3 Reasons why bamboo products are better for the environment

There's a lot of buzz about bamboo products right now. The reason? They're better for the environment than other materials, as they are more sustainable and better for the planet.

Bamboo is an evergreen plant from the grass family. Due to its wood like structure and fast growing nature, bamboo is a popular eco friendly material. Bamboo products like bamboo toothbrushes and bamboo socks offer quality, sustainable and durable alternatives to their plastic or cotton counterparts. 

Bamboo products are also incredibly sustainable and eco friendly, which is great news for consumers who want to make smart, environmentally conscious choices in their lives. Here are three reasons why bamboo products are better for the environment than most materials.

1. Bamboo is sustainable

Bamboo is a fast growing grass that can grow up to a foot a day. It requires very little water, making it an ideal plant for drought prone areas. Because of its rapid growth, bamboo can be harvested every 3-5 years without compromising its sustainability.

Bamboo does not require replanting after harvesting; new shoots will emerge from the roots of older plants within months of cutting them down. This makes bamboo the fastest growing plant on earth!

Because of its fast growing nature, bamboo is one of the more sustainable wood and plastic alternatives. Growing fast means bamboo doesn’t demand as many resources, land use and time as other wood producing trees/plants. So, just be mindful of that when shopping for bamboo products. Bamboo isn’t just a great plastic alternative. It’s also a more sustainable option than cotton as it requires a third of the water to grow and it doesn’t need to be replenished the same way cotton crops do.

2. Bamboo is biodegradable

Bamboo is a grass, and like all grasses, it's biodegradable. That means that when you throw away your bamboo products they will naturally break down over time. This is great news for the environment because it means that there will be less waste in landfills.

If you simply throw your bamboo products away, they will take approximately 3-5 years to fully decompose. This is a massive difference compared to plastic which can take anywhere from 10-100 years. However, bamboo is compostable as it’s a natural fibre. It’s best to shred the bamboo before putting it in your compost bin to help speed up the bamboo composting time. If you are compost savvy, bamboo can biodegrade in as little as 4-6 months.

This means that bamboo products are more environmentally friendly than most other types of wood products because they don't require chemical treatment or landfill disposal when they're no longer useful.

3. Bamboo products are better for the environment

Bamboo is a sustainable resource, and it's used in a wide range of products. From toothbrushes to socks to flooring, bamboo is an eco friendly alternative to traditional materials like wood and plastic.

Bamboo can also be grown sustainably - and quickly - which makes it an ideal candidate for large scale farms. Farming bamboo doesn't require pesticides or fertilisers, which means that once the plant is harvested, it can be reused as mulch or composted back into the soil. In fact, many countries are already working toward planting more bamboo because it helps sequester carbon emissions from their atmosphere.

While there are certainly some benefits to using bamboo in construction - it's lighter than wood, for example - the real benefit comes from the fact that it's so easy to grow and harvest that you don't need to cut down trees! It can be harvested in just three years, which means that it doesn't take decades to replenish the supply after harvesting.

Bamboo is also a renewable resource - you can harvest bamboo without hurting the plant or its surrounding ecosystem (unlike trees). It grows quickly with very little effort on your part so you don't have to worry about deforestation or environmental damage from harvesting too many plants at once!

Also, the manufacturing process for bamboo products requires less energy than traditional materials like steel or plastic, so it's better for the environment in that way as well.

How fast does bamboo grow?

Bamboo is actually a grass, not a tree. Yes, bamboo is a grass! But due to its woody nature, it’s often called a wood plant. And it grows very quickly, too. In fact, it can grow up to 5 feet per month under ideal conditions (like in Taiwan). Typical hardwoods like cedar, however, can take up to 40 years to reach a size big enough for cutting down for wood. And, unlike the grass in your garden or regular trees, bamboo continues to grow after it’s being cut.

When you consider that trees take decades to mature and require a lot of care during that time period - think watering them every day - it makes sense why bamboo would be preferable for many reasons: it's renewable resource that doesn't need much maintenance or upkeep; it requires less space than trees; and it grows quickly enough so you don't have to wait years before seeing results from your investment in planting new trees or seedlings.

Does the bamboo industry have an impact on wildlife?

Bamboo itself doesn’t negatively impact local wildlife. Some might be concerned that using bamboo products is taking away from pandas’ food sources. But Pandas do not eat the variety of bamboo that is cultivated for human use, so the industry does not affect their food source. Bamboo grows incredibly fast, making the cultivation and replantation more sustainable than trees, and while bamboo is generally more sustainable and environmentally friendly than plastic, it is still important to look for sustainably grown bamboo. You can contact a company or read their website to check up on their bamboo growing practices. Otherwise, all the bamboo items we stock here at Sassy Organics are ethical and sustainable both for the planet and animals and wildlife.

