Uses of Bamboo

1000 Things Made of Bamboo

What products can be made from bamboo? Potential investors and clients frequently ask us about the different uses of bamboo. To answer that question, we always like to refer to an Asian saying which states; "A man is born in a bamboo cradle and goes away in a bamboo coffin. Everything in between is possible with bamboo!"

Watch this video from INBAR about Bamboo uses around the world.

It's true though, from edible bamboo shoots to construction, medicine, bamboo fabric or bio fuel it is all been done before. The challenges we face today is to further improve and innovate the uses of bamboo. Since bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth and a sustainable building material, it could easily substitute all known wood applications without having to cut down entire bamboo groves or plantations. Better yet, bamboo continuously grows after harvest without having to re-plant it. Bamboo also converts about 35% more CO2 into oxygen than a regular tree.

However, there are a number of technical issues with bamboo that haven't been solved yet. What about a universal joining system for round bamboo poles? What about non-toxic preservation methods to improve the service live of bamboo used in ground contact or outdoor structures?

The bamboo products we see on the market today, are just the tip of the iceberg, we predict that more and more innovative uses of bamboo will enter the consumer markets rapidly. Therefore it is an exciting era to live in if you are also a firm believer of how bamboo can contribute to a greener and cleaner environment. We can't change our consumption based economy, but we can certainly change the resources we use and the way we manufacture our products!

Articles about Using Bamboo:

Using Bamboo Cables for Towing Ships and Building Bamboo Bridges
Marco Polo was the first to describe how the Chinese used and manufactured bamboo cables for towing boats and building bridges. Bamboo cables have a tensile strength up to 26,000 pounds per square inch.

A Complete List of Edible Bamboo Shoots and Species
Of the 1575 known bamboo species worldwide, 109 species are recorded to have edible shoots. However they must be carefully prepared and boiled before consuming.

How Do You Use Bamboo?

Are YOU using bamboo in your daily life? If you have an interesting story, video or pictures to share we would love to hear about it!

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Click below to find out how bamboo is used around the world...