GREEN BUILDING WITH BAMBOO IN WESTREN COUNTRIES

   IT'S no wonder Western countries are looking to bamboo as a wood alternative. Countries like the U.S., U.K., and the rest of Europe are praising bamboo for its many advantages that make it a veritable green building material.

   In the Western setting however, green building with bamboo isn’t all that green. It’s true that bamboo thrives in diverse climates, but only those species that grow in tropical climates (growing as tall as 30 meters with a diameter of 35 centimeters) are best suited for construction purposes. As such, builders have to import bamboo from Asian countries like Indonesia , Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and most notably from China, which supplies about half of the world’s needs. Shipping quality bamboo timber across long distances inarguably leaves a large carbon footprint.

   Bamboo for construction is also limited to one-story structures, usually as flooring, decking, and paneling. Turning bamboo into an aesthetically usable and sturdy construction timber requires high-performance adhesives needed to glue the thin pieces together. These glues contain formaldehyde, a toxic substance that off-gasses over the years.

   When bamboo is made into fabric, on the other hand, it needs to be chemically processed with sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid, which are toxic when not disposed of properly. This process of turning bamboo into fabric also uses a lot of water, making claims by eco-fashion designers who promote bamboo textile rather doubtful.