For years products made from bamboo have become increasingly popular and you may be wondering, what actually is bamboo and what other products are made from it? Generally speaking, it is an eco-friendly and sustainable resource. We love that it is being used for more and more everyday products, meaning that we can all play our part in looking after this amazing planet.
What is bamboo?
Bamboo is actually a grass. It often gets mistaken for a plant or tree, but it is part of the evergreen grass family. Bamboo is unique as it is the largest grass and the only one that can diversify into a forest. Once fully grown, some of the larger species can look like trees with a wood like trunk, but they grow much faster and are much more sustainable than hardwood trees. There are over 1500 different species of bamboo, which grow in subtropical regions including China, South America and Africa. Here are a few facts about this amazing grass:
• It is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet. Some species can even grow up to 90cm per day!
• It has incredible tensile strength, which is why it is used for making many products
• The amazing grass is a highly renewable resource. Once it has been harvested the root will continue to grow without the need for re-planting
• Also, bamboo absorbs more carbon dioxide than trees and releases more oxygen. This makes it great for the environment
• Finally, we know that pandas love to eat bamboo, but don’t worry, our flooring is made from a completely different species to the one that they eat!
What products are made from it?
The versatility and strength of bamboo has made it an increasingly popular resource for many household products. Here are some of the things that are made from bamboo:
• Furniture and work tops
• Kitchen utensils, chopping boards, cutlery, chopsticks, serving trays and storage jars
• Sports equipment such as skateboards, snowboards and bike frames
• Bathroom necessities – towels, toothbrushes, cotton buds and hairbrushes
• Cases for mobile phones
• Re-usable items like coffee cups, flasks, drinking straws, plates, and bowls
• Items of clothing like t-shirts, underwear and socks
• Toilet paper and kitchen towels
