Bamboo in the 21st Century

 
By Bruce Dear of Pure Bamboo

Alternative and renewable materials have been around for thousands of years. So why is it now that we are getting back in touch with what we’ve known all along? A recent surge in alternative materials has flooded the marketplace and bamboo is at the center of this trend—and with good reason. As one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet (with some varieties growing up to three feet a day), bamboo has seen a spike in demand over the last few years. Praised not only for its eco-friendly status but for its versatility and beauty, bamboo is well-positioned to meet the demands of a growing population.

According to the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), the global bamboo industry supports over one and a half billion people, and one could argue that most everyone on our planet is touched by bamboo in one way or another. The global bamboo industry is currently worth around $11 billion per year and is estimated to reach $15–$20 billion per year by 2018 (source: Prosperity Initiative). Currently, about one billion people live in bamboo houses, as indicated by INBAR.

Since bamboo is actually a grass, once harvested, the root system is left intact, which allows for rapid re-growth to maturity in as few as five years for the purposes of lumber. For weaving baskets or consumption, even less time is needed—as little as one year. An equivalent grove of bamboo will absorb 45 percent more carbon from the atmosphere than a similar grove of trees. It’s even been postulated that if enough bamboo was planted, it could reverse the effects of global warming. Bamboo requires no pesticides or fertilizers to maintain these rapid growth rates, making it an eco-suitable alternative to many other crops which require even minimal amounts of chemicals. There are over 1,300 species of bamboo, and it grows on all continents which also naturally inhabit people.

Two little-known facts about bamboo: Alexander Graham Bell used a bamboo needle to produce the first sound recording on a phonograph and Thomas Edison used a bamboo filament which helped lead to his invention of the light bulb. The filament shone for 2,450 hours! Subsequently, General Electric made bulbs with bamboo filament for the next 14 years.

Read more about bamboo--the ultimate natural resource--after the jump.

In the last few decades, agricultural advances have increased farming knowledge of bamboo, which has given way to an increased range of products and valuation. The newest product to come from this versatile resource is clothing. "Clothing from bamboo?" you’re probably thinking. Yes, the process used to manufacture the fabric is very similar to the production of rayon. The woody stalks are harvested then mashed down, and the cellulosic fibers are broken down with a chemical process that forms it into a thick viscose. The viscose is shot out of a spinneret (think shower head), which makes long fibers that are eventually spun or woven into a fabric.

Recently, there has been some controversy over the green status of bamboo fabric, due to this chemical processing. Often times, we think of a product as being "eco-friendly" or "not eco-friendly," when the truth is, it’s about shades of green. Almost every product we consume has some negative impact on the environment. As a result, some feel it important to point to the one aspect of the production of bamboo fabric that may not be as environmentally friendly (the chemical processing) and claim bamboo is not an eco-friendly product. It is the humble opinion of this writer that the many, many benefits and applications of bamboo greatly outweigh a few possible negative attributes of one iteration (fabric) of this amazingly renewable and versatile resource.

The bottom line is: Bamboo is here to stay. From filaments in light bulbs to food supplements and furniture, from musical instruments and snowboards to bicycles (bamboocycles), buildings and bedding, it’s everywhere—and growing fast. With an ever-increasing population, material resources that are rapidly renewable and versatile, that require no fertilizer or pesticides, are essential to our pathway to sustaining life on this planet. So, the next time you are out shopping and see a product made from bamboo—and you will—you can rest easy knowing there’s an abundance to be found, just possibly making it the ultimate resource for the 21st century.

Bruce Dear is the president of Pure Bamboo, a company committed to providing eco-friendly products derived from bamboo, specializing in bamboo garments for the spa and resort industry. He is a member of the Sierra Club, NRDC, Amnesty International and the Carter Center. Locally, he has worked closely supporting Green Economy L.A., a nonprofit think tank connecting Southern California’s "green" businesses, NGOs and government agencies. Bruce is also the author of the newly released children’s book, Algrath the Family Tree. This book is a labor of love and is the first in a series of children’s books dedicated to teaching empowerment through nature, self discovery, and storytelling.

Comments

[bamboo]

personally what i see from that photo is the replacement of the wood where can helps to minimize the using of the wood. since bamboo get lesser effort and resources to feed.

[Mary jones]

I feel that bamboo is not sustainable in textile
form. The chemicals used affect the workers
negatively around factories as well as sit in
the textile. Bamboo is a great filter for pollution
as well as alternative for wood. People should
know the truth.