Is Bamboo Sustainable? Facts and Myths!

Bamboo: Sustainable Winner?

Bamboo is having its moment. The fast-growing grass has made its way into our homes as an eco-friendly material. As far as plastic-free alternatives go, bamboo's sustainability potential has drawn many to choose it above other materials.

The giant, pliant grass has been a go-to in Asia as a construction material. Only recently has bamboo emerged as a popular organic plastic replacement. We can see many bamboo-based products like toothbrushes, eating utensils, personal care packaging, textiles - even toilet paper!

Photo by Paulina Sáez on Unsplash

Bamboo Characteristics

Bamboo is grass, but it can have a tree-like appearance seen in the larger species. There are 91 genera and as many as 1,000 species of bamboo. Bamboo grass features stems or 'culms' that are joined by regular nodes.

What's distinct about bamboo is that it has a wood-like strength even though it's actually grass. It can also be easily cultivated in cold and tropical regions. Bamboo is cultivated in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and in some regions of North America.

This grass can be very invasive if cultivation is left uncontrolled. But if managed properly, bamboo can provide us with far more yield of a biodegradable material. This is why it’s promoted as one of the best sustainable materials right now.

In fact, unlike other timber, bamboo has a shorter harvesting period. Planting and growing the grass takes only 3-4 years, after which it's ready for harvesting. Because the root is unharmed during harvesting, after the growth period, bamboo can be harvested yearly.

Is Bamboo Sustainable? Facts and Myths

Bamboo’s sustainability and biodegradability have truly drawn consumers and brands to the material.

But is bamboo really the miracle it's made out to be? There are some who dispute bamboo's sustainability in its farming and production requirements.

So let's dive right in and examine what research says about bamboo’s eco-friendly potential, and if we could answer the question, “Is bamboo sustainable?”

Fact or Myth: Bamboo is good for carbon sequestration

Answer: Fact

Carbon sequestration is the process of removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form. This is a crucial step towards mitigating global warming and its environmental effects.

Bamboo farming is seen as beneficial to carbon sequestration, as it is robust in absorbing CO2 and producing oxygen in exchange. In fact, a single bamboo plant can produce 35% more oxygen than a typical tree. This is crucial now with global warming plaguing the earth.

What's the catch? Bamboo farming has to be controlled. If it becomes so invasive that it affects other agricultural products, it can cause problems. One study compared Moso bamboo to Chinese Fir and Eucalypt, both rapid-growing trees in the subtropical regions. Results suggest that bamboo's faster regrowth and annual harvesting make the carbon sequestering capabilities comparable to these trees.

But an interesting result showed that the bamboo sequestered more carbon than the Chinese Fir in the first five years but less so than the tree in the succeeding five years. The Moso bamboo plantation sequestered more or less an equal amount to the Chinese Fir plantation in 30 years rotation.

So what do research results mean? Well, since bamboo thrives easily and has a rapid growth rate, it can help in carbon offsetting especially with more frequent annual harvesting means. And when it's turned into any product, bamboo can actually store carbon until its end life-cycle (unless it's burned). Using the material for construction and other large-scale facilities can help keep carbon from the atmosphere for a long time.

Fact or Myth: Bamboo is a sustainable material

Answer: Fact, but there are certain factors to achieve it

Framing bamboo against plastic, we're definitely able to say that bamboo is a more sustainable material. Unlike plastic products that never decay and turn into microplastics that harm all living things here on earth, bamboo is biodegradable and wouldn't pollute the environment for centuries.

Is bamboo biodegradable? Yes - the grass will decompose into organic matter in a matter of months or years and will essentially return to the soil. Among the benefits of bamboo products is how easy they can be composted once they are ready to be thrown away. Toothbrushes, straws, cutlery and plates, packaging, and furnishings - these add up per household and fill up the landfills every year.

In addition, bamboo allows for reusability. Unlike most plastic products built for single use, bamboo lessens the tendency to scrap the product. Usually, there are weeks or months of repeat usage before bamboo products wear out.

With bamboo alternatives, consumers have the benefit of biodegradable and reusable options. People who are set to go for a plastic-free lifestyle or at least prioritize a zero-waste routine can opt for bamboo products instead of plastic. And bamboo is also a more sustainable alternative to paper made from virgin trees that require a longer period and more resources to grow.

Fact or Myth: Bamboo promotes better farming

Answer: Fact, but there are certain caveats

Another significant reason bamboo has become a popular plastic alternative is that it is not as labor- and resource-intensive as other types of trees. As we've mentioned, bamboo's rapid growth capacity enables harvest of just after three years, quite short compared to the time and resources required for other timber. And with the process of harvesting leaving the roots untouched, farmers can harvest the shoots each year without needing to replant new bamboo grass. A hectare of bamboo can yield as much as 30 tons of raw material per year.

Still, it's not as straightforward as saying that bamboo is the best option for low-impact farming. While it does not require as much water, fertilizers, or pesticides to thrive, bamboo farming can also be harmful to the ecosystem if not appropriately managed.

For instance, if the farming involves monoculture - that is, if bamboo is the only type of crop grown on a specific field - then it could be less than ideal. The monoculture approach could potentially destroy the ecosystem in a particular land area. There is less diversity in the crop rotation and wildlife activity.

There's also a risk of easing out other essential crops to make way for bamboo. Excessive land clearing to allot for more bamboo farms could occur if the demand goes higher. And even if bamboo is extremely hardy, there are no guarantee farmers won't resort to chemicals to maximize yield.

Bamboo farming can be beneficial to the environment IF the farming process stays ethical. Experts recommend different harvesting cycles, moving away from monoculture farming.

The Takeaway

So is bamboo sustainability worth all the attention it’s getting now? The short answer is yes. Because of its easier farming procedure and potential for carbon offsetting, bamboo has become a popular choice for plastic-free goals. Based on what we have learned, bamboo is among the most sustainable and viable alternatives to plastic and other raw materials like cotton.

But the key is to safeguard the farming process. As long as it is ethical and transparent, bamboo is a win.

Have any thoughts or questions about this article? Tell us what you think in the comments!