You see bamboo products everywhere. From underwear to straws and even bricks (which are pretty cool, by the way). It seems as if the plant is influencing every industry in a sustainable way. Whether everything is truly sustainable is still a question. But the idea is nice and we appreciate the creativity.
We have collected a number of fun and remarkable products that show how you can "make things more sustainable" with bamboo. But first, we'll explain what bamboo is and what makes the plant so sustainable.
What is bamboo and why is it sustainable
First, a bit of information to make you smarter. What is bamboo and what makes it so sustainable? Bamboo is a type of grass that mainly occurs in East Asia. Bamboo grows under various conditions and there are over 1000 species. You have bamboo as a wide tree stem of 30 meters high in a rainforest in China and in your grandmother's garden in the Netherlands.
What the plant is especially known for is that bamboo grows fast. Bamboo grows so fast that the plant holds the world record for the fastest growing plant on earth, which stands at a maximum of 91 centimeters per day. Compared to other renewable resources such as trees, it's up to 30 times faster. Also read everything about pruning bamboo.
Besides the renewability of bamboo, the plant is also self-fertilizing. After harvesting, the roots remain intact and the plant continues to grow. This means that due to the renewable qualities of bamboo, it is no longer necessary to deforest primeval forests.
Did you know that bamboo has natural anti-fungal DNA? This allows the plant to be cultivated and produced without pesticides or chemicals. This makes paper from 100% organic bamboo fully biodegradable and also hygienic.
Bamboo has a high CO2 storage and thus contributes to purifying the earth. This happens especially when the stem grows. Bamboo absorbs 35% more carbon and releases 35% more oxygen than the average tree. By managing bamboo forests well, you can create an efficient system.
Lastly, bamboo is incredibly strong. A bamboo stem is one of the strongest building materials in the world. It has a tensile strength of 28,000 inches per square millimeter compared to 23,000 inches for steel.
So it's about using bamboo as an alternative material. Bamboo possesses a number of properties that make it extremely sustainable, such as the fact that the plant grows quickly. Things made from trees are therefore the most logical because the same can be done with bamboo fibers as with paper fibers. On the other hand, very hard materials can be replaced, such as building materials. Read more about what bamboo is.
Saving plastic with bamboo products
Plastic is a big problem. Because it's not biodegradable and will therefore wander around somewhere on earth forever. Using bamboo as an alternative here sounds logical, provided it's made in a sustainable way.
Here are a few products where bamboo replaces plastic:
- Bamboo single-use cutlery, plates, and cups
- Reusable straws made of hard bamboo
- Bamboo toothbrush
- Reusable bamboo coffee cup
- Comb or brush made of bamboo
Saving trees with bamboo products
Trees are mainly used for paper and tissues. Think of all the daily needs where you alone need paper. From the toilet to the office, paper is everywhere. Here are a few sustainable alternatives:
- 100% bamboo toilet paper
- Bamboo napkins
- Bamboo kitchen towels
- Bamboo print paper
- Bamboo packaging
Order Bamboi bamboo toilet paper!
