Bamboo is booming! The material has proven itself to be a sustainable, strong, and beautiful addition to our lives in a variety of ways. The benefits are obvious: as a material that grows remarkably fast (it can grow to maturity in as little as five years, a fraction of the time it takes for other trees), its harvesting doesn’t negatively impact our very fragile earth, and it’s one of the hardest and most resilient raw materials in the world.
At the same time, it is much more versatile than traditional hard and softwoods; with a tensile strength of 28,000 per square inch (the tensile strength of steel is 23,000 for comparison), bamboo is an excellent choice for applications where other wood would not suffice. Let’s take a look at three of the ways you can incorporate this popular product into your everyday life.
Clothing
As our society begins to gain awareness regarding the delicate nature of our environment, consumers care more and more about where our products are coming from, how they are made, and what they’re made out of. It can be quite the hunt to find clothing that is eco-friendly as well as comfortable and stylish, but bamboo has paved the way. Bamboo fabric has several desirable qualities, such as:
Exceptional Absorption: Although it may come as a surprise, bamboo fabric is very good at quickly wicking away and evaporating moisture. The material is breathable and feels comfortable next to the ski.
Thermo-Control: This breathability allows the fabric to feel cool in warm weather and warm in cool weather; the same properties that absorb and release moisture also trap air next to the body.
Hygienic: Scientists have discovered that bamboo has a unique anti-bacterial and anti-fungal bio-agent called ‘bamboo Kun.’ Even after several items of washing, the material acts as a natural deodorant.
If you’re looking to make your shopping habits more environmentally-friendly, investing in bamboo clothing is a great place to start.
Interior Design
Bamboo has made a name for itself in the interior decor world. Because it possesses a similar appearance to the wood, it has endless uses in the home; natural bamboo flooring — from bamboo floor trim to engineered bamboo slats — brings the same beautiful aesthetic of a hardwood floor without sacrificing an ancient oak or mahogany tree. Anywhere you use wood, you can use bamboo: cabinets, countertops, furniture, bamboo floor trim, and even ceilings can be made from eco-friendly material.
If you’ve ever seen bamboo in interior decor, you know that it isn’t just eco-friendly, it’s also exceptionally pleasing to the eye and can stand up to more damage than traditional hardwoods. It’s incredibly light yet able to resist routine wear and tear better than oak, maple, and most other hardwoods; as if that wasn’t enough, bamboo is naturally resistant to moisture, so it is less likely to stain cup or warp from spills or changes in humidity. When it comes to bamboo flooring and bamboo floor trim, you couldn’t have a more durable and enduring product.
Landscaping
With more than 1,000 species of bamboo that can live and thrive in a variety of climates, it’s easy for environmentally-friendly homeowners to fall in love with the beauty and privacy that the plant provides. As a natural fence, this green alternative grows quickly and closely together; even a home built on the busiest of roads will be transported to a private, tranquil location through the use of bamboo.
Many homeowners opt for the clumping category of bamboo; it does not spread aggressively, requires little maintenance, and grows in dense stands that are perfect for providing privacy. Whether you’re trying to cultivate a natural fence or simply want to enjoy the grace of the strands in your rock garden, you have plenty of options.
Based on these uses, it’s hard to understand why more people don’t try to bring the beauty of bamboo into their lives. From the soft accent that bamboo floor trim provides to the secret and sequestered charm of your own private garden, it’s difficult to resist the allure of bamboo products. You have the freedom to decide how you want to incorporate this amazing material into your world; although there are already so many options to choose from, there’s no telling what new and exciting uses for bamboo will be discovered in the coming years.