Top bamboo products

Using bamboo alternatives to common plastic, household items is a great way to reduce your plastic use and consumption. Countless eco friendly brands are now using bamboo in place of plastic to make reusable straws, reusable coffee cups and even bamboo toothbrushes. Here’s our breakdown of the best bamboo products to get you started.

Bamboo coffee cups and bamboo straws

Single use cutlery, straws and coffee cups made from plastic are one of the biggest contributors to landfill. So, by using a bamboo cup instead of plastic, you can significantly reduce your waste contribution. A bamboo cup is biodegradable if made from 100% bamboo and is safe for use or both hot and cold drinks, so long as it’s not microwaved. The same is true of bamboo straws. You can shop regular sized bamboo straws or wide bamboo straws for bubble tea or thick smoothies. If you like to eat out a lot or bring your own food to the office, a Bamboo cutlery set is a great way to reduce your single use plastic waste. The best part? Many restaurants now offer bamboo cutlery for takeaway orders instead of plastic, so even if you forget yours, you can still do your bit for the planet. 

Bamboo toothbrush

Choosing a bamboo toothbrush over a plastic one could save thousands of plastics ending up in landfill. Dentists recommended replacing your toothbrush every two months for hygiene purposes. That’s six toothbrushes each year per person contributing to landfill. In 2017, the population of Australia was 24.6 million, so that’s 147 million toothbrushes going to landfill each year taking over 400 years to decompose. By using a bamboo toothbrush you can significantly reduce waste and help the environment. Bamboo can reach its full height in as little as 3-4 months, compared to over 30 years for a tree harvested for wood, making it a more sustainable choice. When it’s time to replace your bamboo toothbrush, before throwing it away, use it to clean those hard to reach places such as the corners of the shower and around the sink. Once you are truly ready to dispose of your toothbrush, it may be thrown into a green waste bin, or into your home compost where it will biodegrade before the year is out. 

Bamboo socks

One of the best things about bamboo is that it can be turned into a sustainable fabric to be used instead of cotton. Bamboo is softer, stronger and stays cleaner than cotton. It’s also 40% more absorbent than cotton which makes it a breathable and moisture wicking fabric that’s great for activewear and bamboo socks. Bamboo clothes keep you feeling dry and fresh all day long. One of our favourite bamboo clothing items is bamboo socks. Bamboo socks are not only soft and more luxurious, they’re also more hygienic. Bamboo socks are naturally antimicrobial and breathable which helps keep odour-causing bacteria at bay. Yep, bamboo socks will keep your feet, dry clean and warm. The Funky Sock Co is our go-to for bright and fun bamboo socks. The Funky Sock Co makes its bamboo socks from ethical bamboo and using only natural dyes. Seriously though, how cute are these designs?  

Bamboo brushes

Using a bamboo hairbrush isn’t only better for the environment, it’s better for your hair too. Plastic hairbrushes create a static charge which can increase fizziness and fly always. The neutral charge of a bamboo hairbrush, however, results in smooth, sleek hair after brushing and reduces the need for smoothing serums. Regularly using a bamboo hairbrush also helps to distribute the natural oils of the scalp through the hair for healthier, shiner locks. If you prefer to use a wide tooth comb instead of a hairbrush or you’re looking to use a more sustainable wide tooth comb in the shower, then bamboo is a great option. Much like a bamboo hairbrush, a bamboo wide tooth comb is better for your hair as it gently removes dandruff and other impurities while preventing breakage. A bamboo wide tooth comb is also suitable for use on wet or dry hair and when using heat tools and hair dryers.  

What about body brushes? Yep, bamboo body brushes are better than their plastic counterparts too. You can use a bamboo body brush to improve blood circulation and lymph flow, as well as reduce bloating, fluid retention and in some cases cellulite. When using a bamboo body brush, run the brittles over the skin while in the shower, using circular motions.

Other bamboo brushes, such as this veggie bamboo brush, which is made from bamboo with sisal (plant fibre) bristles are tough on dirt but kind on the planet. They provide a sustainable alternative to plastic brushes, which utilise chemicals in the production process and end up in landfill at end of life.

Final thoughts

Bamboo is an amazing resource that can be used to create a wide range of products. It grows quickly, is sustainable and biodegradable. These facts make bamboo the perfect material for your next purchase!
 

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