Shop Conscience: Why Bamboo and Other ‘Green Material’ are Making Waves
There has been a booming revolution in green materials. They are eco-friendly, climate positive, and are valuable to the environment. They control soil erosion, produce oxygen, lower carbon levels, conserve biodiversity, provide organic material, and have gained much momentum and billions of dollars in the marketplace.
Why is Bamboo Such a Great Material?
Bamboo has been an excellent resource for a long time in civilization, and it has maintained its economic sustainability and multiple benefits. It has the looks of a wooden tree, but it is actually. Scientifically classified as a member of the Bambusoidae family, a sub-family of the Poaceae family, which terms are quite hard to pronounce, but they are just fancy words for grass! There are over 115 genera and 1,400 species!
A bamboo stand absorbs five times the greenhouse gases while releasing 35% more clean oxygen back into the atmosphere compared to an equivalent stand of trees. Millions of acres of regular trees are lost each year to deforestation and over-grazing globally.
Bamboo is environmentally friendly and is one of the strongest materials on our planet. It is fast-growing, naturally sustainable, self-generates forests, and revitalizes large tracts of damaged land. It requires minimal water and relies mostly on natural rainfall. Unlike non-organic cotton, it does not expose people and animals to harmful chemicals because it grows naturally and organically. It needs no replanting, fertilizers or pesticides, and the roots retain water, which sustains riverbanks and reduces water pollution.
Bamboo has an unparalleled growth rate with some types growing at 35 inches every day! Its size ranges from a few inches to more than 100 feet and can easily grow a foot or more per day.
Exceptional Bamboo Socks
Reviews have stated that socks made of bamboo from BambooMonkey are the most comfortable, they get rid of “stinky” and sweaty feet, fight fungal infections, make a wonderful gift, and the price is reasonable.
Top issues with socks are holes rubbing on the heels, toes sticking through the ends, and rib trim cutting off leg circulation. One manufacturer reinforces the heels and soles and uses specially-engineered knitting on the trim to solve those problems.
Other Uses
Many items of “feel and look good” clothing are made of bamboo including unisex tracksuits, tees, crewnecks, hats, sandals, and hoodies. There are even 100% compostable, biodegradable, reusable, and long-lasting coffee cups with a good lid that can replace the millions of throwaway cups that end up in landfills.
Other creative items include fabrics that are very absorbent and can require far less material to produce a sturdy product. Bamboo fabric is a natural textile that is made from bamboo grass pulp. The fabric also breathes, is biodegradable, and has natural antibacterial properties.
Bamboo is also used as a building material, screening, food, animal fodder, compostable plates, bowls, chopsticks, ornamentation, sheets and pillowcases, fish traps, water pipes, baskets, fencing, farming tools, and material for decors and fixtures in the interior and exterior of a home or business. Bamboo is popular for flooring because it is 27% harder than northern red oak and 13% harder than maple, so it lasts longer and can withstand harder use than conventional hardwood floors.
