Bamboo has been used by humankind for thousands of years to make homes, utensils, paper and more. More recently, companies have started to manufacture more evolved household items out of bamboo. You have probably seen or heard of bamboo mattresses (which conventional mattresses are very hard to recycle), pajamas, sheets, toothbrushes, and so much more. Some species of bamboo are even stronger than steel!!! There are a ton of reasons we should be using bamboo in our everyday lives. By purchasing items made of bamboo we can have a positive impact on the environment. We are going to touch on a few of the key reasons we started our House of Hazel line of bamboo products and how by using bamboo we help our planet.
Even though bamboo has a wood like texture, it is actually a grass and the fastest growing land plant on the planet. Bamboo has over 1,500 species which makes it a sustainable material to use because of how quickly it regrows. Bamboo is an incredibly versatile and mailable material that can be grown in a multitude of environments. This grass can be utilized to create hundreds of different items, like houses, boats, everyday home goods, clothes, toothbrushes, charcoal, and so much more. Because it grows so fast and breaks down without negatively impacting our planet, it is a great resource to use to produce thousands of everyday items.
Bamboo is not only fast growing, but is an incredible air purifier. Bamboo produces roughly 35% more oxygen to the planet than trees! It can also cool down the surrounding area by up to 8 degrees! By clumping bamboo close together, that cluster can purify up to 30% and adds more oxygen to our environment. So it is not only sustainable but by planting more of it we can effectively cool our environments and help offset rising temperatures.
What’s even a bigger plus for humans is that being around bamboo can help our brains absorb more of that oxygen and relieve stress and tension. WOW!
Bamboo is naturally antibacterial because its compounds create a barricade for bugs and bacteria that attempt to live in the bamboo, which will erode upon contact. This is one of the best reasons why using bamboo for household items like toothbrushes, kitchenware and floors are excellent ways to prevent bacteria from building up AND eliminate the use of plastic in the home.
Bamboo is drought tolerant and helps to stabilize soil and prevent soil erosion. This is because the leaves are highly nutritious and reinfuse lots of nutrients back into the soil when they leaves fall. This is probably why bamboo grows so fast! Bamboo is also an excellent weed barrier and can be composted. So when you’re ready to replace your House of Hazel toothbrush, all you need to do is cut and shave off the bristles and place the toothbrush handle in your compost. We also have a blog on ways to upcycle your bamboo toothbrush in your home and garden. Click here, for more on that.
Bamboo is edible. And it’s not just the pandas that are eating bamboo. Although bamboo does make up 99% of the panda diet. Bamboo is used in Asian culinary dishes and can add great texture to a curry, soup or vegetable dish. It is a source of potassium, helps support a normal heart rate and blood pressure; and gives the body phosphorus, zinc, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, and iron.
Bamboo has so many positive impacts on our planet and is such an easy substitute for hundreds of everyday plastic items. So if you have the option of choosing plastic or bamboo, choose bamboo!
Sources:
https://www.bamboodownunder.com.au/20-fun-facts-about-bamboo
https://bamboosheetsaustralia.com.au/antibacterial-properties-of-bamboo/