Bamboo: Sustainable And Useful

We hear the word bamboo and might picture pandas munching on it in China. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that regenerates quickly from its roots, requiring minimal replanting. Compared to many other crops, bamboo requires significantly less water and doesn’t need pesticides or fertilizers to grow. Bamboo forests are effective carbon sinks, which means they absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and release more oxygen than trees.

When trees are cut down, the climate and ecosystem are upset. This deforestation contributes to plant disease, soil loss, erosion and problems with the water cycle. However, bamboo is a viable alternative as one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet. It can mature in just a couple of years, compared to fully matured hardwood, which takes 30 to 50 years. Some species of bamboo can grow a huge 35 inches in a day. Bamboo doesn’t need as much water as trees to thrive, and this hardy plant is so tough it doesn’t need chemical protection to discourage pests or boost growth. Plus, bamboo is antifungal, antibacterial, biodegradable and compostable, breaking down more quickly than plastic and not releasing harmful chemicals.

This beautiful grass with a hollow stem offers far more than just a source of sustenance for an endangered species like the panda. Bamboo is a sustainable, renewable, versatile material and vastly underused in the US.

Some ideal uses of bamboo are found in household and personal care products made of sustainable, eco-friendly bamboo. Most bamboo products sold in solid form haven’t been chemically processed. Some of the many household and personal care products are: sustainable bamboo kitchen items, including utensils, bowls, straws, dish and vegetable brushes, dish drying racks, cutting boards, stainless steel and bamboo tea steepers, and water bottles. For personal hygiene there are bamboo makeup brushes, hair towels, dental floss, wooden hairbrushes with bamboo bristles, bandages, toilet paper, biodegradable toothbrushes and their stands.

There are potential drawbacks and considerations. While bamboo itself is sustainable, the manufacturing processes for some bamboo products, like fabric, can involve the use of chemicals that may not be environmentally friendly. There may be a lack of standardized quality control in bamboo production, potentially leading to variations in the product’s durability and composition. In some cases, bamboo products may contain traces of formaldehyde or other volatile organic compounds.

As with all things we purchase, it is important to consider where our bamboo products and household goods are sourced. Although bamboo cultivation offers a great opportunity for American farmers, the US imports most of the bamboo we consume. When bamboo is imported – pre- or post-production – it’s authentic bamboo, but with a negative environmental impact. Shipping imported bamboo products creates air pollution and other environmental damage making it an important factor to weigh.

How bamboo is processed also makes a difference in its true sustainability. If a product hasn’t been chemically processed, like most bamboo products sold in solid form, it’s a great product. Bamboo fabrics, however, are different because bamboo is hard. Turning this plant into a soft fabric like viscose rayon takes chemical processing involving sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide. These chemicals are dangerous to a natural material, and they produce chemical runoff with adverse environmental results.

Nevertheless, there are greener bamboo fabrics, most notably bamboo lyocell, which is made using a closed-loop cycle so nothing toxic leaks into the environment. Just think twice and consider sourcing and manufacturing before buying bamboo towels, sheets, cleaning cloths or clothing.

Overall, bamboo has numerous advantages over. It’s also very versatile and can be used in a wide range of products from furniture to home and personal care products.