Have you considered Bamboo products?

Everyone has heard about the bamboo plant. But how much do you really know about it?

Personally, Bamboo has been a wonder to me. With its towering height and lean stems I have often wondered if this plant is sturdy enough to withstand strong winds. I could easily imagine it snapping at the centre and getting strewn across. Little did I know the truth. However, for its aesthetic appeal, I have indulged in planting a few bamboo plants (the golden bamboo, shown in the image below, and the buddha bamboo, if you are curious) in my garden. I got these bamboo plants from Infarm Nursery, Kozhikode. If you are in the vicinity, do pay them a visit. They have a wide variety of plants and knowledgeable folks to guide you on the best buys. 

But in this post, I would like to share something more intriguing - the versatile properties of Bamboo and how it can be used for sustainable living. 

Bamboo is one of the most resilient plants out there and also highly beneficial to the planet. Don't be fooled by its thin stems. The stems help it sway with the wind and not have to offer much resistance. It is as tenacious as its bark is one of the most versatile raw materials on the planet. In many ways, it teaches us more about life and survival, if you think about it.

The versatility can be seen at work by the artisans at Strawbiz who have made amazing bamboo products for homes ranging from a humble tray to fancy lampshades. 

 

Why is it beneficial to the planet?

You may have heard about bamboo roots preventing leaching of soil near river banks. Bamboo is a grass known to prevent soil erosion. 

Moreover, when bamboo is harvested, it is not uprooted. A part of the stem is left intact so that it can grow over. This means that the benefit of holding the soil together stands good even when this amazing grass is harvested. 

Like all things, natural bamboo is biodegradable. So if you discard a bamboo article it will become one with mother earth, unlike the plastics that you use. 

How heat resistant is Bamboo?

Bamboo loves heat. In fact, it is also fire resistant to an extent. In these times of growing temperatures, thanks to global warming (I'm being sarcastic, of course), bamboo can withstand the heat from the surrounding and actually help keep the air around it cool. 

It is recommended to keep bamboo articles in surroundings that generate more heat, namely lamps. Check out our collection of Bamboo lampshades, on our facebook page, that add character and coolness to your homes. 

If it is so good, why not use it everywhere?

Like all things, an excess of bamboo is not healthy. And like all things industrial, treated bamboo leaves behind a high carbon footprint and also health issues for the workers dealing with it. So we need to be mindful of how the processing of bamboo is done. 

How to care for your bamboo products?

Being a product of nature, bamboo in its natural form is subject to pest and fungal infections. Hence, even a basic product, such as the handicrafts in Strawbiz, have a coating of varnish and a basic chemical treatment to protect from pest attacks. 

On your part, do ensure that these simple bamboo handicrafts are not subjected to moisture or water for a prolonged period of time. Do take efforts to dry out the product if it comes in contact with moisture. 

With the right care, your bamboo products can last decades. 

What are the success metrics for Bamboo?

Trait	Trend	Justification
Sustainability	High	Bamboo is completely biodegradable.
Cost	Low	Affordable Bamboo alternatives are available with StrawBiz. Seek and thou shalt find.
Durability	Medium	Bamboo needs additional care as compared to machine made artifacts.  Strength of Bamboo products without treatment

 

If you are ready to go the extra mile to care for your products in order to save the plant, it is a no brainer to go for a bamboo alternative.