In an effort to live a more sustainable life, many people are looking for materials that are renewable, recycled, or just use fewer resources to manufacture. Luckily, these days it is not so difficult to find these types of materials. Bamboo is one sustainable option that is getting a lot of attention lately. Here are some benefits of using bamboo around the home.
Benefits of Using Bamboo Around the Home
Bamboo is technically grass. As such, it grows very fast, requires few resources to cultivate, and can be used in a wide variety of products. In fact, there are so many uses for it that it deforestation could really be slowed by simply using this natural resource. It can even replace synthetic materials in many things. You’re sure to see more bamboo containing products on the shelves where you shop, so it’s good why it’s becoming so popular.
Bamboo is Versatile
Bamboo is versatile. While many people think it is wood because it can be used in a wide variety of products typically reserved for wood, like cutting boards, bathroom shelving, or even flooring. The truth is, it has very special fibers and can be used in things like a sponge for dishes or even bamboo toothbrushes.
Bamboo fibers can be made into cloth so it is great for use for things like cloth diapers, clothing, linens, and even bamboo toilet paper. As an added bonus, the fibers used to make clothing and other textiles are very soft so it is extremely comfortable. Many people seek out bamboo comforters and bamboo sheets because of how luxurious they feel when they sleep. It’s also beautiful when used in home decor, such as bamboo diffusers and storage baskets.
There are very few things around the house that can’t be substituted with bamboo when the time comes to replace them.
Bamboo is Durable
Whether the material being replaced is wood or textile, very often the bamboo equivalent is much more resilient and durable than the original. As a wood, it is harder than oak as far as durability. In fact, it has a tensile strength of 28,000 pounds which is better than most woods in general.
It isn’t just the fact that it is very hard that makes it durable. It is also resistant to things that would harm and weaken wood. For instance, it doesn’t absorb as much humidity as many kinds of wood so it tends to not warp and get misshapen. It also resists rot much better, too. It is also resistant to UV so whether the product is replacing wood or clothing, it holds its own when exposed to the sun very well.
Bamboo clothing also lasts much longer than cotton since it is naturally ​​resistant to odor, mold, mildew, and bacteria. It makes it hypoallergenic as a bonus. Since it is stain resistant to a degree and washes well, it will resist breaking down from washing over time.
I have had the same set of bamboo kitchen drawer organizers for many years.
Bamboo is Environmentally Friendly
Bamboo can be grown just about anywhere. Which means, getting the wood or fiber to the market means it doesn’t necessarily have to be transported across the globe. It is also very easy to grow and requires few resources. It does need a humid environment but doesn’t require a lot of irrigation to be grown. In a normal, temperate climate, it can grow with very little water being added to the soil.
The other factor that makes it very environmentally friendly is the fact that it grows so fast. In just a few months a sapling can grow up to over seven feet tall and is fully mature. Because of this fast growth, it is extremely renewable compared to wood which takes many years to grow back. No matter how high demand gets, there will not be a shortage of bamboo since it can be so quickly replaced.
Vast fields of bamboo also act as a great carbon sequestration system since it will absorb the carbon in the air and release fresh oxygen in exchange. In fact, bamboo releases 35% more oxygen than a similarly sized wood forest.
Lastly, there are very few, if any, chemicals required to grow bamboo. It is such a resilient grower that it is often considered a weed. Once it is planted it requires very little in the way of cultivating, or the use of pesticides.
Disadvantages to Bamboo
I am a fan of bamboo. Although the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages, there are still some negatives to consider when it comes to bamboo. For instance, although there are few chemicals needed to grow bamboo, there are many needed to process it into fiber to be used in textiles. The process uses a lot of water, as well.
And the fact that it grows so fast is a problem in areas where it gets out of the nursery or farm. It spreads quickly and can replace native vegetation with ease.
