Bamboo our superhero -Photo by Kinsey on Unsplash

Bamboo: the best plant from food to clothes

While searching for a more sustainable approach to life, I came across bamboo. Some love it because it can be used in so many different ways. Some hate it because, after planting it in their garden, it became super invasive.

Bamboo is a plant native from Asia, that grows in warm and tropical temperature. However, bamboo exists in more than 1000 different species of Bamboo that develops in a range of climate, in a different type of size and colour. They also require different ways of growth but the main requirements are sunlight and a lot of water. However most of the time the soil needs to be drained a lot as the plant does not like to stand in water. One common capability that all of the bamboos species have is their development: they are growing quickly and easily and can become quite invasive. Bamboo is one of the most durable plants of the planet due to its easy growth, the number of species and its different possible uses.

In this article, we will give you an insight into the benefits and disadvantages of bamboo usage.

Bamboo uses:

As a garden plant: 

  • Benefits: it is pets and pests resistance and would help your garden get rid of rabbits or other mammals. In a dry climate, you might have bamboo mites but it is still quite rare. It grows fast and can help you by creating a privacy screen for example. When there is wind you might hear the bamboo “sing”.
  • Disadvantages: if it is not carefully chosen the bamboo can be invasive and destroy the rest of the plant in your garden. It can go from garden to garden so neighbours might be needed to consult before planting. If you like to review the layout of your garden often forget bamboo as it is really difficult to fully eradicate.

On your plate:

Bamboo cannot be eaten raw. However many Asians stores will sell fully prepared bamboo shoots.

  • Benefits: According to some research from Chongtham, N., Bisht, M. S., & Haorongbam, S. (2011, April 6) Bamboo is high in nutritive value and should be part of every diet as a health food. It could have several potential effects on your body such as protection for oxidative stress(Akao and others (2004)), cholesterol-lowering (Park and Jhon (2009)), antifatigue activity (Zhang and others (2006)). They also are so low in calorie and fat.
  • Disadvantages: If not prepared well, bamboo shoots can have a bad effect on your health due to the toxins.

In your closet: 

We want more and more to take care of our planet. We know the impact of fast fashion. You searched for alternatives and bamboo clothing or linen sound like a good substitute. But don’t get fooled. It is not as pretty as it looks.

  • Benefits: no significants advantages of the bamboo fabric. 
  • Disadvantages: as we said before there are no advantages for the bamboo fabric and here is why. There are different processes for the creation of this “tissue”:
    • combing out the fibres which are quite hard to do and the labour is in general intensive and expensive. Companies, in general, do not even consider this as it is costly.
    • what you might mostly find the bamboo viscose which is created with so many different chemicals. This is the process mainly used. The websites good on youthe green hub and earth hero explain in an amazing way why clothes using bamboo fabric should be chosen carefully.

As kitchen tools/utensils:

  • Benefits: bowls, straws, soap holder, forks, spoons, cups, cutting tables this plant can be used in so many different ways and will always add a small plus to your kitchen or bathroom. They are compostable which is amazing.
  • Disadvantages: you need to be careful from which company you are buying this furniture as a lot off the companies see the development of sustainability and sustainable tools and will use “slave workers” to create all the supply in high quantity.
Bamboo is a sustainable plant that can be used for cooking, building, and even fabric. here is a bamboo armchair
Bamboo armchair Photo by Chase @jiggiemon Wilson

In your interior design:

You can see more and more that minimal or natural interior with beautiful wood pieces. Well, you have here a solution to show off. You can turn every part of your home into a luxurious yet cheap sustainable and trendy interior.

  • Benefits: they are compostable and can be easily adjusted, sold or recycled. Nowadays you can find every type of design such as a coffee tableoutside chair or even this inside table.
  • Disadvantages: You need to do some research on the craftsmen’ conditions just to make sure they are treated correctly. Also, that furniture can cost a little bit more than nonsustainable one just because of the normal wage that the workers are paid and the way the bamboo has been treated.

Bamboo is definitely a versatile plant. It can be used for everything and is growing really easily and quickly! Bamboo can be our planet hero.

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One response to “Bamboo: the best plant from food to clothes”

  1. Really good article! I personally use to have bamboo in my garden and it destroyed everything ! So anyone wanting to plant bamboo in their garden be careful!

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