Why is bamboo so popular? We list the 10 benefits of bamboo.
Bamboo is fast becoming the wonder plant of our planet. Not only is this plant, which is actually a type of grass, found in various parts of the world, you can also use it for almost anything. Bamboo shoots, for example, are widely used in Asian cuisine, can be found everywhere in construction and is used as a raw material to make lamps, tableware, toothbrushes, straws and, of course, textiles. We summarize the advantages of bamboo for you:
Large number of products
There are a good number of products that can be made from bamboo, including sunglasses, watches, clothing, towels, bamboo flooring and many household products. It is expected that the range of products will increase significantly in the coming years.
Sustainable
Bamboo products are completely natural and therefore hugely sustainable. For the many plastic products that have entered our households, more and more alternatives are becoming available. Not only bamboo, but also linen, cork and other natural materials will increasingly be used as alternatives.
Natural and chemical-free
Bamboo is grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Bamboo fiber is 100% biodegradable.
Comfortable
Bamboo fabric absorbs water three to four times better than cotton, keeping skin comfortable in hot weather and not sticky. The fabric stays 2-3 degrees cooler in warm temperatures and warmer in low temperatures. Bamboo clothing is thermally regulating, mildew resistant, anti-static and keeps you cooler, drier, warmer and odor free.
Infinite raw material
The beauty of bamboo is that it grows so quickly. With a sharply increasing number of world citizens, it is essential to use the right raw materials.
Bamboo textiles are super soft and comfortable
If you use bamboo in construction, it is as strong as steel. But if you sustainably process it into bamboo fibers from which artificial silk (rayon) is spun, it is twice as soft as cotton. The material is also super breathable, keeping you cool in summer heat and warm in winter cold. Because the fibers easily absorb dye, the textiles stay longer in color. In addition, bamboo pills much less than cotton, for example.
Because bamboo naturally absorbs more carbon dioxide and also produces more oxygen, it is an excellent air purifier. The plant is so efficient that it produces up to 35% more oxygen than an average tree of the same size. And so with that, the bamboo plant literally helps us to breathe easier.
It is an easy plant, which grows quickly
Bamboo is a fast-growing plant, which does well in almost all soil types. After being cut down, the plant grows back by itself. This allows it to be grown in areas that are otherwise less suitable for agriculture. Moreover, in this way no deforestation or soil erosion occurs after felling. There are bamboo species that grow more than a meter per day and reach their full length within two years.
Relatively little land is needed
If you compare bamboo with cotton, for example, you can see that the yield is ten times higher for the same land area. In other words, you need ten times less land to produce the same amount of bamboo fabric as cotton. This is a great advantage at a time when land is scarce and food shortages are imminent.