ECO Facts - Bamboo

Promotional Gifts are made from a variety of materials, including wood, and in todays climate of eco-friendliness, we are sometimes asked if this use of wood is good for the planet. Our response to that question will vary from product to product, and will invariably depend on the source material being used. In this article we try to explain some of the facts about Bamboo.

Why use Bamboo at all?
Bamboo is rapidy-renewable, restoring itself for fresh use in just five years, and requires far less energy to harvest and produce than most 'lumber' products. Bamboo also has an incredible range of product from flooring to cabinetry, drapery, furniture and in our case, promotional products. It's production and by products yield healthy salvageable materials that continue to be used in new ways.

It's Beautiful
The delicate grain of bamboo, whether natural or amber-toned, makes it a distinctive, elegant and subtle material for use with promotional gifts.

It's Strong
Bamboo can withstand a great deal of use without damage. It's stronger even than the famous British Oak, considered to be the most durable of hardwoods, yet when laminated, bamboo is nearly as strong as soft steel. Bamboo doesn't swell or shrink as much as hardwoods do.

It Grows Fast
Bamboo is not a tree - it's a grass, and it grows like it!!Many species of bamboo can grow two foot or more in a day. When it's harvested, it need not be replanted because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. Bamboo thus renews itself readily, unlike hardwood trees, which once cut, are gone forever. Bamboo is an endlessly renewable resource.

It Enhances the Environment
Farmed bamboo stabilizes the earth with its roots, preventing erosion. It takes in greenhouse gasses and produces oxygen at a collossal rate, in fact, 35% more oxygen is generated by bamboo than from an equivalent stand of trees. It can also provide habitat for birds and animals.

It's World-Wide and Historic
Our Bamboo comes from China, but bamboo is so adaptable it will grow on most places on the planet. Wherever it is native, bamboo has been integral to the economy and culture, and uis used for cooking, beverages, paper, houses and bridges. In China, it's known as the "friend of the people".