the world of business when it comes to creating more environmental awareness.

Key Takeaways

• Utilizing bamboo materials can help your business grow and generate more profit.
• Incorporating eco-friendly practices into your brand will demonstrate that your company is committed to taking action on environmental issues and adds depth to your business’s core values.
• Bamboo is an incredibly efficient material due to it requiring less energy than the production of other construction materials.