As per a report by National Geographic media, a whopping 91% of the plastic that is produced on the earth is not recycled! As we keep producing more plastic every day, the issue is getting worse and can have serious ramifications on our health and the environment as a whole.
On average, plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade, so most of the plastic that was produced right from its invention is still in the environment. Plastic waste and the trouble caused by it is one of the major issues of the degrading climatic condition of the earth.
Hence, moving towards sustainable development has become a necessity and not just a choice. Big revolutions begin with small steps. Hence, we can begin with using an eco-friendly alternative of plastic- bamboo.
In this article, we list 4 reasons why bamboo is eco-friendly and hence a wise choice for a better tomorrow!
1. Fast-growing
Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on the earth therefore, it can be used extensively without concern about replenishment. It is one of the most sustainable plants on earth. The best part about the bamboo plant is that it can grow to full size in just a period of 4 months.
It is very less as compared to most other trees which can take more than 30-35 years to mature. Some people have also reported having seen the bamboo plant grow in front of their eyes- imagine how quickly it grows! If it gets the right moisture, sunlight, and soil, a bamboo plant can grow 3 feet tall in just a day!
This quick renewing property makes the bamboo plant an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to non-renewable resources. Furthermore, the bamboo plant is less prone to pests, hence harsh chemicals are not used in its production, making it an eco-friendly option.
2. Strong and Durable
The bamboo plant is rightly called the ‘green steel’ owing to its properties. It is three times stronger than timber and has greater tensile strength than steel. bamboo has no rays or knots, allowing it to withstand more stress throughout the length of each stalk.
It has no rays or knots that enable the plant to withstand more stress throughout the length of each stalk.This implies that a product made from bamboo can withstand more stretching pressure or tension than steel.
These mechanical properties of the plant are the reasons why most modern-day eco-friendly homes are now entirely built from bamboo. Besides being strong, it is also very light in weight, hence easy to carry around. Its durability allows the products to be used over a long span of time without the fear of them withering.
3. Hygienic- Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal
As discussed earlier, bamboo plants are grown without any pesticide or chemical treatment due to ‘bamboo-kun’. It is an antimicrobial bio-agent that is naturally found in bamboo. It safeguards the bamboo plant from bacteria and viruses and also acts as odor-resistant.
As per a study, bamboo viscose and other viscose both demonstrated antibacterial qualities when compared to cotton. This property makes it a perfect raw material for making naturally hygienic products such as bamboo straws, bamboo cutlery, sateen bamboo sheets, etc. It keeps them fresh, sterile, and free from germ infestation.
Another reason why it is widely used for making toilet papers, tissues, curtains, sheets, etc is that it is incredibly soft. The softness combined with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties makes it an ideal raw material that is both eco-friendly and sustainable.
4. Good for the environment
Bamboo plants offer enormous benefits to the environment in many forms. It is playing a crucial role in stabilizing the environmental condition of the plant. A bamboo plant absorbs close to 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. This is the reason why bamboo plants are called carbon sinks.
Besides reducing carbon in the environment, the bamboo plant is excellent for replenishing the soil. The roots of the bamboo plants are long and strong and hence are capable of retaining water and other nutrients.
Another reason why bamboo is so eco-friendly is that it uses a relatively less amount of water in its production. This addresses a major cause of water scarcity issues. Last, but not least, bamboo helps protect biodiversity and endangered species by creating homes for a variety of animals.
One of the most loved animal species- the pandas completely rely upon bamboo for their food needs. It is very important to sustain biodiversity because habitat destruction is ranked as the single greatest cause of extinction of a wide variety of species.
Hence, we see that just switching to bamboo from plastic can make a considerable improvement in the overall health of the planet. So, let us begin today!