Bamboo has become a hot commodity. Because of its rapid recovery it is assumed that it is the wisest choice for flooring, furniture, cutting boards, clothing and other items. Ok, for today’s botany lesson, bamboo (technically a grass, is usually compared to trees because of its wood-like properties) is widely regarded as one of the planet’s fastest-growing plants—some species can grow up to three feet in a single day. That means that the plants can be harvested and regrown in a jiffy: A bamboo plant reaches full maturity within three to five years, versus 40 to 50 years for many species of hardwood trees. If harvested correctly, so that a generous portion of the stalk and roots are left behind, the bamboo needn’t be replanted; it can simply regenerate. Fast growing trees are known to use more carbon which means less in our air. That is the good stuff.
Most of the processes used in bamboo-made products are not always green. Factories are using harsh chemicals to turn the bamboo into a soft enough fiber to form it. To turn the bamboo into planks, they must use toxic glues and formaldehyde. As popular as bamboo is, most production facilities exist in China and are not regulated. To boost yields the trees are fertilized and sprayed with pesticides which defeat the whole purpose. That is the not-so good stuff.
Some of the greenest bamboo doesn’t come from monoculture plantations but, rather, from award winning operations such as Madagascar Bamboo, which harvests naturally occurring plants from the edges of farms. (The farmers used to think of the bamboo as a valueless annoyance.) This provides cash for crops which is given back to the farmer locally; it decreases pressure on forests, conserves rare hardwoods and is a sustainable product. When selecting bamboo products such as natural wood flooring, make sure you are using a company that is regulated, is helping out the local farmer and that the manufacturer is committed to social and environmental responsibility.
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