Why are Bamboo Products Better for the Environment?
The tissue and hygiene industry is looking to alleviate pressure on forests by incorporating greener alternatives. To understand these alternatives, it’s important to first look at the current challenges the paper and pulp industry face. Read on as bamboo bioproducts explain why manufacturers are turning to bamboo as the solution.
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Forest Pressure
The tissue and hygiene industries have a significant impact on the world’s forests, as most products in this sector are manufactured from virgin wood pulp. However, there are many companies that are now prioritising sustainable supply chain management. This means understanding where raw materials come from, how they are produced, and what impact those processes have on the environment.
Many industry players are now also seeking greener additions to their products, and consumers are largely on board with the idea of more environmentally friendly options. For example, industry partners like bamboo bioproducts are working with key stakeholders to ensure sustainable cultivation and processing of bamboo in developing countries including Jamaica, where bamboos naturally thrive.
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Why industries are choosing bamboo
Bamboo use in the paper and pulp industry is a growing trend. But why? Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that can be regularly harvested without the need for replanting, making it an economical and renewable resource. It also has many environmental benefits, including:
being carbon negative (meaning it absorbs more CO2 than it releases)
having anti-fungal properties that help prevent mould growth and decay
having anti-bacterial properties that are safe for human use
being fully sustainable
Bamboo is the solution
Bamboo's sustainable qualities make it an excellent renewable alternative. Here’s why:
Bamboo is a renewable resource that can be regularly harvested, making it an ideal alternative to wood
Bamboo sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at an impressive rate due to their fast-growing properties
Unlike trees, bamboo doesn't require replanting after harvesting. Instead, it regenerates from underground rhizomes (like other grasses). This means that growers need not worry about destroying the root system when harvesting, and there's no need for replanting new shoots either
There are two methods for harvesting: hand picking or mechanical cutting with machines like chainsaws or harvesters. Both options are viable ways of harvesting this plant and contribute to creating a circular economy through bamboo cultivation and processing
In addition, bamboo makes for great tissue and hygiene products
Bamboos have low lignin content (which means less energy spent during pulping)
Bamboo fibres are strong and impart softness and absorbency when added to paper-based products.
Ultimately, the tissue and hygiene industries have a unique opportunity to meet sustainability targets through the incorporation of bamboo. Using this grass as a renewable resource can help alleviate deforestation and other environmental concerns, while simultaneously providing a high-quality alternative to virgin wood pulp.
To learn more about how bamboos are providing solutions for the tissue and hygiene industries, subscribe to bamboo bioproducts here.