Another source of sustainable timber used in products such as pens, pencil cases, coasters, bags and more is Bamboo. Botanically categorized as a grass, bamboo is probably one of the world’s most sustainable resources. It is the fastest growing woody grass and can grow up to nearly a metre a day under ideal conditions. Unlike trees, all bamboo have the potential to grow to full size in a single growing season of about 4 months. Bamboo reaches maturity quickly and is ready for harvesting in about 3-7 years.
Bamboo does not require replanting after harvesting because its vast root/rhizome network continually sprouts new shoots, pulling in sunlight and greenhouse gases and converting them to new green growth – without the need for chemicals. This saves bamboo plantations from the pesticides and fertilizers used for tree forestry and reduces the amount of mechanised work required to maintain the plantations.
