Bamboo is a more sustainable choice of fence material than conventional hardwoods or "lumber." The growth of bamboo as a building supply is taking the pressure off of old growth traditional hardwood forests. The key factors contributing to the sustainability of bamboo are its characteristic rapid growth and its reduction of environmental toxins.
Rapid growth and regeneration. Bamboo is a grass. It is the fastest growing woody plant on earth. When bamboo are cut for building or other use, the underground system of roots and rhizomes of the bamboo remains intact and the plant quickly sends up new shoots which become culms. The term culm refers to the vertical “trunk” of a bamboo. A cut and trimmed culm is called a pole.
Conventional hardwood forests take many more years to re-grow than bamboo. Typically, it takes forty years for cedar to grow to post size. Thinning a bamboo grove makes it healthier and 20 percent can be removed annually. This results in production from new growth in five years and the plant does not die. Bamboo inherently has the potential to be a very sustainable alternative to hardwoods for the construction needs of the population. As the world population rapidly expands, placing great pressure on hardwood resources, bamboo represents a significant alternative for reducing this pressure and often a superior one depending on the use.
A renewable alternative resource for environmentally sustainable development, bamboo has better tensile and compression strength than steel, is harder than Red Oak and Maple, and has a greater resistance to expansion and contraction associated with temperature and humidity changes.
Reduction of environmental toxins. Bamboo consumes carbon dioxide at rapid rates while growing. Carbon dioxide is the prime contributor to global warming. Bamboo cultivation does not require the use of pesticides, and fertilizers used are often organic. The typical tree used in standard wooden fencing can take over 30 years or more to re-grow, with a harvesting cycle that produces less oxygen, consumes less carbon dioxide, and produces more run-off than bamboo.
Are we saying bamboo is the ultimate "green" material for all applications? For fencing, we definitely believe the answer is "yes."
However, other industries that employ bamboo such as clothing, laminates, manufactured wood, and flooring may use various chemical processes that raise questions about the earth-friendliness of these products. When assessing the sustainability of any natural resource there are numerous factors to consider, such as treatment processes, transportation energy consumption, and labor practices. It would be hard to declare that any resource could be absolutely sustainable once consumer demand increases greatly for that resource. However, the superior renewability, positive potential for reduced environmental impact and greatly increased sustainability of bamboo versus other resources show that bamboo is very "green" indeed.
Bamboo Fencer is a member of the United States Green Building Council and many of our products are LEED certified. Bamboo Fencer manufactures its Bamboo Good Neighbor Fence in the USA.
