How sustainable is bamboo

The question that many people are concerned with is: How sustainable is bamboo?  

First, I would like to tell you a little bit more about the way bamboo grows. There are many species of bamboo. About 1500. 50 of them can be used as building material. Bamboo is actually a type of grass. That is why it grows so fast. Within 3 to 6 months, bamboo reaches its maximum height, which depends on the species. The largest bamboo species can reach a height of 40 metres and a diameter of 30 centimetres. After this, it takes several years for the bamboo to become fully mature. For many items, such as toothbrushes, this is not necessary and it can be harvested after a few months. For furniture, it takes another 4-5 years for this hardening. 

but how sustainable is bamboo? 

Bamboo has the characteristics of hardwood (which are the slow growing trees), but grows faster than softwood (which are the fast growing trees). Just like other plants, bamboo reduces the greenhouse effect by absorbing CO2. In fact, bamboo absorbs more oxygen from the air than an equivalent hardwood. Bamboo reduces up to 5 times more CO2 and produces 35% more oxygen. This makes it a very important plant in the fight against global warming. 

Cutting down the older bamboo stems gives the younger bamboo more room to grow. This makes bamboo an inexhaustible resource. 

Bamboo is not only a sustainable alternative, it is also a sturdy one! It is even claimed that bamboo is seven times stronger than steel. It is said to have greater tensile strength and is therefore one of the strongest materials on earth! Besides being strong, bamboo is also elastic. It is pliable, but does not deform after bending. It is also used as a natural shock absorber. 

Bamboo has many good qualities in addition to its constructional qualities. It is a natural anti-bacterial material and it eliminates odours. Bamboo contains no toxic substances and therefore does not cause allergies. 

Bamboo sells itself and I don’t have to tell you that I am convinced!