Going plastic-free is a movement that is gaining momentum as more and more people become aware of the negative impacts that plastic products are having on our environment. From polluting our oceans and harming marine life to contributing to climate change, there are multiple reasons to go for Plastic-free life.
In the early days, when we used to think about Plastic products, we consider them highly advantageous to human beings as it is durable, versatile, adaptable & more importantly cost-effective. For decades we have taken Plastic products for granted i.e. we used them and thus companies produced more & more of them. In current times, plastic is everywhere, from household items to industrial products to even food packaging purposes. But in hindsight, we never thought of the ways to get rid of Plastic waste from our lives, eventually generating tons & tons of plastic waste that has become a global problem. So, we need to understand why plastic is a problem.
Every single item of plastic that has been made still exists, for instance, it takes at least 450 years for a single plastic bottle to decompose. Even as plastic “breaks down” it just breaks apart into smaller and smaller pieces of microplastic. Microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5mm, has been found in a wide range of products and environments. They are present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Today, tons & tons of plastic are found to be floating in oceans around the world. Heaps of plastic trash are found floating on the ocean’s surface. Not only floating but plastic trash is also found in the guts of more than 90% of marine life. According to studies, by 2050, there will be more plastic in oceans than in fish (by weight).
These staggering numbers are enough to show that the time has come to move beyond plastic and search for an alternative that is eco-friendly and non-polluting in nature. In this situation, Bamboo provides a suitable and environmental friendly alternative to Plastic products, even better than metals. In addition to this, Bamboo has anti-bacterial & anti-fungal properties and is bio-degradable in nature, unlike plastic. Some of the inherent advantages of Bamboo over Plastics as a material are as follows: -
Bamboo grows at a faster rate
Bamboo is the fastest-growing grass on Earth, it can grow up to 90 cm in a day. While other trees take as long as 30 years to grow fully, bamboo takes only 3-4 months. Bamboo requires a very minimal amount of water to grow and does not require any pesticide for cultivation. Thus, Bamboo is an entirely organic plant.
Bamboo products are great for the environment
Bamboo grass makes the soil more stable and prevents soil erosions and landslides. It helps maintain and protect biodiversity; thus it is very safe for the environment. Using Bamboo products would mean growing more Bamboo grass, thus reducing the deadly impacts of deforestation and environmental degradation.
Bamboo is highly durable
Bamboo has high compressive strength & tensile strength. Because of its mechanical strength, it is highly durable in nature. Due to its durability, bamboo is used for manufacturing furniture, cabinets, personal care products, etc.
Bamboo is safe and hygienic
Bamboo has anti-microbial properties, which makes it safe from all kinds of microbial & bacterial contamination. Thus, bamboo is the preferred material for eco-friendly toothbrushes. Because of its anti-bacterial & anti-fungal properties, bamboo is used to make kitchenware & personal care products.
For all the above reasons, Bamboo as an alternative to Plastic has multiple benefits. Bamboo is 100% safe for the environment. To address the plastic crisis world is battling today, we should adopt sustainable products that are not only bio-degradable but also environment friendly i.e. Bamboo!
