There are records of bamboo being used as far back as 7000 years, being used for everything from building to food to writing. There are native types of bamboo everywhere in the world except for the poles, and while its technically a grass, can grow as tall as trees, but with mind-blowing speed. Its easy to grow, strong, and needs no fertilizer, making it one of the most sustainable building products nature has to share.
Here are 10 reasons why bamboo can help build a brighter more sustainable future for everyone:
- Bamboo is strong and durable, and can bend in strong winds without breaking.
- Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, with some species growing 3 feet per day, and can reach full height in less than a year.
- Bamboo can be harvested every 3-5 years, compared to some trees which can take 20 years to mature enough for use in building. Its harvest time is ideal for making everyday items needed by large populations.
- It’s edible and nutritious, with young growth called “shoots” harvested while soft for Asian recipes. It’s low in calories, and high in dietary fiber, vitamins (A, B6, and E), and also has minerals such as zinc, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
- Bamboo can be used to make sustainable textiles. Bamboo fabric is breathable, soft, and versatile, used for all sorts of clothing and accessories.
- Bamboo prevents soil erosion, with its root systems stabilizing the surrounding soil, binding it firmly.
- It lowers the air temperature where it grows, serving as a natural cooling tool by dropping surrounding air temperatures by up to 8 degrees in the summer.
- It can be used a fuel, with bamboo biomass being used in countries like Ethiopia and Kenya who are exploring bamboo as a renewable energy source, particularly for charcoal production. This could reduce deforestation demand on traditional forests currently under threat.
- Bamboo is culturally significant around the world, playing a role in spiritual and storytelling practices in many native peoples.
- Its fast growth and dense biomass make it a great carbon sink, plus bamboo produces more oxygen than trees of the same size, making it an obvious solution for cleaning the air and restoring the environment.
