This 22 April is Earth Day, recognised as the world's most important popular environmental event. At ootouch, we believe the Earth deserves to be celebrated every day, but above all, that it must be preserved. Bamboo is renowned for its ecological credentials, but also for having become, in just a few years, a serious competitor to the timber industry.
A material that requires few resources
Used for thousands of years in Asia and South America, bamboo has long since proven its durability, resistance and flexibility. Shunned for a time in our European regions, it came back to the fore a few years ago to challenge the timber industry, deemed too polluting and energy-intensive by nature lovers or simply by individuals and professionals looking for an alternative.
For this World Earth Day, ootouch explains why installing bamboo in your house or apartment is THE ideal solution to help Mother Nature.
Growing bamboo requires very little maintenance, whatever the variety. New bamboo shoots proliferate naturally without the hand of man having to interfere with its plantations. Without pesticides or fertilisers, it takes, on average, between 3 and 5 years for its cane to reach maturity and be cut, by which point it reaches between 5 and 9 metres in height!
Moreover, unlike the trees in our forests, bamboo is not a heavy consumer of water, since it only needs 2 to 4 litres a day, compared with nearly 150 litres for trees, to grow at very high speed. Add to that its naturally antibacterial side and you have a plant that needs neither pesticides nor fertilisers.
We can therefore understand all the challenges and all the possibilities that bamboo offers in industries such as textiles, construction and interior decoration. Its rapid growth and the little maintenance it requires make it an ecological and responsible material for the well-being of the planet.
Bamboo: a CO2 vacuum cleaner!
Its rapid growth allows bamboo to absorb two to four times more carbon than trees, which are nonetheless considered the lungs of the planet thanks to their ability to absorb this gas. Add to that its ability to produce more than 30% extra oxygen compared with an equivalent mass of trees, and you have a plant capable of reducing the greenhouse effect and therefore reducing the impact of global warming on the planet.
These abilities to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen make bamboo a natural ally of ecology. It is no longer a secret to anyone that the timber industry is among the major polluters of our planet; by developing an alternative such as bamboo, we therefore reduce the environmental impacts of wood in multiple ways.
Bamboo plantations regenerate much faster than forests: while it takes up to 70 years for the latter to mature, bamboo is ready to be used in less than 10 years. It is therefore easier and quicker to replace with new shoots which, moreover, will have a more beneficial effect on the health of the Earth. And that is exactly what is needed, after years of forest overexploitation.
Fighting soil erosion thanks to bamboo
If you have ever planted bamboo in your garden, it is quite possible that a neighbour, a friend or even a seller has warned you about the incredible density of its root network. While this may frighten individuals, in nature it is a very good thing, because such density helps combat soil erosion caused by agriculture, wind and rain, and is a major threat to global food security.
Wherever bamboo grows, it creates an underground rampart to strengthen and regenerate the soil, greatly limiting risks. Indeed, the presence of bamboo helps the soil eliminate toxins through a phytoremediation process, providing the carbon and oxygen needed for fertile soil.
Today, bamboo has earned its place among the materials prized for constructions and décor that aim to be more ecological and fair. Its resistance, its ease of maintenance, and its positive effects on both soil and air are recognised worldwide.
Discover the thousand and one uses of bamboo in your home
ootouch, your bamboo specialist, the ecological alternative to wood
For nearly 20 years, ootouch has been showcasing products for your indoor and outdoor spaces. We have fully understood that bamboo is not just a passing trend, but a genuine, durable alternative to wood products.
Bamboo is a natural, bio-based material, which means it comes from renewable organic matter. 100% recyclable, bamboo has all the qualities of wood, but better! In addition to being a natural product of the Earth, it is useful for air purification and environmental preservation.
Our bamboo terraces, cladding and flooring give a natural, warm and soothing look to the space in which they are installed. Need a hand imagining your floors or walls with bamboo? Try our Room Visualizer and discover the changes you can make to your property.
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