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Paradigm Shift. In 2002 Malcolm Gladwell wrote The Tipping Point. He asserted that certain ideologies suddenly ignite in what seems like a sudden phenomenon—and spread like wildfire. AL GORE’S warnings have shifted our attention and captured the imagination of citizens, businesses, and governments. Instead of a world focused on profit—the most valuable commodity is now carbon. We are in a race to reduction. A growing world population of 6.3 billion needs the materials of life: food, clean water, shelter, clothes, transportation—now all must be provided sustainably. In 1998 Bamboo Living was founded with a mission to restore and heal the native forests of the Earth by replacing hardwood as the Western world’s primary building material with renewable bamboo. For years our architect and builders have worked diligently with researchers, universities, engineers, and bamboo farmers to innovate structures that could be adapted to Western standards.
More recently, our company’s focus has shifted. It’s become clear that bamboo is one of the most significant solutions to our global warming issue. Because of the “carbon sink” properties, (read more), herein compiled by James Rossi, our head researcher, bamboo is indeed at a tipping point. How can we say that? Take a look. __________________________________________________________________________ Mainstream News Sources
Watch the clip from Renovation Nation. Other news links:
__________________________________________________________________________ Buzz Leaders in sustainability and design are becoming more and more aware of the possibilities of bamboo. Our phones and emails are buzzing with requests for more information from people all over the world wanting to learn more about how to work and build with bamboo. __________________________________________________________________________ Research
Universities worldwide continue to research the uses of bamboo for fuel, fiber, food, and carbon sequestration. Many countries, businesses, and NGO’s have turned their attention to the possibilities in the bamboo industries. Whereas there is much to learn from China where 80% of the world’s bamboo is grown and processed, there is a learning curve ahead for all countries to adapt regional species, growing conditions, regional uses and manufacturing processes.
The U.S. government is developing tissue culture propagation for large scale bamboo plantations.
__________________________________________________________________________ Other Uses Bamboo Furniture. Sofas, chairs, kitchen and dining room tables, bed frames and headboards, chest of drawers, kitchen cabinets. Bamboo has captured the imagination of both traditional and contemporary furniture designers. Bamboo Flooring. Bamboo has become the most popular alternative to using hardwood flooring materials, found now commonly in mainstream building suppliers. Bamboo accessories for home and commerical use. Bowls, plates, utensils, cutting boards, and other accessories are now commonly found in Western homes and mainstream retailers. Bamboo fabric and clothing. Bed linens, bath and hand towels, dresses, tops, shirts, pants, undergarments, sweaters, sweatshirts, socks, shawls, baby clothes. Unlike cotton, bamboo for fabric does not need pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, irrigation, or flat land. Planted on hillsides, it grows on its own. Everyday, more green fabric manufacturers and designers are discovering the possibilities of working with bamboo fabric blends. Bamboo paper. Imagine how much paper is used in the USA every year--from trees. What if we grew bamboo plantations for paper at 3 times the rate of biomass production of trees in tropical climates? Bamboo healing and medicine. Bamboo has for centuries been used in Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese herbal medicine . Tabasheer, the powdered, hardened secretion from bamboo is used internally to treat asthma, coughs and can be used as an aphrodisiac. In China, ingredients from the root of the black bamboo helps treat kidney disease. In Japan, the antioxidant properties of pulverized bamboo skin is used to prevent bacterial growth, and it is used as a natural food preservative. Bamboo as food. Bamboo shoots provide nutrition for millions of people worldwide. Taiwan alone consumes 80,000 tons of bamboo shoots annually. Bamboo's ancient historical significance. Bamboo is a symbol of strength, flexibility, tenacity, and endurance. For centuries throughout Asia, it has been integral to religious ceremonies, art, music, and daily life. It can be found in the paper, the brush, and the inspiration for poems and paintings. Some of the earliest historical records from the 2nd century B.C. were written on green bamboo strips. (EBF) |
