The bamboo revolution - The sustainable material shaping up to take plastic’s top spot
Growing public awareness of plastic’s detrimental effects on the environment in recent years has led to many wanting to ditch the material for more sustainable alternatives.
It was the airing of BBC’s Blue Planet II in 2017 that alerted much of the general public to the horrors that plastic unleashes on the oceans and aquatic wildlife, and altered the ‘out-of-sight, out-of-mind’ mentality that was part of plastic consumption and waste. The seventh episode in the series, ‘Our Blue Planet’, documented the harmful impact of microplastics and human pollution that threatens marine life and could have potentially irreversible effects on our ecosystem.
The preventable nature of the problem has urged consumers to demand plastic alternatives and manufacturing companies are responding to these demands. Sure enough, the market for plastic-free items is opening up, and bamboo becoming an increasingly popular plastic alternative, from toothbrushes to water bottles. But why is bamboo better than plastic, and what makes it so good?
Mike Donovan, CEO of Brushbox, says "The thing that's blown us away is how popular bamboo products have been with kids. We've seen a passion and understanding of the importance of sustainability among younger users which fills us with promise".
What is bamboo?
Bamboo is often mistaken for being a type of woody plant or tree, and criticisms against it sometimes include opposition to cutting down trees that take years to grow again. In actual fact, Bamboo is a type of grass – and it’s one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. While most hardwoods take forty years to grow, bamboo can be harvested in one to five years, making it an incredibly sustainable renewable energy source.
What can it be used for?
Like wood, though, bamboo is a versatile material that has a range of uses, from paper through to building large-scale structures. It’s been used for fashion and structural purposes alike for years but is beginning to venture into the every day to replace plastic items like water bottles and lunchboxes.
Where is it found?
Bamboo is native to South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia, where it has been used for both building materials and as a food source.
Why the sudden uptake?
Bamboo has been around far longer than plastic has, but it’s exactly that fact that means we’re switching back to using bamboo. The twentieth century saw a huge rise in plastic manufacture and consumption, and it’s only now, in the following hundred years, that we’re understanding just how long it takes to biodegrade and how it can so negatively ruin our environment.
Bamboo is being sought after as the best alternative to plastic because of its versatility and ability to perform in much the same way that plastic does. Bamboo can be trained to grow in certain shapes and directions in a way that wood can’t so that it can be more readily used for structures. Heat and pressure can also be applied once the bamboo has been harvested to flatten or curve bamboo stalks.
The flexibility and adaptability of bamboo means it can be used for the same everyday items as plastic, without leaving a lasting, damaging impact on the environment.
What are the first changes I can make?
Swapping from plastic to bamboo is an easy step, especially where single-use plastics that need regular replacing are concerned.
Bamboo Toothbrush from Brushbox - https://www.brushbox.com/
What better place to start than something you use twice a day, every day? Brushbox produces eco-friendly bamboo toothbrushes that, once their bristles are removed, are completely biodegradable. What’s more, once you subscribe, they send a brand new one to your door every other month, to make sure that you’re replacing your toothbrush as frequently as you need to. If that’s not enough, they also donate a brush to a child in need for every brush sold. So you’ll be helping those in need, as well as the environment.
Bamboo Lunchbox from LEON - https://www.johnlewis.com/leon-rectangle-bamboo-lunch-pot/p3128838
LEON are celebrated for their naturally fast food but have now jumped on the bamboo train with these bamboo lunchboxes. They’re stylish, biodegradable and sustainable, and will keep your food just as fresh as a plastic Tupperware with, without any of the waste.
Bamboo Water Bottle from WAKEcup - https://globalwakecup.com/products/wakecup-bamboo-water-bottle
WAKEcup’s water bottles are made from sustainably sourced bamboo and stainless steel which keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. WAKEcup believes that if everybody makes a small change to their daily routine, we can make a huge difference to our oceans and environment. Even better, 10% of their profits go to their Charity Partner, the Marine Conservation Society. As they say: if you can’t reuse it, refuse it.
Bamboo Reusable Coffee Cup from WAKEcup - https://globalwakecup.com/products/wakecup-reusable-coffee-cup
These bamboo fibre cups from WAKEcup are the solution to doing away with single-use paper cups. While paper cups might not have the same detrimental impact as plastic, they still end up on landfill and don’t just disappear immediately – and don’t forget their plastic lids, too! A reusable coffee cup will solve your problem, and most coffee shops now offer discounts for those who bring their own cups.
Bamboo Cutlery from The Plastic Free Shop - https://www.theplasticfreeshop.co.uk/bamboo-cutlery-set-in-jute-pouch
Why not switch out an essential for something made from bamboo? Stored in a travel pouch, this cutlery is a great alternative to single-use plastic cutlery that you might ordinarily use on-the-go.