Sustainability made simple

5 Surprising Uses for Bamboo

Uses for bamboo.
Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / fietzfotos

An incredibly versatile plant, there are many different and surprising uses for bamboo. Read on to see why it's one of the most useful and sustainable materials out there.

Why Is Bamboo a Good Material?

Bamboo is a very versatile product. Not only is it flexible and pliable and so easily transformed into different products, but it is also more environmentally friendly compared to other trees and plants. 

Bamboo forests provide carbon storage and conserve water and soil. They are also very adaptable to different soils and climates and have a rapid growth rate. This makes bamboo not just a strong and versatile material to work with, but a far more sustainable one as well. Bamboo can be grown easily and quickly, and you can even grow it at home.

It should come as no surprise then that bamboo products are popping up in our supermarkets, drugstores and retail outlets more and more every day. But, what are some surprising uses for bamboo you may not be aware of? 

1. Construction

One of the most ancient uses for bamboo is as a construction material.
One of the most ancient uses for bamboo is as a construction material.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Pixource)

Bamboo may be lightweight, but it is very strong. Bamboo can be used in all areas of construction: from houses, as scaffolding, to bridges and even roads. This is mostly due to the flexibility of bamboo, which allows constructors to split it, bend it and shape it however they want. It’s been being used in Asia for construction for millennia. 

2. Clothing

One of the main uses for bamboo these days is in clothing and textiles. The fibers of bamboo can be manufactured into cloth and yarn for anything from T-shirts, underpants and rugs. Bamboo products are known for their soft texture and ability to wick moisture away from the skin, even more so than cotton!

3. Biofuel

The detrimental impact of fossil fuels on the environment is hugely concerning. One innovative and sustainable choice in recent years has been to move towards biofuel. 

Bamboo pellets have been tried and tested as biofuel, have passed the test and are considered a greener alternative to fossil fuel!

4. Instruments

Bamboo can be used to make instruments.
Bamboo can be used to make instruments.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / TOMCHIPONGE)

Not only does bamboo look beautiful, but it sounds beautiful as well. Bamboo’s unique properties means it has been used to make flutes, drums and chimes. It’s also commonly made into panpipes. 

5. Furniture

Bamboo makes beautiful chairs, beds and tables.
Bamboo makes beautiful chairs, beds and tables.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Engin_Akyurt)

If bamboo can be used to build a house, it can be used to make a chair. But not just any old chair. Bamboo is not only a very versatile and easy material to build with, but it is also a very pretty material. Tables, chairs and beds can all be crafted from bamboo, and they are just as great to look at as they are to sit on!

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