Bamboo has a very rich and diversified history. It has been used in many cultures throughout history as a food source, as a medicine and as a building material. Its many uses are being re-examined today by industries and sciences as we look for more eco-friendly alternatives to deforestation and commercial cotton crops.

Fun Facts about Bamboo:

• Bamboo has been used in medicines in Asia for thousands of years.

• It is edible and used in many parts of the world in various culinary dishes.

• It is rich in minerals and high in fiber, as well as containing a variety of amino acids.

• It starts to re-grow immediately after it is harvested and regenerates without needing to be replanted.

• More than 6 million people in China are employed in the bamboo industry and 600 million people worldwide rely on income from it.

• Bamboo has the ability to grow in a wide variety of climates.

• Bamboo is 100% biodegradable, and is the most renewable natural resource on our planet.

• It is one of the fastest growing plants in the world along with sea kelp, and under the right soil and climate conditions, bamboo can grow as fast as 1.5 to 2 inches per hour.

• Bamboo produces up to 35% more oxygen than hardwood trees and absorbs four times as much carbon.

• Bamboo has the tensile strength of steel, allowing for a wide variety of uses.

• New bamboo stalks naturally regenerate from the old root system, helping to control soil erosion while maintaining and enriching it.

• Owing to its high nitrogen consumption, growing Bamboo can detoxify waste water.

• Bamboo requires very little effort to grow.

• Bamboo fabric is extremely soft, hypoallergenic, and is usually machine washable.

• Bamboo contains a natural antibacterial agent, called “Kun.”

• Bamboo’s fiber properties are non-irritating to the skin.

• It is a durable and abundant resource that helps to clean the air by consuming carbon dioxide and releasing large quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere.

• It’s as durable as hardwood, even though the plant is technically in the grass family.

• While an oak tree may require 120 years to grow to maturity, some species of bamboo can be harvested in three years’ time.

• It can be manufactured with minimal chemical input.

• Bamboo can be grown in many different climates.

• Thomas Edison used carbonized bamboo for the first successful light filaments.

These are just a few of the many facts about bamboo that we have found. Let us know what you think about bamboo on our forums.