Why Bamboo?

Bamboo is a natural material with a hollow cylindrical shape, good strength, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing if designed consciously. Some of the benefits of using bamboo are outlined below.  

Fast growing

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing grasses in the world with some species growing as much as 1ft a day. The poles mature at 3 to 5 years and are ready to harvest for construction or other projects.

Low embodied energy

Bamboo grows with minimal energy needs and without the need of fertilizers or pesticides. Harvesting bamboo does not require any sophisticated tools. Bamboo poles require minimal processing before they can be used for construction and if sourced locally, very less energy is used in the transportation. 

Renewable resource

Bamboo is a highly renewable resource because it is very fast growing and needs no replanting. For harvesting the poles, one need not cut the entire plant, as bamboo plant keeps producing new shoots providing a continuous supply of poles.

Structurally strong

Bamboo is one of the strongest natural materials. With a tensile strength superior to steel and compressive strength stronger than concrete, it is one of the most versatile and durable natural resources on earth.

Versatile

Bamboo comes in various sizes and wall thickness, which means there is always a specific species of bamboo for a particular project. It can be used as whole poles or split into various sizes for weaving making it extremely versatile material.

Grow your own

The ease of growing bamboo and fast growth rate means one can grow their own raw material and use it for construction and other projects within 5 years. This is much quicker than growing timber which would normally take 30 to 50 years.

Great DIY material

Bamboo is very easy to build with making it an ideal material for DIY projects. The versatility of the material means there are various possibilities and every size of bamboo has a use.

Empowerment & Skill Development

In developing countries bamboo can be used to empower people in the rural areas by providing skill and knowledge of using bamboo that grows locally. It creates new employment opportunities in the rural areas and prevents people from migrating to the city. 

Micro Enterprise

In developing countries there is great potential for local enterprise to thrive once sustainable integrated farming systems are encouraged. Low-cost technology requirement, low skill-requirement and low overhead costs give opportunities for people to generate jobs for themselves and hence create micro enterprise.