Bamboo is actually a type of grass and holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest growing plant on Earth (more on that later).
In addition to food for pandas and humans, it has been used to make various products, from houses to bicycles, for thousands of years.
But, as our consumption needs continue to grow, is bamboo a sustainable material?
Can it be grown, processed into products, and then disposed of to meet our current needs, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs?
Let's find out !
How sustainable is bamboo cultivation?
As mentioned, bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth.
Some species can grow up to 1 meter per day. Rapid growth is certainly useful for producing a lot of raw material quickly, a main advantage over slower growing trees.
But what about other aspects of bamboo harvesting?
Advantage: bamboo can be re-harvested
Unlike wood, bamboo can be harvested repeatedly once it reaches maturity.
As well as being great for renewal, this means no deforestation should occur, itself a messy process.
This also means that the bamboo's extensive root system can remain intact, which is great for soil health.
Advantage: bamboo does not need fertilizers or pesticides
Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and is extremely effective at reprocessing nutrients, so it requires no pesticides and little or no fertilizer to grow, although some farmers add the latter to increase yields.
For this reason, it is important that manufacturers source from certified organic sources.
Advantage: bamboo does not require a lot of water to grow
Bamboo also makes extremely efficient use of water. It generally requires half the amount of water as trees.
It grows densely and can produce 20 times more usable materials in a single harvest.
Advantage: bamboo sequesters CO2 and pumps a lot of oxygen
Due to its rapid growth, bamboo absorbs twice as much carbon as trees and produces 30% more oxygen compared to the equivalent mass of trees.
Possible concern: sometimes natural habitat is cleared for agriculture
Bamboo is produced on a commercial scale in China, where it has grown naturally for millions of years.
To meet growing demand, some opportunistic farmers have cleared natural habitats to make way for monoculture bamboo plantations.
This is concerning because it has a negative impact on biodiversity.
For this reason, it is important that manufacturers using bamboo source from areas where it grows naturally as part of a diverse ecosystem.
How sustainable are products made from bamboo?
This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on the product. As a general rule, the less treatment required, the better.
How durable are bamboo toothbrushes?
Bamboo toothbrushes , for example, require very little processing.
The bamboo is carved into shape and then the bristles are added.
When the brush is no longer fit for purpose, the bamboo handle can be safely composted in nature.
A much more durable alternative to plastic toothbrushes, which will last a long time.
How sustainable is bamboo toilet paper?
Considering what toilet paper is normally made from, i.e. wood, the way bamboo is grown and harvested makes the raw material more sustainable from this point of view.
From a production perspective, manufacturing bamboo toilet paper does not require bleaching agents, like chlorine, or any other harmful chemicals that end up polluting the environment.
After use, bamboo toilet paper is 100% biodegradable, breaks down quickly and is safe to use in septic tanks. bamboo toilet paper roll
Bamboo toilet paper does not require chemical bleaches.
Is bamboo fabric sustainable?
Turning bamboo into a usable fabric for clothing, aka rayon, typically requires a lot of processing, using a lot of energy and chemicals, so many don't consider it sustainable.
There are more ecological mechanical alternatives, but these are still energy-intensive.
The verdict
Bamboo is a renewable material that, if grown and harvested correctly, is a more sustainable alternative to plastic, wood or steel.
It is lightweight, durable and can be disposed of without harming nature.
Of course, for those of us in the Western world, bamboo products must be shipped from China, which adds to the overall carbon footprint.
This is why it is always better to opt for the climate compensated shipping option if available.
Things to look out for in a sustainable bamboo product:
- Organically grown
- FSC Bamboo certification
- Minimal processing
- Eco-compensated shipping