Bamboo, Sustainable
WHY IS BAMBOO SUSTAINABLE?
Jan
From construction to textile production and home and personal care products, it is no secret that bamboo is a resource whose use has increased remarkably in recent years. However, many people still wonder if this plant is really a good alternative for materials such as plastic and steel. Next, we tell you a little about the benefits that come hand in hand with the cultivation and use of bamboo.
Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, reaching more than “a dozen meters in approximately two months” (Barbaro, 2006). This not only applies to the growth of each plant but also to its number of individuals, since it has a progressive multiplication, thus making bamboo a good alternative for reforestation programs. It has also been shown that, due to the particular shape of their extensive roots, which form a kind of underground network, bamboos are a key resource against soil erosion and when recovering non-productive arable land (Jena, sf), as it protects and enriches the land in which it is planted and its water storage capacity favors soil moisture.
On the other hand, due to its high biomass production, bamboo is 5 to 10 times more productive than any tree and therefore emits a proportionately higher amount of oxygen and is of great contribution in reducing CO2 levels, which makes it an ally to alleviate the effects of global warming.
Regarding its cultivation, bamboo is a plant of high resistance and durability that can be cultivated in almost any part of the world and that grows even in difficult conditions. In addition, it does not need pesticides or agricultural chemical fertilizers to grow, and it regenerates without the need to replant it (Umaña, 2009).
Now, if we think about the properties of bamboo as a material in different productive sectors, several advantages become evident. First, its hardness and flexibility are highlighted, as well as its high resistance and antibacterial properties, properties that make this plant an ideal material for personal care products. In addition to the above, bamboo is a 100% biodegradable resource, so when disposing of products made from this material, no additional process is needed for its decomposition.
References:
Barbaro, G. (2006). La biónica del bambú. Recuperado de: http://www. sustainable-technologies. eu/wp-content/PDF-articles/bambu-1. pdf.
Jena, M., (s.f). Nuevo héroe contra la degradació del suelo. Recuperado de: http://www.ipsnoticias.net/2018/06/nuevo-heroe-la-degradacion-del-suelo/
Umaña, V. C. (2009). Bambú Guadua: un recurso ecológico. Tecnología en marcha, 22(3), 3-9.