Bamboo Sustainability benefits
The “Moso” bamboo farms in China, where Greenington's bamboo products are manufactured, grows naturally and does not require the use of pesticides, herbicides, or irrigation, other than the natural rainfall that it receives. Unlike many other resources, each Moso culm is hand selected and extracted. Moso bamboo requires minimal gas guzzling tractors, pesticides, and herbicides to harvest and bring to production. Moso bamboo does not require re-planting as the stalks can be cut off above ground and they will continue to grow, ready for harvest again within 5 years. Compare this to a comparable hard wood (Maple, Birch) tree that may take 70 to 100 years to reach maturity. The Moso bamboo root system is a network that constantly sprouts new shoots stabilizing the surrounding soil and preventing erosion.
Bamboo makes ecological sense
Just take a look for yourself - here are several reasons why bamboo is the best choice for our environment
1. Bamboo is nature's most sustainable resource.
Bamboo is actually not a wood but a grass, which continuously sends up new shoots after harvesting without the need for replanting. Growing at a rate of up to four feet per day, bamboo holds the world record as the fastest growing plant, and can be harvested every 4-5 years, as opposed to 25-70 years for commercial tree species. Some prehistoric species grow up to 250 feet tall.
2. Bamboo is good for the environment.
Bamboo removes CO2 from the atmosphere and produces over 30% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. By growing and using more bamboo, we can help combat global warming.
3. Bamboo offers an opportunity to stop the destruction of forests,
Moso is selectively harvested without destroying the grove or stand. Additionally, bamboo's ability to rapidly soak up excess nutrients contained in wastewater has captured the attention of environmental and manufacturing engineers as an environmentally safe and reliable way to deal with waste issues.
4. Bamboo stabilizes the earth.
Bamboo's root system helps to prevent soil erosion and improves the soil by removing excess nitrogen. It also retains an abundance of water, helping to reduce runoff, protect riverbanks and reduce water pollution (again, due to its high nitrogen consumption).
5. Bamboo is organic.
Bamboo is grown without pesticides, fertilizers or chemicals and no irrigation is required for its growth aside from natural rainfall. And that's all good for our environment right?
