| Bamboo has fast become the raw material of | | | | from 100% bamboo. These include wind |
| choice for just about any kind of commodity you | | | | instruments, percussion instruments, and things |
| can think of. This plant, which is commonly | | | | like flutes, rattles, pipes and harps. |
| mistaken for a type of wood, is actually a type | | | | Medicinal Products -- bamboo has long been |
| of grass that happens to be very eco-friendly. In | | | | thought to be effective at healing and treating |
| fact, some species of bamboo grow at a rate of | | | | infection. In India, it is specifically used for treating |
| about 4 inches per day. No hardwood resource | | | | respiratory diseases. It is also a low calorie source |
| can compete with that growth rate at all. Today, | | | | of potassium which we all need as part of our |
| bamboo is used to make a wide range of | | | | diets. |
| products, including the following: | | | | Bamboo has become so popular because it is |
| Construction Material -- in East Asia, the South | | | | quite eco-friendly. As previously mentioned, it is |
| Pacific, Central and South America, bamboo is | | | | actually a grass which grows much faster than |
| very commonly used for construction materials. In | | | | any hardwood you can think of. A bamboo crop |
| general, it is used for scaffolding, as well as for | | | | is harvested in 3 to 5 years, compared to the |
| building bridges and houses. They also have | | | | average hardwood which is harvested between |
| decorative uses for fountains, fencing and the like. | | | | 30 and 50 years. |
| And of course, more so in the Western world, | | | | Bamboo grows freely without the aid of |
| laminated strips of bamboo are now being used | | | | pesticides or chemicals. This is another reason to |
| as an alternative to hardwood floors. | | | | prove its eco-friendliness. It is a fully degradable |
| Textiles -- the Chinese developed the original | | | | product and regenerates on its own, thereby |
| processes for converting bamboo to textiles. | | | | classified as a renewable resource. |
| Today, several products including towels, sheets | | | | Modern technological processes are making it |
| and clothing are made out of bamboo. Not only | | | | possible to use bamboo for more and more |
| are these products safer on the environment, but | | | | products every day. As long as we continue to |
| better for people who often have allergic reaction | | | | harvest it at the due time, we can start to |
| to synthetic fabric. | | | | preserve the hardwood resources that help keep |
| Musical Instruments -- several traditional musical | | | | our environment stable. |
| instruments used in the Asian region are made | | | | |