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Is Bamboo really more sustainable?

January 28th, 2020

Here at Ergonomyx, we place a great emphasis on sustainability. Whether it be something as small as not using plastic straws in the office to using the most environmentally friendly materials for our products, we know that every decision we make, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on our future. This is why we’ve developed a completely self-contained energy harvesting system for our Under-the-Desk Bike as well as use 100% sustainably grown bamboo for our Sit-and-Stand Desk table tops.

Now, what makes bamboo a more sustainable choice than the classic wood?

1. Bamboo is a renewable resource: According to the Food and Agriculture Organization's 2016 State of the Forests report , 7 million hectares of forest are lost annually. In order to be harvested, hardwoods such as oak take at least 40 years, whereas bamboo can be harvested in as little as 5 years. Furthermore, bamboo has an extremely fast growth rate. Did you know bamboo can grow up to 3 feet per day? No wonder it is labelled as the fastest growing plant on earth!

2. Bamboo can grow in a variety of climates: Since bamboo is a very durable plant, it can be seen in almost every region of the world; from wetlands to mountains, bamboo is an abundant natural resource that can be used for many things. Bamboo also does not need to be replanted. After being harvested, the plant will grow a new shoot as a result of its widespread root system and help protect against soil erosion.

3. Bamboo is carbon neutral: Not only is bamboo grown without pesticides or chemical fertilisers, but it actually produces 35% more oxygen than the equivalent amount of trees. In fact, bamboo plantations can be used as areas that are able to reduce CO2 from the atmosphere and are considered effective “carbon sinks”.

Although bamboo is considered a more sustainable choice than its wood competitor, it still faces controversy on the extent of its ecological prowess. This is because different uses of bamboo result in varying environmental impacts.. In furniture (such as our Sit-and-Stand Desk) bamboo remains in its raw and unmanipulated form, but when used for other purposes such as clothing, bamboo must go through a harsh chemical process with the use of Carbon Disulfide. This procedure ends up creating hazardous working conditions and contributing to global pollution through Carbon Disulfide’s ability to evaporate into the air and run off into waterways.

So overall, is bamboo really a more sustainable choice? Well, yes and no. Similarly to other materials, bamboo does have its faults and must be used correctly in order to truly be considered an eco-friendly option. Thankfully, in regards to furniture and Ergonomyx’s Sit-and-Stand Desk, the bamboo used is a particularly sustainable alternative to it’s wood counterpart..

To learn more about our Sit-and-Stand Desk, as well as some of our other products, click here.

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