Why Use Bamboo Instead of Plastic?

Plastic is currently the leading cause of mass pollution worldwide, with the ‘throwaway’ culture of the 21st century causing increasing havoc on our environment. With countries taking steps towards a “greener” future, it’s important to consider some plastic alternatives that are beneficial for our future generations. So how effective is bamboo really as a potential replacement? Let’s find out!

Plastic pollution

We often hear about the detrimental effects of plastic, but what does that really mean for our planet? Well, for one thing, plastic can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. And we’re completely surrounded by it - from our phones, to food packaging and cars, plastic is everywhere. And studies have found that only about 9% of the plastic we use actually gets recycled or reused… Yikes! With one million plastic bags being used every minute in the world, we can start to picture the global crisis that is increasingly turning our planet into a dumping ground for plastic waste. Not to mention the disastrous effects this is having on our oceans and marine life, with billions of kilos of plastic being thrown in our oceans each year. At the current rate, it is believed that plastic will outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050 - a terrifying prediction that emphasises the importance of reducing our use of plastic!

Why use bamboo?

Referred to as ‘green gold’, bamboo has a long list of positive environmental attributes that makes it a healthier alternative to using plastic. Not only is it a highly renewable resource but it’s also naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal. It also grows faster than most plants in the world, meaning it can be harvested every few years (unlike hardwood which can take up to a couple decades), whilst simultaneously reviving degraded lands through its ability to thrive in poor soil. Bamboo also provides 35% more oxygen than the same amount of trees, and helps to reduce our atmospheres’ carbon emissions - making it extra environmentally friendly! These miracle plants are also very strong and highly versatile, and can be used from anything from scaffolding and furniture, to bicycles and soaps.

Our favourite bamboo swaps for plastic:

With over 2,000 uses, bamboo can be a great alternative to plastic. To give you some inspiration on moving towards bamboo, we thought we’d provide a few of our favourite bamboo products that are the perfect eco-friendly swaps for plastic.

Disposable Cutlery

Every time you head to a BBQ with family and friends, you might notice the amount of plastic cutlery that gets used. These types of plastic products usually only get used once and then thrown away, which creates a lot of unnecessary plastic waste. Bamboo, however, can present a useful and greener alternative to plastic disposable plates and cutlery.

Drinking straws

Another ‘one-use’ product, plastic straws, are now on the way out - and for good measure, considering how many get chucked away on a daily basis. Well now you can find a reusable natural bamboo straw instead, which can be used for both hot and cold drinks, and is dishwasher-friendly!

Toothbrush

Since this is an essential product that gets disposed of on average 2 to 3 times a year by each of us - and which greatly contributes to environmental pollution - we think bamboo toothbrushes are an important eco-friendly alternative to their plastic counterparts!

With bamboo being so ubiquitous, cheap to produce and readily available across the world, it has the potential to be one of the best replacements to many more plastic products. Something to bear in mind when you look to buy some of your next household items!