As the world looks to sustainable energy and products to reverse some of the devastating effects of global pollution and warming, our focus must be directed towards viable, long term solutions for production of goods. In a search to find materials that can continue to foster growth on the planet but not decimate the land of nutrients plants and animals need to survive, there is a viable solution. Time Magazine and Newsweek identified that planting of bamboo is one of the top things American’s can do to help fight global warming.
Bamboo is a very Earth friendly plant
o They can grow successfully without any fertilizers or pesticides and they grow extremely fast
o Bamboo plants release 35% more air than trees and refresh the oxygen we breathe
o Bamboo plants can be harvested in 3-5 years and since it is a grass can be harvested again and again from the same plant.
o Its wide-spreading root system helps prevent massive soil erosion and keeps twice as much water in the watershed
In an age of increasing concern over the depletion of natural resources we need to be creative and intelligent about the materials and products we’re using to continue sustainable growth on our planet. Bamboo could easily replace hard wood trees for flooring, building (bamboo’s tensile strength is 28,000 pounds per square inch versus 23,000 pounds per square inch for steel) and other products to help maintain a healthy environment.
It is estimated that around 1 billion people live in bamboo houses and that trend is expected to continue with the need to search for alternative materials. Currently the market for industrial bamboo only reaches $500 million a year, but it is estimated to grow to $4-5 billion in the next 10 years. For the bamboo industry to survive, however, it needs to find large export markets.
The environmental benefits of manufacturing bamboo products is just one step in the right direction of reversing the effects of global warming. It will take a large scale effort from all nations to reduce the output of pollution and to begin respecting the earth and its renewable resources.
