What is bamboo? Bamboo is a really big and sturdy grass. This means that no trees are harmed in the making of 100% bamboo products. There are over 1200 known species of bamboo worldwide, usually found in warm temperate places like Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.
At the Impact Lab, it is our mission to save 100 million trees by 2030. When used responsibly, bamboo can be a really great alternative to traditional tree paper. Here are 7 reasons why:
Bamboo grows really really fast. Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource. It is recognized as the fastest growing plant on earth, growing about three feet per day.
Bamboo grows back without replanting (like when you mow your lawn) Because it is a giant grass, bamboo’s roots survive after harvesting, and shoots grow back without the need to replant.
Bamboo is very strong and durable. Bamboo fibers are extremely long (1.5-3.2 mm) and strong. This makes bamboo paper really durable, even more durable than virgin tree paper and significantly stronger than recycled paper.
Bamboo is naturally white. Bamboo paper is naturally white, giving bamboo paper a luxurious feel without having to added chemicals or bleach. Its brightness will remain stable, while those of paper made from wood may deteriorate over time.
It is recyclable. Like tree paper, bamboo paper is recyclable and compostable. It can be recycled with your regular curbside paper recycling stream.
Opportunity to source locally. Even though you can now find bamboo growing almost anywhere, it is local and native to When we need to source overseas we strive to implement bamboo paper so it can help reduce the carbon footprint of production.
Bamboo packaging does not steal food from pandas. Using bamboo packaging does not hurt our panda friends’ access to food. According to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), “The variety of bamboo that pandas depend on as a food source is different from the larger, industrial, woody variety that is used for flooring and furniture and generally grows in different provinces. Purchasing bamboo products therefore should not impact the panda's food resource.”