Bamboo, the ecological wood

Bamboo harvesting is a traditional practice, but only recently has it been seen as a way to boost the local economy through sustainable plantations . Not in vain, its sowing not only helps to fight against climate change by increasing the absorption of CO2 but also provides the ideal raw material to transform into a myriad of objects or to use in construction.

Its rapid growth also allows for earlier profitability. The investment that is made obtains in a few years a return that is repeated every cycle, so the return is constant. In particular, because, in addition, from this raw material, objects of added value can be produced that increase their value for export.

In this sense, it also makes processing industries flourish in the same regions. It is, in short, a sector that can easily complete the cycle without leaving a local economy concept, from planting to manufacturing.

Even so, the transformation of bamboo on many occasions takes place very far from where the harvest was made, an element to take into account when assessing the carbon footprint. And also, it is convenient to consider what type of glues and materials were used, since toxic products of chemical composition are often abused that detract from the ecological value of the product.

The versatility of bamboo is such that it is almost easier which objects we cannot make with it than to list them all: bicycles, laptop cases, rugs, furniture, helmets, screens, furniture of all kinds, bowls, plates, decorative objects and a long etcetera that, on the other hand, does not stop increasing.

As a building material, bamboo has traditionally been used to make low-cost houses, although there is no shortage of architectural demonstrations that show its great potential to carry out works of authentic luxury. In this field, there is still much to discover about what you can contribute to build housing for the middle classes.

In the same way, luffa or loofah is also an alternative to wood, much more unknown than bamboo but equally respectful of the middle atmosphere , although their chances are lower.

You most likely know it from the bath sponges that are marketed made of this material for its peeling effect. In case you were unaware, loofah is the fruit of a curcubitácea plant native to India. It grows wild, is shaped like a large zucchini and is made up of a dense network of fibers.

However, in a generic way, bamboo gains in number of green advantages. Its rapid growth stands out (it is harvested every four or five years), which does not prevent it from creating complex and vigorous root systems that help combat soil erosion.

In turn, in eroded lands, the bamboo plantation helps to recover them, because when they are cut down the base is not cut, in addition to promoting ecosystems rich in fauna that act as powerful carbon sinks. And yes, it’s true, forests are carbon sinks too, but bamboo absorbs CO2 faster than trees.

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