Use of Bamboo for Sustainable Housing Construction in Developing Countries
Bamboo - Sustainable or Not?
1. Bamboo is a very useful plant that grows quite quickly in
different types of climate and environment. That makes
bamboo a sustainable raw material by resource. Is it also
renewable? Of course, it is. The sheer popularity of
bamboo products today is owed to the huge supply of the
raw material everywhere around the world. However, the
advantages and benefits don't end there. Not only is
bamboo renewable and in large supply, but it is durable,
hardy and cost-effective.
3. There are many aspects to consider when it comes to the
assessment of raw materials. Among which are
renewability and sustainability. When we say something is
renewable, it means that the raw material can be
reproduced manually. Bamboo can be planted so it is
renewable. To make a distinction, natural gas is not
renewable because it is formed from the decayed remains
of organic matter for millions of years.
5. Saying that something is renewable doesn't necessarily
mean that it is also sustainable. Even though a raw
material can be manually produced, the production is still
affected by many things. For instance, the mass
production of bamboo is possible because the plant is easy
to grow. Going back to the same distinction, mass
producing natural gas - if that is even possible - will not be
cost-effective. To say that something is sustainable, it has
to be renewable first. Then mass production through
manual means should be cost-effective.
6. The good thing is that bamboo passes all these tests. As a
raw material, bamboo is both renewable and cost-
effective.
7. The benefits don't end just yet. Bamboo is popular
because it's a versatile raw material that can be used for
various things. Bamboo can serve as ornamentation,
landscape, construction material and many more. Bamboo
shoots are cooked, and the leaves are processed to
produce extracts and supplements that provide many
health benefits.
8. As a building material, bamboo is durable and hardy. It's
cheaper than other wooden raw materials because of the
large supply. In addition, bamboo is an ornament all by
itself, so when used as a construction material, bamboo
also serves decorative purposes. Bamboo products can
range from flooring material to free-standing indoor
ornaments. They work great as decorative dividers in large
living rooms. Bamboo adds a natural look and feel to your
home, making it more welcoming and relaxing. It brings
you a little closer to the outdoors, too.
9. The monoculture of bamboo plantations has less
biodiversity compared to natural forests, which is why
bamboos are quicker to reproduce. The plant is aggressive
by nature and will grow where the soil allows. What
makes it more interesting is that the plant can grow on
many different types of soil.
10. In summary, bamboo is a sustainable product because it
can be mass produced cost-effectively. The speed at which
this plant grows contributes to the huge supply of bamboo
today. Considering the relationship between demand and
supply, it's easy to understand why bamboo is cheaper
compared to other wood products, despite its obvious
usefulness.