In the Beginning
The use of bamboo is as old as man. Or even older, some might say.
In several Asian creation myths bamboo plays its part. In one legend from of the Andaman Islands, for example, the first man was born from bamboo. A thick shoot cracked open, and out came Juptu, a little boy.
As it was raining at the time, Juptu instantly set to making a hut out of bamboo. Clever boy. It kept him nice and dry and he lived there happily.
Over the years he expanded his bamboo hut, and made himself ever more and ever bigger bamboo utensils. Until he became old enough to make himself a woman out of clay. And thus started humanity.
Yeah right, but what about now?
Now, bamboo is proper hip.
It’s a trend.
But don’t let that fool you. It is seriously good stuff.
So, does bamboo save the planet?
Well, wouldn’t that be lovely. But alas, it’s not that simple.
What does bamboo do, then?
Bamboo is well-known as a more sustainable alternative for wood, paper and fabric. This is because some of its remarkable characteristics:
- When cut (harvested), it just grows back –for it is actually not a tree at all, but a grass- so there is no need for replanting.
- And because its roots stay firmly in place and live on, bamboo does not release CO2 when being cut, as trees do.
- Bamboo grows quickly -some sorts of bamboo can grow up to a meter a day- and densely. This means it not only takes far less time, but also less space to grow than wood does.
- And the faster a plant grows, the faster it absorbs CO2. Bamboo is a real champion on this point.
- On average, bamboo produces about 35% more oxygen than trees.
And all that just makes it easier for you to help save the planet, by simply choosing bamboo over other products. Doing this really does make a difference.
But wait, there’s more
As the Japanese proverb has it; the bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists. This is not just a good life lesson for all of us, it is really true. Bamboo is stronger than oak. About three times stronger, to be precise.
It is even stronger than steel; research shows it withstands significantly more tension or stretching pressure than steel.
And when compared to concrete, bamboo holds up better to compression. Now that’s what I call a strong story.
What products are we talking about here?
Basically, anything can be made from bamboo. And many things are.
Convinced by bamboo’s overall awesomeness? Next time you consider buying anything, check whether there is a bamboo version first. There probably is.
Don’t wait for those big purchases such as floorboards and bicycles, though. There are a great many everyday products that you can easily swap for bamboo versions. That means making a change for the better, every day.
Save Some Green offers a wide range of everyday essentials made from bamboo. Varying from toothbrushes to toilet paper, from earbuds to nailbrushes, chopping boards, cutlery and … well, you just may want to have a browse for yourself.
View our bamboo rangeAnd what about pandas?
Pandas are cute, despite being 100 kilo weighing carnivores.
Carnivores?
Yes, their digestive system is definitely carnivore. Forced by circumstances, they developed a taste for bamboo, which now makes up 99% of their diet. To get all the necessary protein to feed those big bear bodies, they spend about twelve hours a day munching up to half their bodyweight in bamboo. Good thing bamboo grows faster than pandas.
And a good thing that out of the 1575 sorts of bamboo growing around the world, pandas only like to eat about 15 types, none of which are used to make consumer products.
So, you can buy all the bamboo products you like, without ever getting in the way of any of those remarkable creatures.
