With some species growing up to a metre per day, bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can process more carbon than trees. Frequently proclaimed to be one of the world’s most renewable materials and used for many different purposes, this adaptable resource is increasingly popular across several industries. But are bamboo products good for the environment?
Bamboo is naturally pest-resistant, can help rebuild eroded soil, and, as we mentioned, is incredibly fast growing. It only takes three or four years to go from seed to harvest and because the root network is large, it will regenerate without needing to be replanted. The environmental impact that the bamboo plant has, when farmed well, is overwhelmingly positive.
Our love affair with bamboo
This hard, versatile plant stole our hearts when we realised it could be made into a natural, luxurious, soft, and breathable fabric, perfect for bedding. Bamboo is marketed as an eco-friendly fibre as it is water efficient, rapidly regenerates, and can sequester carbon.
While initially there were concerns over the chemical processing used to transform the plant into fabrics, it’s reassuring to know that there have been, and continue to be, significant advancements in the processing of bamboo fibre.
The bamboo industry is taking its environmental responsibilities seriously
Factories are working towards producing bamboo material similarly to the way they produce lyocell, using a non-toxic solvent producing non-hazardous effluent. Bamboo linen is created by crushing the woody parts of the bamboo plant and using a natural enzyme to break down the walls and extract the bamboo fibre.
While this is still labour intensive, it produces a strong, high-quality product, which is essential as durability is an important element to sustainability.