Bamboo is the world’s fastest-growing grass. It’s not local (it’s mostly grown in China) but it’s sold widely now in England, as an alternative to slow-growing trees.
To produce everything from furniture to insulation to coffins and cooking tools. It’s even used to make clothing.
The issue of course is that although it’s good not to chop down trees, flying in bamboo from the other side of the world has a high carbon footprint too. So what’s the truth about using bamboo, and what’s the best way to buy it?
Does Buying Bamboo Affect Panda Habitats?
It shouldn’t, no. Industrial (moso) bamboo is not the same kind as fresh shoots eaten by wild pandas. Having said that, we have to be careful to avoid monocultures (where one product is touted as wonderful, and then other land is destroyed to build plantations).
This has happened say with palm oil (affecting orangutan habitats) and tencel (new plantations of flammable eucalyptus trees have been banned in Portugal and Spain, due to concerns over wildfires – the trees are made into a fabric, and also for ‘compostable’ packaging for coffee and chocolate).
Having said that, bamboo grows so fast (around 35 inches per day), that it’s unlikely that new land is needed. As once the shoots are chopped, new bamboo shoots up again!
Pandas are solitary animals, who mostly live alone in forests. They do handstands, to pee up trees, to show dominance. Trying to pee higher than the other pandas!
Why do pandas have black circles around their eyes? The legend goes that once there was a group of pandas, looked after by four shepherd girls.
One day they threw themselves in front of one of the cubs, to protect an attack by a leopard. And were killed.
The pandas wore black ash on their arms as a sign of respect, and wiped their crying eyes. This left black marks, which continue to this day.
What Items Can Be Made from Bamboo?
Here are just some of products that replace unsustainable materials (like plastic or old-growth wood) with bamboo.
Don’t steep anything made with bamboo in water, as it will biodegrade away!
- This bamboo cutlery set is packed in a hessian bag.
- Who Gives a Crap? Toilet Paper is sold in paper packs.
- Naked Paper offers bamboo facial tissues.
- Jungle Culture bamboo straws are sold in a set of 6.
- This set of bamboo cooking tools is heat-resistant.
- The bamboo cloths can be used wet or dry.
- This bamboo washing-up brush is a zero waste alternative.
- Bamboo toothbrushes usually have nylon bristles.
- This bamboo hairbrush is for all hair types.
- Bamboo knitting needles (use with plant-based yarns).
- Panda duvets and mattresses are made from sustainable bamboo. Click to read the post, due to important safety precautions, for bedding without chemical fire retardants.
