Is Bamboo Eco-friendly?

Is Bamboo Eco-friendly?

Did you know the world has produced roughly 8.3 billion tons of plastics since 1950? That’s the size of about 47 million blue whales or 1 billion elephants, and only 9% of it is recycled! The rest is either burnt (12%) and polluted the air or ended up as landfills (79%). This fact alone is enough to explain the importance of thinking of a more sustainable alternative. Yes, we are talking about bamboo as a sustainable solution to large-scale environmental pollution.

plastic waste

In this article, we’ll discuss why bamboo is an eco-friendly solution to environmental pollution and things to be aware of before using bamboo on a large scale.

Bamboo As an Eco-friendly Solution

Below are some reasons why we love bamboo as an eco-friendly solution;

High Growth Rate

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth. Compared to other trees, which take around 4 to 5 years on average to grow, in perfect condition, bamboo can grow up to 3 feet in just 24 hours and become ready to use within 3 to 4 months.

This fast-growing property makes bamboo a sustainable solution to support the high demand of a vast population.

Fun Fact: Bamboo is not a tree; actually, it’s giant grass.

Extremely Earth Loving

bamboo the fastest growing plant

Studies found that bamboo can absorb 2x more carbon-di-oxide and produce 35% more oxygen than a tree of the same mass.

Moreover, bamboo production doesn’t need any harmful pesticides or chemicals. Its roots are strong enough to collect all the nutrition from the soil to support its high growth rate and also preventing the soil from erosion.

Bamboo also acts as a natural air conditioner. It can reduce the surrounding temperature by up to 8 degrees. What a great way to save electricity bills and the planet!

Highly Durable

Bamboo earned its reputation as ‘green steel,’ thanks to its durability. When stored properly in cover, bamboo can last up to 7 years. Bamboo grove can last up to 15 years while costing much less than other alternatives.
Another reason to fall in love with bamboo is that it’s incredibly lightweight and easy to carry around compared to steel and concrete structures.

How to Use Bamboo in Eco-friendly Ways

Below are some eco-friendly uses of bamboo:

bamboo in construction
  • Use bamboo in construction. As per UNESCO, 70 hectares of bamboo is enough to build 1000 houses.
  • Bamboo pieces of jewelry are good-looking, eco-friendly, and affordable.
  • Use bamboo furniture and household products. Bamboo water bottles are a great use of bamboo in our everyday life.
  • Use bamboo as food and medicine, thanks to its antioxidant properties.
  • Use papers made from bamboo pulps.

Is Bamboo Really Eco-friendly?

The eco-friendliness of bamboo highly depends on how it is processed. The chemicals used to process bamboo raised serious questions these days.

To convert hard bamboo into wearable, washable soft cloths, harsh chemicals, like carbon disulfide, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide. These all are harmful to the environment, and the process is also energy-intensive.

Some raised questions against some bamboo firms too. Some are accused of destroying huge forest areas for producing more bamboo. Some of these forests are home to scarce and thousand years old trees and home to biodiversity.

Proper regulation can ensure the safe production of bamboo, balanced life, and prevent harmful processing of this earth-loving grass.

There are more than 1200 known species of bamboo around the world. Using the right one for the right purpose and processing it in natural ways can be a great step to save Mother Nature.