Be Bamboozled by Bamboo Sustainability! Why Bamboo Products Are So Good For The Environment

So, how and why is bamboo sustainable?

Many of us big-hearted types are currently feeling very heavy hearted for the planet right now, and wondering how we can positively help environmental damage in a sustainable way that helps us move towards a cleaner future. It’s a pretty ‘bamboo-zleing’ topic (lol, we had to do it) that can take a lot of time and research, despite being totally worthwhile. Well, here’s some useful good news that will make you feel a little lighter, and give you a tree-mendous alternative material to less sustainable ones like plastics and metals, booo to them! Our snazzy friend bamboo, who’s a bit of a tough nut in terms of a natural material, is one thing we’ve all got to start using more of! We love using it in our products, and we’d like to sing to the rooftops about why! Not only is bamboo a sustainable material for all the below wonderful reasons, but it can actively help and heal the soil it grows in. It actually leaves the earth in a better way than it finds it (...if only we could say this about everyone), total babe right?

Bamboo is a renewable resource

Bamboo plants are turbocharged at growing from a young age, the adult grass reaches full maturity at 3-5 years old. They are, you could say, the tallest kid in their class! It then regrows quickly as it’s only cut from the base, and doesn’t have to be constantly replanted. Because of this, bamboo doesn’t require any chemicals or pesticides to speed up it’s growth, which is great in every way possible for humans, the environment and wildlife. Especially considering that nasty chemicals can linger in the ground and continue to poison the earth and water sources for years to come. Hardwoods like Oak take much longer to grow, and once cut down do not grow up from their stumps which isn’t renewable or sustainable, and creates huge widespread deforestation from logging.

Bamboo helps reduce pollution

Bamboo can be 35% MORE efficient than other trees at sequestering CO2, and therefore producing more oxygen per plant! Not only does this leave more forests intact, but it also creates more breathable air for humans and all wildlife. Lovely jubbly. The clever bamboo plant actually absorbs toxins from the soil that are there from pollution, such as heavy metals and chemicals leftover from precipitation. It then sucks them up into the stalks from the ground so that they cannot pollute the soil further, and also then aren’t present in any food that’s grown in the soil, or damaging to humans or wildlife that come into contact with it. We think it’s a bit of a superstar.

Bamboo regenerates the soil it lives in

Bamboo leaves are packed full of awesome natural nutrients, and when they fall off eventually, they gracefully decompose like an ageing celebrity into the topsoil. These nutrients are then absorbed by the earth, healing any disease leftover from horrible chemicals or pollution, and helping the soil to become more fertile again. Woohoo! Plus, this means the soil could now be used for growing our food in, or grass to feed animals, actually reversing the damage that was done environmentally. Ain’t nature great.

Bamboo reduces deforestation

When trees and plants are uprooted and harvested, it disturbs the soil and destabilises it by removing the roots and structure that support it. This can then lead to soil erosion which not only renders the land a lot less fertile, it can contribute to landslides, flooding and damaged ecosystems. (Yah). By using bamboo, we can reduce the risk of natural disasters caused by soil erosion, which means less chance of situations for disease, and loss of homes for peoples and wildlife!

Bamboo harvests are less damaging on the environment and local wildlife

Bamboo is hand-harvested, which is a natural and ancient method where it is cut at the base of the stalk, which will then regrow into a big ol’ natural bamboo-uty again. As farmers are closer to the ground, any nesting animals or birds will be seen and scared off before they can be hurt. Natural methods mean less fumes from machine exhausts, so less pollution and better soil quality.

Bamboo requires less water than other wood to grow

As Bamboo regenerates from it’s stump once it’s harvested, each plant takes much less water over it’s life to produce mature stalks for use. Materials like cotton take a huge amount of water, pesticides and physical labour via machines to process, therefore leaving a much larger negative impact on the environment and higher carbon emissions. Bamboo fibre can be used instead of cotton for sustainable clothing, cosmetic face products, towels, bedding and toiletries. It’s SO soft and will leave your bod feeling cosy, as well as your heart!

Bamboo reduces mining and fossil fuel use

Building our houses takes a lot of different materials, many of which have a high environmental impact and carbon footprint. Using bamboo means less harvested metals from the earth’s deeper layers, therefore reducing the huge damage to the environment from mining and reducing the carbon footprint of our homes. Switching to bamboo means using less plastics created from oil, and therefore less microplastics in the ground and ocean! (...can you hear the whales clapping?)

Bamboo is better for our homes

Bamboo is a household superhero, supporting sustainable interior design, bathroom products, building materials and furniture! There’s very little that you can’t do with it, making kitchen utensils, towels, furniture, flooring and beauty products, bamboo is a versatile material that brings innovation into the home but not at the cost of the planet. When building materials are disposed of, they are biodegradable and recyclable, reducing the secondary impact on the environment from initial production.

So, here are some other Bamboo products we adore, (not just ours, we share our love!)

1. Bamboo Body - Soft, organic, chemical-free and sustainable clothing that doesn’t harm the planet.

2. The Bamboo Shop - Bedding and homeware, super soft sheets and bedding in a range of styles and earthy colours.

3. Bambu - Gorgeous, sustainable kitchen and homeware. Choose from utensils, dinner ware, chopping boards, napkins and even baby cutlery.

4. Step One - Men's bamboo underwear and boxers, with extra breathable and anti-bacterial qualities! They are super soft for comfort AND also shaped and fitted for sport.

We hope you love these brands and their sustainable products as much as we do. Have a peek and shop our Bamboo products, like our Eco value pack who’s a nifty box filled with everything you need for your home. You’ll find a combination of Bamboo toilet paper, paper towel (or kitchen roll, however you say it!) and hand tissues to look after you, your family, and your bod!

Get in contact if you want to find out more about how we use bamboo in our products, and why it’s so darn soft for your tushy and your loo!

(*Please note..buying any bamboo derived products, including materials like rattan, should still be sourced sustainably and researched to ensure no unnecessary damage is done. There is precious wildlife that depends on bamboo for food and shelter, like the endangered and very (very very) cute Panda. They love bamboo eeeven more than we do.)

Our summary of why bamboo is sustainable:

1. Bamboo helps reduce pollution

2. Bamboo regenerates the soil it lives in

3. Bamboo reduces deforestation

4. Bamboo harvests are less damaging on the environment and local wildlife

5. Bamboo requires less water than other wood to grow

6. Bamboo reduces mining and fossil fuel use

7. Bamboo is better for our homes

8. Bamboo products are sustainable heroes

   
   
   

Image credit: Bence Balla-Schottner via. Unsplash