Why Bamboo And Plant-Based Products Are Better

Compared to the past, the world now witnesses more environmental damage, generates more waste, and releases more chemicals. Reports points out that households in cities generate tonnes of plastic in a day. The aim of sustainability is not just to reduce this waste, but to reduce carbon footprint and save the planet for future generations. However, people are often intimidated by the idea of living a sustainable life, simply because they don’t know where to begin. Luckily, there are plenty of small changes you can make to live more sustainably, starting with using alternatives to plastic like bamboo.

Bamboo is a viable alternative to plastics. It can be used in place of plastic for kitchen utensils, tableware, bamboo toothbrushes, tissues and toilet paper rolls. These all are small steps towards creating a cleaner and an eco-friendly environment at home. 

Introducing bamboo and other plant-based products in your home is a good choice for the environment to reduce carbon emissions. Bamboo fibres are extremely organic, which means that they don’t release any chemicals into the environment. Besides being a versatile material, planting and harvesting bamboo can take place every year, and it even helps reduce soil erosion. Additionally, India has the highest range of bamboo which is deeply under-utilised. 

Another winning point for bamboo is that in comparison to regular timber, grasses like bamboo mature and grow much faster, thus makes it an apt choice over those resources that deplete nature. While timber takes 25-30 years to mature, bamboo only takes 3-5 months. With an average growth of 36 inches per day, these hardy plants can reach up to 100 feet in three months.

Historically, bamboo has been used to make everything from clothing to facial masks, and it's highly sustainable due to its extremely rapid growth.  Bamboo’s wood-like texture provides a nice contrast to the decor of any home or office. Bamboo is an alternative to wood, and can easily be swapped for a traditional hardwood floor.  

When it comes to buildings, in Asia, it has been noted that bamboo isn’t just more eco-friendly, but also stronger than steel. The natural tensile strength of the grass indicates that there are no weak points within it. Compared to other trees and grass, bamboo producers release more oxygen and even absorb more carbon dioxide. On average, one hectare of bamboo absorbs approximately 17 tonnes of carbon.

-Aditya Ruia is co-founder of Beco, a sustainable homecare products brand specialising in products that are made from bamboo and other plant-based material.