At Van Nifterik Holland B.V. we are a big fan of bamboo. We love it so much that we want other people to become just as excited as we are. In this blog you will find out why.
A Bamboo Forest without Trees
First the question: is bamboo a plant, a crop or a tree? Although we often talk about ‘bamboo forests’, bamboo is actually not a tree. Bamboo belongs to the grass family Poaceae. So it’s a grass species. But a very special type of grass, because bamboo is the only and largest species that can grow into a forest.
Fast, Faster, Fastest
That bamboo is a grass species is not the only remarkable thing about it. Did you know that bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth? The average growth rate is 5-20 cm per day. But there are also outliers. For example, a ‘certain bamboo species’ has even reached the Guinness World Record. It grew 91 cm per day. That is almost 4 cm per hour, so with a speed of 0.00003km/h! The length of bamboo can vary from a few centimetres to 40 meters.
Nice and Warm
In total, there are more than 1575 species of bamboo that have been identified. These are of 111 different genera. They grow best in a tropical and subtropical climate and can therefore be found in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and South America. At Van Nifterik Holland B.V. we get our bamboo from China (Asia).
Bamboo vs. Wood
When you say bamboo, you say sustainable. Bamboo can be harvested for production after 3 to 6 years. After that, the roots left behind can grew new bamboo. This rapid growth prevents deforestation. This is in contrast to wood, which takes up to 20 years to mature. In addition, bamboo can absorb 200 tons of CO2 emissions per hectare annually, while one hectare of trees absorbs 15 tons of CO2 emissions per year. Bamboo also produces 35% more oxygen than trees.
Last but not Least
The last (but perhaps the most important) reason why we are such a fan of bamboo is the combination of all of its properties. Bamboo is light, stronger than steel and extremely flexible. This makes it pleasant for us to work with. Our innovation team is busy every day coming up with new bamboo products in all kind of shapes and sizes. Wondering if bamboo is the solution for you? Please contact us here.
